Wetherspoons is famous for its reasonably priced food and drink - and all-day opening. But what's it actually like to pop in first thing on a weekday morning? MyLondon reporter Alexandra Bullard went to find out...
If you were to be asked, where is the best place to be on a weekday at 9am, you likely wouldn't choose a pub. Having recently paid a visit to one Wetherspoons chain in Croydon, I can say for definite that it is far from one of the most lively places to be on a Tuesday morning. And I will tell you why.
Wetherspoons has a reputation for serving reliable and cheap meals, with a vast majority offering pints of alcohol as soon as it hits the 9 o'clock mark. So, as most of the world went to work, I popped down to The George in Croydon to grab a spot of breakfast and see what it was like. I had not prepared myself for what was to come.
Upon entering the venue, I felt like I had walked into a time machine. No, not as fancy as the Tardis. It felt old, rusty and something from a 1960s TV set for a BBC drama. It was also horribly silent, creating a dead and unwelcoming atmosphere before I had even chosen a table. I can't lie - I wasn't charmed.
I parked myself next to a row of fruit machines and quickly ordered myself some tea. As I waited for my order to arrive, I couldn't help but notice a very odd smell. It was distinctly strong and was a mix of pale ale and cigarettes, then I realised it can't just be in the air but saturated in the carpets and staining the table.
Speaking of which, the carpet is something you'd find in your grandma's living room - an awful red and criss-cross pattern. Even the lights and chairs belonged in the 20th century. There was just no modernity here. Earwigging in on some of the conversations of the few old folk was one of the only things that provided a bit of early morning entertainment.
The wait for my order came to an end after five or so minutes, but I was greeted not with a pot of tea but a full English breakfast. I was stunned and told them that this wasn't my order - even though I was tempted to take it for myself. But I was in no mood to have a plate of greasy food, simply because I knew someone would notice and start asking who stole their dish.
It had not even hit 10 o'clock, way to early too early for any kind of confrontation. Realising there had been a mistake - I told them I was instead waiting for tea. The missing plate of sausage and eggs was then reunited with its rightful owner, just as my pot of peppermint arrived.
During my stay, one elderly man urged one of his friends to "go home" across the room. I could not have agreed more. This was my cue to leave. Without further ado, I downed the rest of my cup of tea and headed out the front door. I had made a mistake coming here.
Is there anywhere more underwhelming than a Wetherspoons at 9am? Honestly, not really. If you want an exciting start to your weekday routine, take my advice and save your trip to Spoons for a more appropriate hour.
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