I visited the UK’s best Wetherspoons in historic building with old vault that’s been transformed and £2.49 pints
WITH more than 40,000 pubs across the UK, it’s no mean feat to be crowned the country’s very best.
So when Edinburgh boozer The Standing Order claimed top spot in a list of the nation’s favourites, it was only right to head to Scotland’s capital and find out what all the fuss was about.
It was Google Maps that bestowed the honour upon the JD Wetherspoon’s franchise on George Street.
The results were based on the number of reviews and the average rating dished out by thirsty customers.
I was banking on there being a real buzz inside the pub when I arrived and I wasn’t disappointed.
The poor attempt at a pun above is inspired by the fact the building’s former use was as the Union Bank of Scotland.
The A-listed building was designed by David Bryce from 1874 to 1878.
And there’s still hallmarks of its rich history – with an original Chubbs vault that now stores pint glasses instead of valuables.
While there are countless nods to Edinburgh’s most famous sons with framed pictures of the likes of telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell and poet Sir Walter Scott.
When I escaped the rain and found a safe haven in The Standing Order, I was struck by the sheer scale of the pub.
If you remembered to look upwards instead of directly at the bar, the high ceiling and granite pillars were instant reminders of yesteryear.
As well as the bustling main bar area, there’s all kinds of nooks and crannies with extra seating options.
But don’t let the opulent interior fool you – this is as much a drinking hole for local punters as it is a stunning sight for tourists.
Tom Wilson, 82 and Adam Raeburn, 89, live just minutes away and meet up with pals have met up every second Tuesday for the last 25 years – the vast majority of its 27 years existence as a pub.
Tom said: “It’s central and easy to get to. The ambience is nice and it’s a wonderful building
“It’s reasonably priced and the selection of beers is excellent.”
While Adam, about to turn 90, joked: “We’ve been coming here 25 years and unfortunately one or two of us have died.
“We’re still taking applications to join us though.”
With such a massive menu of food and drinks, it wasn’t easy picking which meal I wanted.
I ended up opting for a pizza while my colleagues chose a burger and a southern fried chicken wrap.
All of the grub arrived promptly and was quickly devoured – always the best sign of a good meal.
While it was apparent from looking at the folk around us that customers were more than happy with the selection on offer.
Pals Paudie Clancy, Megan Morris and David Taylor, all 28, travelled to Edinburgh from their home in Wexford, Ireland.
Megan said: “I had no idea it was the UK’s best pub.
“But it is very nice and we’ve enjoyed having a few drinks here.”
Colin Hicks, 71 and Chris Stock, 82, meet up every month after getting the train into the city from the homes in Peebles and South Queensferry.
They were delighted to hear their favourite boozer had received such an accolade.
The top 10 Google Maps pubs
Here's the full list of the top 10 pubs according to Google Maps...
UK’S TOP PUBS
1. The Standing Order – JD Wetherspoon, Edinburgh
2. The Velvet Coaster – JD Wetherspoon, Blackpool
3. The Counting House – JD Wetherspoon, Glasgow
4. Anchor Bankside, London
5. The Albert & The Lion – JD Wetherspoon, Blackpool
6. The Palladium – JD Wetherspoon, Llandudno
7. Waxy O’Connor’s London, London
8. Sherlock Holmes, London
9. The Moon in the Square – JD Wetherspoon, Bournemouth
10. Founder’s Arms, London
11. O’Neill’s Wardour Street, London
12. Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem, Nottingham
13. The Montagu Pyke – JD Wetherspoon, London
14. The Moon Under Water – JD Wetherspoon, Manchester
15. The Angel Hotel – JD Wetherspoon, Whitby
16. The Churchill Arms, Kensington, London
17. The Liberty Bounds – JD Wetherspoon, London
18. The Horniman at Hays, London
19. Royal Victoria Pavilion, Ramsgate
20. The World’s End, London
Colin said: “I’m not totally surprised because most Wetherspoons have a very good habit of taking over old buildings and this is a case in point.
“You look around and you can see the history of it as a bank and what it used to be before.”
While Chris added: “The beers are good and they look after us well.
“To be in the middle of Edinburgh and able to buy a pint of beer for £2.49 is unbelievable.”
With such a mix of locals and tourists alike, the staff at The Standing Order are a busy bunch.
We loved Wetherspoons in Folkstone
Out of Wetherspoons all over the country, this is one of our favourites
The Samuel Peto in Folkestone is a stunning and unique setting in a converted church, complete with original features like stained glass windows, painted cloud ceilings, and a grand organ.
The cosy atmosphere inside, with its wooden privacy-screened booths, makes it an ideal spot to settle in for the evening. It offers the classic Wetherspoons combination of affordable food and cheap booze, with a glass of wine costing less than £2.
The lively and eclectic crowd adds to the charm, ensuring there’s never a dull moment, as highlighted by locals Holly and Pete.
Finally, its proximity to the seaside and other nearby venues means it’s perfectly placed for a great night out in Folkestone.
It’s a pub that’s packed for most of the day and it would be easy to let standards slip.
But duty manager Eloise Hamilton, 25, reckons getting the good news that they’re the UK’s best pub will not spur them onto more success.
She said: “You don’t expect to get that sort of acknowledgement but we are always very busy.
“It’s very popular and right in the middle of the city so people walk past and can’t help but look at it because it’s such a nice building.
“Sometimes you forget about all of the history. It’s really amazing.”
The pub, opened from 8am until 1am every day, might be about to get even bigger.
Last year plans were lodged for a new hotel above The Standing Order.
The proposals, submitted to Edinburgh City Council, would see the first, second and third floors of the pub converted into a 25-bed hotel.
There are no proposed external changes to the building due to the historic nature of the site.
How to save money at Wetherspoons
FREE refills - Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.
Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.
So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.
Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.
For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.
Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.
Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it.
Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.
It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.
As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.
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