The Punch Bowl - JD Wetherspoon — Restaurant in England

After being here on more then 1 occasion and doing the track and trace via the QR SCANNER on my phone my husband and i turned up on tuesday morning for breakfast only to be told that we both had to give details i explained that i would do this as i had normally done via my smart phone only to be told by the young girl at the door to do what i wanted. Her attitude was absolutely appalling to say the least she then proceeded to get another member of staff to come out the young tall lad with glasses on and to be honest his attitude wasnt much better. I tried to explain that i was checking both myself and my husband in on my smart phone the same way i had done on two previous occasions without any problems he wouldn't listen to me and kept saying he had to take my husband details on the paper form again i pointed out that as long as it was done via the QR SCANNER on my smart phone we would both be counted in the track and trace. By this time he thought he was clever and say to us if we couldn't be bothered to do it and as it was the governments rules he wasnt letting us in his attitude was absolutely unacceptable. It clearly states on the big board on the inside of the doorway that you can either do the track and trace via a smart phone or if you dont have a smart phone then that's where the form should be filled in it also states on the actual government website that such details only need to be taken on a form if the person or persons visiting the premises DON'T HAVE A SMART PHONE. We have been to many weatherspoons before and after visiting this one and they have all let me do the track and trace on my smart phone.The staff on that morning shift need to get their facts right as after all they are giving people the wrong information they also should read weatherspoons website which also states the same thing. I or my husband do not appreciate the way we were spoken to on that morning we both work for the NHS and are fully aware of the importance of track and trace and how it works maybe your staff need educated on this and also on how to talk to customers...

We were accosted as soon as we walked in saying my Assistance Dog was not welcome. That only guide dogs and hearing Dogs were permitted. I explained to the manager she was wrong but she insisted it was new company policy only guide dogs and hearing dogs. I reminded her that company policy doesn't over ride the law, and there are more types of Assistance Dogs for a variety of disabilities each as valid as each other. The equality act allows a disabled person access rights, she insisted we were wrong, everyone was staring. My panic was starting. I reminded her guide dogs and hearing Dogs were not the ONLY assistance dogs, there were dogs for Epilepsy etc. Eventually she backed down and we were allowed to stay, I showed her my paperwork which is actually in Spanish but proof I am entitled to have my Assistance Dog. There is a notice on the door saying only ADUK dogs, this in itself is illegal as the law doesn't state only ADUK as there is no certification for Assistance Dogs, and please explain how a dog from Spain is supposed to acquire a UK certification!!! We sat down and slowly I recovered as one of my many problems is PTSD and Agraphobia, at this point a customer came up and showed me Wetherspoons policy on Assistance Dogs saying I was quite right to stand my ground. The website contradicts the illegal notice on the door and he fully supported us. We continued to eat and drink for the rest of the evening, however the service was dreadful the manageress really stressed and clearly not coping, the lad who served us had a face like a slapped backside and would have cracked had he smiled. Altogether a very unpleasant experience. In Chesterfield Wetherspoons we were welcomed and actually stayed in the hotel, same in Tewkesbury, Bewdley and Worcester where absolutely no problems. I suggest the staff in York need to be educated and not embarrass disabled people when they themselves are wrong and do not...

In the city of York, similarly to just about any other city in the country, the general public are being priced out of good pubs because they're simply too expensive. I'm a working class man, and whilst I understand that rates in the cities can be high, I begrudge and can barely afford to pay almost £10 for two pints - which, as it happens, I did earlier today at another pub in the city - leaving me feeling resentful. No wonder the pub trade in general is struggling in Britain with this sort of extortion!

So after this unpleasant experience of daylight robbery, naturally I searched Google for a nearby Wetherspoons free house in York, and from there managed to locate 'The Punch Bowl' within a half a mile (roughly 10-15 mintues walking distance) from where we were.

Two main meals, two pints (The Black Sheep Special Ale I had was well kept and tasted good) and one dessert all for around £21-22! The portions were ample, the 12oz Rump was very good, and the overall quality (as well as quantity) were very good indeed. To top it off all the staff whom served us were very polite, the exterior of the pub and interior decor weds nice (though not spectacular, but certainly no dive either) and the cleanliness and tidiness was in good order. What more can you ask for, for £21-22 and leave well satisfied and feeling like you haven't been utterly fleeced?! I can highly recommend Wetherspoons 'The Punch Bowl' as an inexpensive safe bet for locals and for tourists alike looking for value...