The Whalebone - JD Wetherspoon — Restaurant in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Tables left uncleared for ages from previous diners. Dirty crocks and glasses at vacant tables , had to clear a table ourselves in order to use it. When the female employee did eventually clear adjacent tables they were not wiped clean or disinfected in any way ! just mostly cleared of debris and pots. No wonder the tables were sticky ! No bear mats so any condensation/ drips from any glasses made either a mess on the table ( which we had wiped down and cleared prior to ordering ). Also drips from cold drinks glasses then fall into your lap . The heavily tattooed female server made no effort to speak or reply to friendly comments or make any effort to welcome our party whatsoever. I only mention the tats to identify the person concerned .The extremely extremely short and revealing skirt of the other female who made clearing the tables such a long winded , infrequent and clearly unhygienic process was rather inappropriate in our opinion too . Again no conversation with us whatsoever. Who employs people in this industry who give the clear appearance of not wanting to be there and certainly do not engage in any meaningful way with many of the customers? Perhaps if we were regular customers this might change, however based upon Saturdays experience we will not become regular unfortunately. We sat just inside the main entrance which is a double door type. The outside temperature was just above freezing . The first set of doors were permanently kept wide open so whenever the second set opened an absolutely freezing blast of cold air chilled us to the bone . There was no blow air heater working to form an air curtain . Had to eat with our outside coats wrapped around or shoulders . The door permanently open theme continued in the adjacent disabled toilet . The door was always ajar allowing both the sight and aromas of a much used facility to escape into the dining area next to it . Its lack of self closing mechanism also meant its use by all patrons not just disabled which added both to the escaping aroma and its unclean state . We ordered our food via the excellent W app, and in fairness considering how busy it was did not have to wait too long . On bringing it to the table we were at last spoken too by the servers “ where do you want this “ but neither eye contact or any friendly welcoming conversation or replies whatsoever . I despair. Food was nice but could have been hotter . Good value for money as with most Wetherspoons but an altogether un enjoyable time in a place we were not made to feel welcome in , just pongy, cold and sticky! Sad really as we really would have liked to be more positive about the place and re visit. Based on this experience not like...

Not enough information on the menu! Ordered desert for my partner to find it had an ingredient my partner couldn't eat. Spoke to a member of staff who was very polite and helpful and asked if there was anything else we would like. And asked me to attend the bar to order a new dessert and either refund me the difference or I might have to pay the extra. While he disposed of the dessert. On attending the bar and speaking to a member of staff. The manager told me that because the food had been cooked there was nothing he could do. So I showed him the menu and said that it does not give you the ingredients on the menu or on the app he told me that its up to us to ask for the folder with the ingredients in he then showed me the small print off the menu stating so. How ever he had very poor attitude and didn't seem bothered with the idea that my partner would be ill if she ate the food or that the staff member previously informed me I could order something else. Just feel his whole attitude has let the whole experience down. Up until that point it was all very good but as a customer you shouldn't be told one thing then another as its very miss leading. Hopefully you could give more information on your menus to stop this happening with...

This was a great pub when it first opened and still could be. However it’s always very understaffed.

The bar is huge with a great selection of drinks and always good value. It’s let down because not enough staff to cope. The bar is always covered in spilt drinks, dirty glasses, often food plates where customers are sick of having them still on the tables after finishing food. Tables are always littered with left plates and glasses.

The manager was trying very hard on my last visit. But the only one clearing tables of plates and glasses. Saturday night and two people behind the bar.

The food is passable but was so much better. Food chucked on the plate, no presentation whatsoever. Dirty cutlery.

Wetherspoons you know what you get, half decent pub fare at a reasonable price. Prices have gone up quality the other way.

Toilets aren’t the best cleanliness wise and don’t appear to be checked very often.

It’s a great shame this was what downham needed and it was so great. Wetherspoons spent a lot of money bringing an old run down pub back and making it exceptional. Unfortunately it’s going back to those times.

Hopefully it will be rectified and this pub returns to what...