Where are the best and worst rated Wetherspoon pubs in the West Midlands? We take a look

JD Wetherspoon, which was founded by Sir Tim Martin in 1979, has nearly 50 pubs across the West Midlands, including nearly 20 in Birmingham alone.

It has taken old and either unused or derelict buildings and provided them with a new life as a pub and, throughout the week, these pubs can be full of people enjoying a meal and a few drinks.

However, not all of them are viewed as the best among those who frequent them, with criticisms given around cleanliness, service and the general feeling of the place.

We’ve taken a look at Google reviews to see which of the Wetherspoons pubs across the West Midlands, from Lichfield to Telford, have been rated as the best and the worst.

Additionally, where pubs have the same rating, we have separated them by how many Google reviews they have.

Top five list

1. The Plaza in Rugeley - Google rating of 4.3 (1,464 reviews)

The Plaza is set inside a former cinema, with the history of the building clearly visible in posters dotted around and the set up of the seating, with a lower level where one of the screens would have been.

Reviews of the pub point to it being “another classic Spoons conversation from a former cinema”, as well as having well kept cask ales, a large screen to show sporting events screened on terrestrial TV, outdoor seating and toilets on the ground floor.

2. The Picture House, Stafford - Google rating of 4.2 (2,968 reviews)

Another former cinema converted into a Wetherspoon pub, the layout has kept the feeling of cinema, with steps going downwards at each side and aisles with seating.

Reviews of the pub say the pub pays tribute to its heritage, as well as being light and bright, with great prices and a unique feeling.

3. The Court of Requests, Oldbury - Google rating of 4.2 (2,213 reviews)

The pub on Church Street has lived many lives, having started out as a court and debtor’s prison in 1816, then becoming a Magistrates' Court and County Court in 1846 and, until 2010, it was the public library before becoming a Wetherspoons.

Reviews of the pub mention the convenience of having a car park onsite, as well as lighting quick service, good ambient noise and a nice mixture of friendly service and excellent food.

4. George Hotel, Bewdley - Google rating of 4.2 (2,157 reviews)

The pub on Load Street originally started as a merchant's house around 1608 before becoming a coaching inn and posthouse known as The St George Inn in the 18th century and has remained a licensed premises since.

As a pub, reviews have praised it for the amount of seating, both indoors and outdoors, as well as being a cheap and cheerful pub with tasty food, cold beer and a nice general feeling to it.

5. The Bishop Vesey, Sutton Coldfield - Google rating of 4.2 (2,138 reviews)

Named after John Vesey, a leading 16th-century bishop, the building stands on Boldmere Road, taking its name from a marshy pool or mere. It was built in 1931 opposite the old Gate Inn, housing a builders’ merchants and joinery works for several decades.

The reviews praise the pub for being light and bright, with a well-presented counter, comfortable seating and friendly staff, as well as nice areas to sit both outside and inside.

Bottom Five list

1. The Moon Under Water, Wolverhampton - Google rating of 3.9 (3,221 reviews)

In late Victorian times, a furniture ‘emporium’ traded on this site. It was later divided into smaller shops, one of which was the Co-operative Society’s drapery store. The ‘Co-Op’ later took over all of the shops. The redeveloped premises opened in 1931. Its new, bigger café is now The Moon Under Water.

Reviews point to the interior being very dark and having a dated feeling to it, as well as some people saying it didn’t feel inviting and poor access to the toilets, although other reviews praised its atmosphere and central location.

2. The Bellwether, Wednesbury - Google rating of 3.9 (1,586 reviews)

The Bell Inn first opened its doors in the early 19th century. The inn was trading by 1818, when Mary Hyde was the licensee. The Bell closed in the late 20th century, but was restored and reopened as The Bellwether public house.

Reviews said there was a lack of a warm welcome at the pub, as well as food that seemed undercooked and claims that staff either weren’t working hard enough or weren’t friendly when serving, but did also say it was spacious enough.

3. The Thomas Botfield, Telford - Google rating of 4 (2,956 reviews)

This Wetherspoon pub is named after a local industrialist. From the 1790s, the Malins Lee estate was transformed by Thomas Botfield.

Reviews focussed on food that seemed either dry, uncooked or unpalatable, as well as claiming that staff were unfriendly and the pub had a lack of cleanliness, but also said the pub had a decent location in Telford town centre.

4. Acorn Inn, Lichfield - Google rating of 4 (2,831 reviews)

From at least the mid 19th century, until the 1970s, the neighbouring building was The Acorn public house, now the name of this Wetherspoon pub.

Reviews point to the food being dry and unpalatable, with one person saying it was “the worst I’ve seen in this country”, as well as feeling that the pub was dirty and needed cleaning, although other reviews did say the service was efficient.

5. Abraham Darby, Brierley Hill - Google rating of 4 (2,351 reviews)

The name of this pub recalls the industrial pioneer, from nearby Dudley, who developed new methods of producing iron, so helping to pave the way for the Industrial Revolution.

Reviews of the pub spoke poorly about the security, claiming that they were not checking IDs and ages, as well as a lack of quality with the food and service, although some reviews did also say the pub had a relaxing atmosphere to it.