] (Arthur Figgis) wrote in message ...
As Tue, 21 Oct 2003 23:58:18 +0100 appeared fresh and rosy-fingered,
"Samantha Hall" wrote:

HEY YOU I WORK FRO WETHERSPOON YOUR NOT GOING TO THE RIGHT ONES THE PUB I
WORK AT HAS THE BEST ATMOSPHERE FRIENDLY STAFF GOOD LOOKING BAR STAFF AND
THE BEST BEER IN TOWN AND THE SLUG AND LETTUCE IS WAY BEHIND US ON SALES
MORON

Is the reason this message came so long after the others in the thread
because there is only one person serving up messages, but three
assorted managers stood watching that one person? Maybe the Caps Lock
key is broken, but it is "against policy" to warn people of this
before they try to type?

Samantha (turn the caps-lock off, &/or calm down & accept the
possibility that...) someone may have criticised JDW as being soulless
& lacking atmosphere (& you disagree) because you have different
experiences & expectations of pubs in general? I have had pleasant
enough nights in a couple of JDWs, but they've not added much to the
night, apart from (regularly, but not always) fairly good beer & a
roof; wheras stunning pubs have character, warmth, excellent beer,
memorableness (is that even a word?) and more which IMO are things
that chain-pubs (JDW,Pitcher&Piano,AllBarOne,Hogshead,Firkin,etc,e tc)
seldom achieve one of, never mind several or all of them.

I've just spent the night in a ScotCo (orchard inns?) chain pub & it
was pleasant enough (e.g. OK beer range, & they happily exchanged the
2 off pints they served me! plus q a fun pubquiz) but despite the beer
range, pleasant furnishings, decent wine list, nice food on offer,
etc, etc; it was only OK, nothing special - and even at their best
that's all that I think chain pubs ever will be; but that's OK for me,
because I think there's enough of us who want more than McDonalds to
eat, & chainpub to drink, & Dido to listen to...
cheers
MikeMcG