For food and drink lovers who love a bargain, spending 16 hours in ‘Spoons’ might sound like the perfect day out – or a worst nightmare for those who hate crowded spots.
One woman spent all day in Cardiff’s most popular Wetherspoons spot, the Prince of Wales, in an attempt to learn what makes the UK’s most popular pub chain worth it. Wales Online news reporter Bethany Gavaghan spent breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as the late evening at the St Mary’s Street hotspot.
While ‘Spoons prices’ is a phrase more Brits are familiar with – referring to the chain’s cheap and cheerful price range – Bethany discovered that there are some surprising secrets and found everyone has a different reason for enjoying the chain pub.
“What shines through when you spend 16 hours here is that you can kind of get whatever you want out of it, and that’s exactly what people are doing,” Bethany said. She shared an hour-by-hour breakdown of her experience.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon agreed, noting: “The Prince of Wales is an extremely popular pub. It plays a vital role in Cardiff’s social scene.” He added: “Like other Wetherspoon pubs it is busy throughout the day, catering to different people at different times, from families to students to business people to individuals.”
8am
One person goes through the doors before me. I thought I’d be the first one in. The mood is relaxed, and quiet, with only two or three customers wandering around, and staff are busy placing menus on tables. I’ve ordered the hot drinks refills for £1.56 because I’m keen to see how many drinks I can get out of this before anyone raises an eyebrow.
When asked how much alcohol and coffee Wetherspoon sells every year, a spokesperson for their press office responded; “Alcohol – no idea. Coffee – around 1.5 million cups a week across all pubs.” That’s a lot of hot drinks.
I sit in the centre of the room so I can get a good view of what people are up to and what the vibes are for the first couple of hours. Sitting with a mocha (the first purchase of the day). I felt a bit like I was in a hotel as I selected which drink to go for on the machine. It’s so chilled in here, with a few people already enjoying some food.
Eyeing up one man’s breakfast, it’s tempting to open up the Wetherspoon app again and order it to the table, but wanted to wait until at least 10ish- a full English at 8am on a Wednesday morning feels extreme. There are about six or seven people in the pub by 8:30. They looked like they had places to be, throwing back hot drinks and eating as fast as they could, and nobody seemed to hang around very long at all.
9am
I did think it might be busier by now. It’s still super peaceful. An older lady is sitting across from me enjoying a plate of beans on toast- and tells me she comes in every Wednesday and Thursday morning before her train to Newport. “I get in at 10am for work there but this is my bit of the day when I can think,” she explained.
I have momentary flashbacks to university nights spent at spoons with people ordering copious amounts of pitchers, struggling to find a free table and resorting to conversing adjacent to a lively bar, as I never thought of Wetherspoon (or any city centre pub for that matter) as a place where people go to think. But each to their own.
A mum has just come in with her toddler and ordered eggs benedict. I overhear her conversation and wonder if I’ve heard her right. Glancing down at the menu, I’m pleased to hear I’ve not gone mad and that they do, indeed, sell this American brunch dish. Two men across from me also seem to be having an informal meeting. They are discussing business over cups of coffee, using their phones to make notes.
Despite my initial adjustment, the sophisticated dining atmosphere actually does suit the tone of the venue. The Prince of Wales in Cardiff, which was once a cinema of the same name is a striking building, built on the site of the Old Theatre Royal and has a great amount of history, like a lot of the buildings Wetherspoon takes over.
It’s safe to say the pub chain has come a long way over time. For 44 years, Wetherspoon has been a fixture of the UK. It was dubbed Martin’s Free House during its first month of trading, after Tim Martin, the founder and chairman of Wetherspoon. Then, at the start of 1980, the bar was renamed Wetherspoon in honour of Tim’s schoolteacher from his time spent living in New Zealand.
Fast forward to now, and many Wetherspoon pubs are adaptations of existing historic buildings that have become redundant, including banks, churches, post offices, theatres, and a former public swimming pool. And it feels like the chain has now kind of taken on a life of its own, with people embracing the spaces across Wales and the UK in all sorts of ways.
