Despite their current beer festival, I'd been avoiding our local Wetherspoons for a number of reasons. These include too many kids running around the place, too many undesirables, dirty tables and not enough staff. Earlier this evening though, whilst on my way home from the Kent CAMRA Regional Meeting at Edenbridge, I decided to give the place another chance.
After a day of not immoderate beer drinking, I was motivated primarily by the need for something to eat, at a sensible price. Wetherspoons fitted the bill, and when I called in I found the place quite quiet, with plenty of empty tables. I grabbed one and headed for the bar. A placard advertising the "Manager's Special" caught my eye; several different varieties of curry. I opted for a chicken korma, and also ordered a pint of Cotleigh Ettaler. I handed over one of my CAMRA JDW vouchers, and the bill came to a very respectable £5.49.
The beer was good, although I'm not convinced about its description as a Bavarian-style lager ale! My chicken korma was also good, and arrived accompanied by pillau rice, narn bread, plus a couple of poppadoms. It wasn't the best Indian meal I've had, but at that price I couldn't grumble, and it certainly satisfied my hunger.
As for the Wetherspoons outlet itself, most of the usual semi-permanent undesirables were conspicuous by their absence, although there were still too many unsupervised children for my liking. I won't be in a huge hurry to return, but at least it proved if you catch the place at the right time then it isn't too bad.
3 comments:
Blimey - that must be the most positive review of the Humphrey Bean I've ever come across!
Well I was trying my hardest not to be too critical. Tonbridge Spoons can be ok IF you manage to find a quiet table away from the people (and their kids), that give the Bean a bad name, and make it an unpleasant place to visit. Like I said in my post, you have to get the timing right, and fortunately I managed that yesterday!
I'll be putting up my thoughts around 'Spoons on the back of thier recent festival in the next couple of days, but I do find them all to be a hit-and-miss affair. Good beer range, but quality varies even in the same 'branch'. Almost always interesting, though...but consistency is not thier keyword!
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