On Thursday evening, the Over 25 Co-production & Social Group visited The John Jacques, the JD Wetherspoon pub on Fratton Road. The group found the pub affordable with quick service and a friendly atmosphere, but accessibility was more of a challenge.
The highlight of the visit was James being “the best waiter ever,” whose service added a pleasant surprise when he started shifting the dirty plates from the table. Guests liked the fact that food and drink can be ordered through the Wetherspoon app and delivered straight to the table.
There was praise for the televisions dotted around the venue, and Ewan noted that he especially liked the lighting. The lack of music also made the environment calmer for some visitors.
However, not everything worked well. The main toilets are upstairs and can only be reached by steep steps, while the disabled toilet downstairs requires a RADAR key. Space inside the venue is limited for when tables need to be moved to accommodate for larger groups such as our group of 14 people, making it tricky for those who may be using mobility aids, and parking is also a problem with no disabled bays available. The capacity issue could have been avoided if we were able to book a table in advance; an option that is not possible at this particular venue. There are no steps at the entrance, which makes getting in easier. Some tables were left dirty with plates not cleared during the visit, an understandable issue considering the abnormal number of customers within this pub on a random Thursday evening.
Overall, the group agreed The John Jacques has a warm community feel, affordable prices and staff who go the extra mile to ensure all customers have a pleasant experience, but accessibility and cleanliness are areas where there is still room for improvement.