10am
Someone is taking an online meeting in the corner of the pub (and is talking quite loudly). I’m wondering how long people have been using pubs like this as remote working spots. I wouldn’t have said previously that it seemed like a professional environment, but people seemed to be getting on with it. It was quiet enough for him to speak clearly on his call without distractions, although I’m not 100% sure what the other customers thought. I’ve also now joined the rest of the breakfast club in spoons at this hour and ordered a veggie brunch for £5.75, alongside an orange juice for £2.41.
11am
Disaster strikes. I left the table momentarily- the refillable coffee cup has been taken. Fair play to the staff who keep the pub in fantastic condition. I’ve now ordered a new one, and am crossing my fingers that I can manage to keep hold of the mug in an attempt to rinse the refillable coffee machine some more.
Across from me is a man who I spotted earlier who looks like he’s had the same idea, and has been refilling his cup for a couple of hours. Tomas Atkins, 48, is on his phone and looks up at me as I ask him how many hot drinks he reckons are socially acceptable to help myself to without buying a new cup.
He laughs, and replies: “This is my third cappuccino.” I ask if he’s a regular and he said: “I come in about once a week if I’m between jobs. It’s usually pretty relaxed at this time but I keep myself to myself.”
Tony works part-time as a window cleaner, and has been spending more time in cafes and pubs even if he goes in them alone after the pandemic. He said: “I didn’t used to go out much unless I was with my wife or meeting people. But after lockdown I started just going for a drink on my own if I had time to kill or wanted to get out the house.
“Places like this didn’t used to be made to spend time in unless you were drinking alcohol but it’s becoming more family friendly these days. And with Wetherspoon, you know that the pubs will be big, and you won’t be fussed over all the time.”
The idea that pubs adopts a no-nonsense approach to its atmosphere, allowing people to come in and spend time without being hassled was an interesting perspective, particularly post-pandemic. The novelty of getting out of the house has definitely worn off for me now, but it was enlightening to hear that this could play a part in spoons’ undeniable popularity.
12pm
Tilly is all about the atmosphere when it comes to Wetherspoon. She often comes in for coffee with her friends, on this occasion, she went for something a bit stronger.
Confident one of the main things that people actually enjoy about the pub chain is the sense of calm, especially at this time of day. She said: “It’s chilled in the morning. When I meet friends we always meet here, for coffee to start the day off and there’s a lovely mix of people that come in- you start to get a younger crowd a but later.”
Her friend Wayne added: “It’s nice to come in before a trip and have a pint with breakfast sometimes, as it’s just by the train station.” Around lunch time, a few more people started to arrive with laptops, as the mood shifted from early morning meetings to conversations over food.
Wayne added: “I’ve got my work laptop with me in my bag. But when I’m in here, or wherever, it stays in my bag.”
1pm
Ruth Williams and Sam Walker have been enjoying a mid-day meeting catching up on things, and have also both been working on laptops- the main thing which draws them both here is convenience, they explain. Ruth said: “It’s a great place to have a meeting with friends or business meetings having a working lunch.
“Any time Sam and I meet up we go to a Wetherspoon. You get left alone and the staff are really good. It’s nice in here and all the Wetherspoon I’ve been to are nice. And can be a good night out as well!”
Sam adds: “You know you’ve always got a Wifi connection which is useful for what we’re doing. It’s quite quiet because there’s no music so it’s quite a good working atmosphere.
“It’s really clean as well. The tables are always really clear which is important.” I can concur with this point. There was barely a moment that went by where I couldn’t see staff members cleaning tables.
2pm
It’s not a work day for everyone. Upstairs, Kate (24) and Lucy (25) tell me they come for the drinks, but stay for the atmosphere. “The atmosphere is what we’re about” Kate explained.
Lucy added: “It’s got more of an aesthetic than just your bog-standard pub. Can’t be dealing with that. It gets a good level of busy and there’s more space than other places you can drink in Cardiff.
“I think a lot of people might not perceive it as a cheap feeling place just because it sells cheap food and alcohol but I don’t think it is that, and you can get what you want here. Today we’re starting off light with the Smirnoff ice and we’re moving to the jugs in a bit.”
It feels like at this point in the day it’s like worlds colliding, as each table has a completely different vibe.
