Preston – The Grey Friar
For the sake of completion, since I wrote about my visit to the other JD Wetherspoon in Preston (the Twelve Tellers) before I went on a tour of the Preston pubs that are listed in the Good Beer Guide. This is the Grey Friar, a modern venue and JD Wetherspoon note about the name:
“This is named after the Franciscan monks (known as Grey Friars from the colour of their habit) who founded a nearby friary in the early 13th century. The friary was founded around 1220. It gave its name to Friargate, but was actually in Marsh Lane (formerly Friars Lane), between Lower Pitt Street and Ladywell Street. The Franciscans, or Grey Friars, are also remembered in the name of this pub.”
I went for the Hoppy Christmas from Conwy Brewery and it wasn’t great, it was well kept but there was no depth of taste here and an almost unpleasant bitterness. It was tolerable and I had thought it was the best looking of the three Christmas beers that they had. Not that I wanted a Christmas themed beer, it was just the only three guests that they had were all Christmas themed. Service was slightly sluggish, but I wasn’t in a rush and it was all polite and friendly enough.
As usual, I felt that need to have a look at the reviews as some of the angry ones at a Wetherspoon pub often entertain me as I don’t get out much.
“Ive been coming to Grayfiers for the past 10 years, being nearly 30 and recently been a great place to meet my friend who works at country hall. Tonight the lady serving me (assuming manager) decided to ID me. Since bring a regular, local and with contactless i no longer bring my wallet out. I dont look under 25 and have facial hair. Yet she refused to serve me. Although flattering ive not been ID’d anywhere now for over 3 years. Today was my last day i will step foot in greyfryers. Its also the last day all of my fellow club members will meet for socal gatherings in fryers. A short walk to 12 tellers and ive been served here. So i guess we will all meet here from now on.”
All because they ID’ed a 30 year old that they thought looked 25? I love a bit of drama.
“Went for breakfast before shopping . Food was served freezing cold, hard egg and what looked like a chewed up piece of bacon. I had to eat because we didn’t have time to wait for more food. I did complain and the young boy said “oh sorry” no offer of refund or free drink.”
I never really understand these, it looks awful, eat it and then wonder why no refund…
“I called in for some lunch this afternoon I will not be returning!!!! I have never felt so insulted and belittled in my life. My food didn’t arrive and when I questioned politely we’re my food was got a mouthful of abuse from a member of staff. I am 40 years of age and dined in pubs for years I have never been spoke to like that. I will not be returning and would recommend others do likewise, my family and friends will be.”
I mean, who knows, but how can “I questioned politely” go to a team member deciding to insult and belittle a customer? I’m always intrigued about the missing part of the story.
“Went with my friends to this weatherspoons today, ordered a glass of milk, mushy peas and a buiscuit. We waited around a hour for this order, before asking one of their workers where it was. He then said “oh do you want a glass of milk”, we said “yes of course” then my friend said “if there’s anything else on the order, could we have it”, he then said “I might do”. This was a very rude response and he completely lacked in customer service skills. We then decided to go to the till after waiting half a hour for our order, and they said “well we thought it was a joke, so you’ve been refunded” stating this in a very snotty and unprofessional way. Even the manager was very rude. I will never be returning to this weatherspoons again”
Oh, the Wetherspoon game, order a load of rubbish to a table, wonder why it isn’t brought out and then rate the pub 1/5 after trying to put the staff in an awkward position.
“We were enjoying ourselves when got told to turn our music off as they don’t have a license which I thought was unjustified as only we could hear it”
Good.
“I went to Preston for a city break. I usually go to Wetherspoons when in a new town, and headed straight there. All the staff were chatting to the locals – fair enough – got served my pint amid gales of laughter from all. Again – fair enough – after all I’m a stranger. But then I realised they were laughing at me, because I’d ordered a Carlsberg and not a real ale.”
If that is true, that is horrendous, although Wetherspoon seem to sell a lot of lager, so it seems a bit odd. Anyway, I digress and I’m pleased to note that no-one commented on my Christmas drink purchase, so all was well. It’s not the most exciting of interiors, unlike their sister pub not far down the road, but it’s cheap, cheerful and sizeable. A reliable pub and there’s cheap coffee, it’s one of those which is charging £1.04 for unlimited hot drinks at the moment. What a time to be alive and all that….
