Best and worst Wetherspoons in York, Selby and more according to TripAdvisor reviews

Wetherspoons has five pubs across York, Selby, Knaresborough and Harrogate.

The affordable food and drink options remain a popular choice for many - from a pre-match pint to a cheap night out.

Thousands of you have been sharing your experiences of the pub chain, good and bad, on TripAdvisor.

And if you dive into the reviews of 'Spoons' visits based on food, service, value and atmosphere, it certainly makes some interesting reading.

Here's the best and worst Wetherspoons across the region  - based on the percentage of 'excellent' and 'very good' reviews.

A guide to Wetherspoons in and around York - ranked from best to worst

The Punch Bowl, York

TripAdvisor rating: 4

The Punch Bowl on Blossom Street wins first place with 77 per cent of customers rating it excellent or very good.

It has the highest Tripadvisor rating across York, Selby, Harrogate and Knaresborough.

More than 600 customers took to Tripadvisor to share their thoughts with locals and tourists alike.

'Can't fault it'

One happy customer said: "Great little lunch stop. Cant fault it. Classic Wetherspoons. You know what you're getting and at a great price."

One visitor from Scotland wrote: "We stayed in York for 3 nights and ate breakfast here 3 times! It's cheap & cheerful, so don't go expecting resturant quality steaks etc but the breakfasts are good value.

"We had a couple of drinks after getting off the train one day too, which was less than £5 a round (as opposed to £11 across the road)."

But not everyone enjoyed their cheap night out on the town. 

'The smell of body odor'

One man simply said: "Tuesday night 19-00 hrs. The smell of body odor and stale beer lets you know where you are. It's cheap and dirty."

Another customer had a bad experience with wobbly tables.

She said: "This isn’t the nicest Wetherspoons I’ve been to - it could definitely do with a refurb. It’s a bit dark. Don’t sit on the tables that are high off the ground as they wobble. I moved after my coffee went everywhere thanks to a very wobbly table. Best tables are round the corner by the coffee machines."

The Winter Gardens, Harrogate

TripAdvisor rating: 4

Many customers who visit The Winter Gardens in Harrogate love the beautiful setting. 

Over 1600 visitors described having an excellent or very good experience - that's a whopping 74 per cent of all reviews.

'Beautiful building'

In November, one customer wrote: "Had tea here as we were in town for a work convention. Food was excellent as was the price. Everything could be ordered via the app which made the whole evening really easy and convenient. Service was super fast and very friendly. Beautiful building. Would highly recommend."

Another said: "Typical Wetherspoons great value for money and an interesting environment while you're there. Very good service and the usual Wetherspoons menu."

A third reviewer said: "This must be one of the better locations and buildings for a JDW. Pleasant surroundings, and attentive staff help to make a decent atmosphere. Usual menu & value."

But one Harrogate local wasn't too pleased.

'The thinnest slice of cheese you could get'

Sharing their experience on Tripadvisor, one customer said: "Visited at end of October for a couple of drinks and some food. Awful food! Worst food anywhere! We ordered a garlic pizza to share, it was paper thin and little taste, then we had the chicken sandwich with bacon and chips and onion rings.

"The chips were low cost oven chips and luke warm I left most of mine and the onion rings were raw, hardly cooked."

Left, The Winter Gardens in Harrogate. Right, the Crown Inn in Knaresborough.

Another visitor from Wigan said: "Very poor but first on a good note the building is vast and good and the staff were working very hard. We went in found a table but had to ask for it to be cleaned then went to order on the [app] most of the menu was out of stock eventually decided for a cheese burger and chips they had no chips only baked potato, this arrived burger was not very warm, baked potato was dry with one small butter, the cheese was the thinnest slice [of] cheese you could get."

The Crown Inn, Knaresborough 

TripAdvisor rating: 3.5 

There's mixed reviews for the Crown Inn in Knaresborough - but it still ranks third place on our Tripadvisor list.

69 per cent of people handed out an excellent or very good review on Tripadvisor.

Let's take a look on the bright side with some good reviews.

One customer returned to the pub in Summer for the first time since lockdown restrictions eased.

'Knowledgeable about the beers'

She said: "We were going somewhere else but we got a car space nearby and went to the beer garden. A bit tired and [in] need of a refurbishment. The duty manager was very good and knowledgeable about the beers, it was very well looked after and very reasonable price pint. We will be back for food next time."