3pm
What I’ve learned about spoons by this point is that pretty much anything goes. It’s like being in an airport. People socially acceptable to drink at any time of day. And then it’s also perfectly fine to just sit on your own, reading a book, scrolling on your phone or sitting on a laptop or magazine.
4pm
A large queue has formed at the bar downstairs. I walk past Kate and Lucy who have now moved onto the affore mentioned jugs of cocktails- they seem to be having a good time. Ruth and Sam are still in the corner- laptops out and working away. It seems this spoons means something different for everyone- with the divide in people using it as a wholesome daytime space to those already downing booze becoming more vivid as drinkers at the bar begin to trickle in more and more.
I meet a group of students from Bristol who have been drinking since noon, who claim they are going to attempt to get a pint in every pub on St Mary’s street tonight. Luke, 18, who seems to be their ring leader informs me rather passionately that this his favourite Wetherspoon. “It’s a class place to drink. It’s the best one in the UK, surely. It’s my favourite one ever.”
5pm
I’ve ordered a small bowl of chips. And clearly the lively spoons atmosphere has turned me into a rebel because I’ve also helped myself to another coffee (my third of the day- this time at 5pm, which I know probably wasn’t my wisest move but there we go).
Two friends arrive to take in the spoons atmosphere, and probably to see how delirious I had become after spending my day there. They picture me after I have demolished my chips, order a curry and a pizza, stay for a chat and then leave me to my own devices after being shocked by the liveliness of spoons.
6pm
I no longer regret the coffee and have moved on to a cherry Pepsi. It’s got much louder in here so I have decided caffeine is here to stay tonight.
7pm
A group of Cardiff friends are catching up on their university Easter break. “What are we drinking tonight?” I ask them, thinking they may be heading for a big night out. “Too much alcohol!” One exclaimed. They have gone all out with a strawberry daiquiri, ciders, wine and vodka mixers but aren’t planning a big night.
One of the girls said: “We’re just having the de-brief. It’s a good place for a catch up and the location is very pretty- obviously it’s the old theatre. But other than that it’s just the prices- very student friendly.”
8pm
The night has well and truly begun at the Prince of Wales. The bar is packed. There are a lot of younger people here now, with many in conversation about where to go next.
In the back of the pub, I meet Katie, Dan, Matt, Bill and Liam. Katie says: “We don’t know where yet, but we’re definitely going out. We’re definitely going clubbing!”
9pm
Who knew spoons was the place to celebrate romance? Not me. In the pub tonight there are people from all walks of life, but the person with the most adorable tale to tell was a lady celebrating her ruby wedding anniversary- 40 years of marriage with her husband. She is absolutely loving life, is several glasses of wine deep with her friends and was very enthusiastic about having her picture taken.
10pm
I’ve ordered a garlic pizza bread to my table. You would think that a whole day in spoons would mean ordering several large meals but I only just realised I hadn’t actually eaten dinner- just a small chips in the afternoon, but we move.
I’d give the garlic bread a solid 10/10. It’s a good level of crispy, and came over very quickly. I laughed as the waiter brought it to the table, and said “I’m guessing you know where everything is now?”, referring to the stations dotted around the pub harbouring the sauces. They definitely think I have no life by this point.
11pm
My friend has now arrived after her late shift at work. Steph quickly orders a gin and tonic and was also impressed by how busy it was. She said the next day: “I was surprised to see how busy it was for a Wednesday night! There were many groups of students gathered around tables and the atmosphere was lively and upbeat. Everyone seemed to be having a good time.”
12pm
People start being asked to leave at 11:52. I’ve quite enjoyed watching the lively crowds in the later hours, but it’s time to go home.
Final thoughts
There’s an undeniable variation in how people spend time in, view and understand spoons culture. And possibly all pubs nowadays. It seems like pubs which used to be purely drinking spots, have shifted to sell food throughout the day, and adapted to suit people’s needs, which makes me wonder how else they will change shape over the next decade.
Although numbers have reduced over the last 18 months, a large portion of Britain’s workforce is working remotely, and gravitating to different spaces to work from to improve the flow of their day. I don’t think that pub chains have gained a reputation yet as being the ideal spot for remote workers, but I can certainly see it going that way based on what I saw today. But spoons- especially Cardiff’s central Prince of Wales is still very much a place people go to have a good time.
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