Butler's Bell - Gaolgate, Stafford.

tek-monkey said:

You can still always tell by the A-boards though, found a few like that when in Wales.

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'tis true although some places do try and very closely copy the Wetherspoons "look" in order to entice people in.

I'd like to think i'm not easily fooled but did get duped once even so far as ordering a pint of Tuborg - back when Wetherspoon were the only place to have it on draught.

We had a meal on Friday evening and spent the next two days being sick, really was rough. We've eaten there before without complaint but this time the food wasn't up to scratch I felt compounded by the subsequent vomitting

I've eaten there 4 times now and been fine.

I ate at the Holmcroft yesterday, for the first time in months. They definitely have a new chef in, food was way better than before. Had a rump steak with mushroom sauce, was very nice and tender (especially so as rare rump can be chewy). Also under new management since my last visit.

We went for a meal, not great, wouldn't eat there again. Someone said it is owned by Wetherspoons, can anyone confirm that please?

camsnan said:

We went for a meal, not great, wouldn't eat there again. Someone said it is owned by Wetherspoons, can anyone confirm that please?

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It is - see the thread title - http://www.staffordforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=8978&p=1 - and many of the posts will also confirm

Not entirely convinced that 'Butler's Bell - New Wetherspoon in Stafford' is a clear enough title...

Just attempted lunch with 2 work colleagues, what a shambles. Waited about 45 minutes, lots of complaints from all around. When the gourmet burgers arrived there were no onion rings, apparently we should have been told this, told the guy I wanted the quid back we'd paid for them. Tried the chips, raw as ****. Seriously not edible, but they were busy so I persevered. Tried the chicken burger, burnt does not describe it. Seriously inedible, just handed the whole thing back and demanded a refund.

I don't think I am exaggerating when I say more than half the food customers in there were demanding refunds, seems a serious lack of communication between the front of house staff and the kitchens was going on. If they'd warned me it would be 45 minutes I'd have gone elsewhere, I only get an hour for lunch! Thing is, if they'd done that they'd have less customers and probably would have actually managed to cook the food properly for those that did eat.

Will still go back, but never at lunchtime again. At least I got a free pint out of them, but went back to work hungry

Eat there last weekend early evening. Fine. Very quick service. Meal was ok. Beers were cheap. I was happy.

Ate here recently and am convinced that everything comes out of little packets, mass produced, and then microwaved. Not a good eating experience AT ALL!

kyoto49 said:

Ate here recently and am convinced that everything comes out of little packets, mass produced, and then microwaved. Not a good eating experience AT ALL!

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It's a Wetherspoons...... Seriously, you don't expect decent food in a Wetherspoons, well, I know I don't and avoid them these days for food. lol

I've had the mixed grill there on 2 separate occasions, the second time figured they deserved a second chance. The quality of food is terrible.

I've had a burger a few times, and a panini, and found them fine. Its sure not high class dining but no complaints. Maybe I just got lucky before?

I have been in twice since it opened - once to try it out, second time to see whether the first time was a fluke - it wasn't. It was pretty terrible both times. Slow, poor service and the usual processed Wetherspoons rubbish - the exact reason I never eat in the other Wetherspoons (Picture House). I thought (wrongly it would seem) that as we already have a standard Wetherspoons in the town the Butlers Bell would offer something different - it doesn't seem to, it is just another Wetherspoons.

I preferred it far more when it was Apres - it had a nicer atmosphere and their pizzas were to die for and it wasn't all that expensive, no more expensive than it is now and yet the place is always rammed now.

The only thing it has going for it is it has a good range of local ales - that isn't enough to get me back in though as you can also get good local ale at town centre places like The Sun, Rose and Crown, Joxers and hopefully the "new look" Pie and Ale House that doesn't seem to now have the Pie bit. All those places are vastly superior as drinking establishments.

To sum up - The food is nothing special, the place is crammed as they have shoved as many tables in as they possibly could, it is noisy and seems little different from the Wetherspoons we already have. I won't be back, too busy supporting local business rather than identi-kit, faceless chains.

Was a bit annoyed to see black dragon gone, but they still have a better range of ciders than anywhere in town apart from the greyhound.

Don't bother booking tables - they pretend to reserve them for you then lie about it and try to blame it on you for being (no more than 10 minutes) late.

It's a shame because it's one of the few places that as a vegan I actually get a bit of choice on the menu...

Went in the other day, we ordered a panini and a Mexican chicken burger. The panini was burnt black on the bottom, the burger came out as beef. I was hungry so accepted it anyway, only to find the burger was in pieces. Reply from the chef was that it fell apart because the grill needed oil. I'll still go back, as it's the only bad meal I've had there, but the chef needs a slap for sending that stuff out in the first place. They weren't even busy.

Black dragon was back though!

I went in about three weeks about to find Mud City Stout on draught. I was very happy, had a pint or two and it was lovely.
Went back the following weekend specifically for the Mud City Stout and it was still on, but my pint was absolutely foul. Whatever they'd done (or not done) had turned it into an acidic horror. Very unhappy.
I mean, I know 'ooh, Wetherspoons, you can't expect much' but how badly can you mess up one draught ale?

I may well be wrong (wouldn't be the first etc) but don't Wetherspoons sell so cheap because they buy beer on the cheap near to its use by, sort of thing, hoping that the cheapness will shift it in time? That's what i'd always thought anyway.

Presumably that would mean if they don't shift it sharpish, it will be none too pleasant all too quickly?

I had heard that too, but this foulness had the tint of pipe cleaner rather than of 'off. Either way, ruined a perfectly good pint.

I found this on the Internet 'So long as it is stored at cellar temperature around 11C, and the cask is not tapped an average strength ale will last about 6 weeks; but once it is tapped it should ideally be drunk in 3 – 7 days. In a polypin, at cellar temperature, it should last for a week to 10 or 14 days. If Real Ale gets too cold it will develop a “chill haze” as the cold acts on the protein molecules in the ale. As it warms up, the haze will disappear, but if the process is repeated it will take longer…Also, if the ale is too cold the full flavour will be masked. So it is not a good idea to keep real ale in a fridge for longer than about half an hour.'