Another said: "Followed usual track and trace drill for a Wetherspoons pub. Found a quiet seat in an olde world pub and used the app to order a couple of drinks. As place was quite quiet drinks were served quickly.

"My wife enjoyed a cacao and orange gin and as I was driving had the Erdinger low alcohol beer which was cold and very pleasant and quite cheap."

'Could be a little goldmine'

Not everyone is happy with the pub's offering.

One visitor from Leeds said: "Opted for Wetherspoons as usually you get what it says on the tin and the kids are happy with the meals on offer. Lovely building and such a shame it’s wasted in such an amazing place that could be a perfect place to eat and drink. But no staff, food sat on side for ages, no gas so no soft drinks from pump and most lager not available."

She added: "Such a shame, with a decent management it could be a little goldmine."

Another customer told Tripadvisor: "Visited today with my husband for lunch. I decided to order at the bar, rather than using the app. Bar staff were clearly serving the locals first, despite them arriving at the bar after me. When I was eventually served, the meal came to £2 more than it had on the app. When our food arrived, my husband’s steak was missing his onion rings; when he politely alerted the server to this (young guy with a green t-shirt on), he brought 3 undercooked onion rings and threw the plate at my husband. No apology given, just a dirty look."

The Postern Gate, York

Tripadvisor rating: 3.5

66 per cent of customers left excellent or very good reviews for this Wetherspoons pub in York.

Let's dive into the reviews for this pub, fourth in our Tripadvisor rankings list. 

'Nice, fresh and hot'

One happy customer from Kidderminster said: "Very good service and food what you would expect and what I got from Wetherspoons. Food was as expected and served quickly but nice and fresh and hot. Staff were friendly can’t fault them. Everything about the place was fine would I go back definitely yes."

Another said: "You know what to expect when you go into spoons.

"Ordering by the app is great as it saved hanging around the bar and fighting others who try to sneak in before you.

"I like the fact the curry club, steak club etc are now available every day rather than just a set day.

"Service was super quick and food was great."

 'I was still salt less'

One customer recently told Tripadvisor: "Awful awful experience…. I ordered medium steak it was like shoe leather it was burnt!!!

"I went to find the waitress to ask for salt and vinegar she said they are there and pointed to a table… I said I’ve looked… no salt or vinegar she disappeared for ages then returned with vinegar and told me it was the customers job to find condiments!!!

"I repeated back so it’s my job to find my own salt…. Yes I’m busy…., and walked off!!! By this time food was cold and I was still salt less!!!! How rude!!!!"

The Giant Bellflower, Selby

Tripadvisor rating: 3.5

While the Giant Bellflower falls last on our list, 61 per cent of customers have enjoyed excellent or very good meals at this Wetherspoons haunt.

One even went as far to say it is "a drinker's paradise".

'All hail Tim Martin'

The customer said: "Before lockdown our group of five drank in various pubs, a round would cost £18 to £25. On lockdown day we opened our own bar and drank cans from supermarkets at £4 to £6 for five. We got used to this pricing and when the pubs reopened a year or so later we went to this pub. On a Monday the drinks are reduced but even four pints of Guinness only costs £10.60, you can buy four pints of real ale for £6.76. Although we can all afford to pay for a round at £20 plus why should we when here it's half the price of most pubs in the area. All hail Tim Martin."

Another said: "Morreen! Great customer service and above all great leadership within team! Always got customer first attitude and always happy to assist customers.. a real [assett] to the Wetherspoons chain!"

One visitor from Nottingham also shared this view.

He said: "My wife and I visited the Bellflower on a Friday evening en route from York to Notts. We had the usual lovely fish and chips and found all the staff to be very pleasant. We sat at table 4 and one waitress in particular really looked after us."

Some people left their complaints under the Tripadvisor page.

"I've had to become a 'Karen'"

An unhappy customer recently told Tripadvisor: "I've had to become a 'Karen' and write in for an official complaint about the manager. And now I'm here to complain more about it. So I order my food on the app, the order goes through and the payment comes out of my bank account.

"My food did not arrive. I go to talk to the lass behind the bar, who was kind and helpful and she tries to get her manager to assist with why my food wasn't arriving.

"The manager was so rude to me and the poor staff member. 'No email, no order' that is all she said when her staff asked her for help. My friend who ordered the same time had her pizza but no email the manager then went on to ignore both me and her staff member. For the remainder of the time. I was starving and just wanted food so I ordered however, wetherspoon still owes me £14 for the order that never arrived."