‘The world’s biggest ‘Spoons is my local pub – here’s why I always warn visitors’

Mirror writer Amber O’Connor loves living in the same town as the world’s biggest Wetherspoons, but she has a warning for the visitors who flock to her local pub

With cold beer on tap and views across Ramsgate’s golden sands, there’s no better place to be than The Royal Victoria Pavilion’s sun deck during a hot summer day.

The world’s largest Wetherspoons just so happens to be my local pub, and while its grand exterior and sweeping ceilings have caught the eye of the rest of the nation this week, the charming spot is far more than a tourist attraction for us Ramsgate folk.

It’s the place I go to enjoy a cheap drink with my hometown friends, and the spot to grab a quick bite after a busy day out.

But I always warn visitors to manage their expectations if they plan to trek halfway across the country, keen to visit the one-of-a-kind boozer. Here’s why.

Sure, I understand the temptation to visit ‘Super Spoons’, as my pals call it, and I’m not saying you shouldn’t. Ramsgate is sure to welcome you. However, you ought to know what you’re getting yourself in for.

Let’s start with the good stuff. When you approach the 11,000sq ft pub from the royal harbour, it’s hard not to be impressed. The sheer size of the eatery is attention grabbing, as is the wraparound balcony.

Thanks to a £4.5 million renovation, it is equally jaw-dropping inside the former concert hall. While the venue can hold up to 1,400 people, it feels light and airy even during busier nights. I remember I felt like I’d walked inside a cruise ship on my first visit, perhaps inspired by the Titanic-esque staircase.

But – and there is a but – it’s much the same as a normal Wetherspoons, otherwise. It’s got all the bells and whistles of every other Spoons site, with a classic patterned carpet and the normal grub, just in a larger setting.

There is some comfort to that familiarity of course, but when I visited on Tuesday, my experience was much the same as it would have been in any other of the 800 plus Wetherspoons pubs in the UK. So, I can somewhat sympathise with punters who leave wondering what all the fuss is about – and I reckon there’s several.

I had a nice evening, don’t get me wrong. But it was nothing to write home about, and not just because my family joined me for the meal. The service was fast, the drinks were cheap, and the atmosphere was fine, but the food left us wanting more.

In an effort to enjoy a novel experience, I steered away from my classic order of a veggie burger and chips to try the pasta alfredo – and I liked the taste but not the small portion size. Meanwhile, the southern-fried chicken strip basket and two curries my family ordered received mix reviews.

For instance, nobody was impressed with the rock-hard naan bread, which I’m picking out as one of the nicer examples of feedback.

Chatting to punters after dinner, it didn’t sound like many other people were blown away by their experience either. Crucially, like my family, nobody was expecting a Michelin Star experience, though. Its reputation for affordable drinks and grub is all that matters to most.

“It’s alright,” one local told me. “It’s cheap, it’s easy,” he added, bringing up what turned out to be the biggest selling point among most of the customers I chatted to.

Two other fans agreed: “It’s cheap and cheerful,” with one going so far as to say she loves the venue.

Meanwhile, visiting workmen who have made the pub their regular during their time in Ramsgate, said: “We like it here. It’s Wetherspoons. You know what you get.”

The feedback reminded me of the reactions my friends and I notice when we show off our trump card to visitors from out of town. It’s ‘nice’. Nobody has any serious complaints. But it’s nothing radically new, even though the view always goes down a treat.

When I asked my boyfriend – who isn’t a local – for his thoughts, he replied: “It was alright. I wasn’t exactly impressed”.

It’s “just a big pub” according to him, and I’m inclined to agree. If it’s a huge boozer you’re after, then this is a decent pick.

So, if that’s what you fancy, it is sure to delight, especially if you visit in the summer. But don’t come thinking it will be the most decadent, beautiful pub in the world, which is the impression I get all too often from online reviews, when critics roll in from out of town.

If you’ve ever been to a Wetherspoons before, you can safely wager what to expect. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t make the trip, as there’s plenty here to entice you outside of the pub’s novelty status.

Come and enjoy the ‘Super Spoons’ for what it is – and be charmed by our little corner of Kent. The giant boozer certainly isn’t our only attraction – we’ve got a wealth of independent businesses to champion and plenty of seaside charm. But it is one of the fixtures of our lovely town, a familiar sight among the seagulls, chippies, and little boats in the harbour.

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