The Auld Brig - JD Wetherspoon — Restaurant in Scotland

(This review written from the perspective of a Canadian)

The first Wetherspoons I fell in love with—maybe it was the company that brought me along, but there's a lot to love either way. This is where I found out about unlimited café beverages, from a self-serve machine (no waiting around to bug a waiter for a refill)—making this place, and pretty much any Spoons an instant winner. If you vape, there are plenty of tables that have easy access to a (quite) open outdoors area (it's a parking lot); this is really nice. I can always step out for a minute, and making distance isn't hard—neither is coming back in. The food is always very good—I've had some orders come missing items, but staff are always helpful, despite the restaurant almost always being busy. For food, the only area I'd like to see evolved on—some five-spice items (such as the Naga Chili Chicken Vindaloo, available at the Sir John Moore and the Crystal Palace) would be fantastic; for any fans of spiciness, it will knock your socks off—but it's not available at this location. The item rated one spice lower—the Beef Madras—is very manageable for me--that extra spice the Naga Vindaloo has is like an extra order of magnitude; it takes what one can manage confidently, and lays on nine more. Overwhelming, in the best way—I do wish it, or something similar were here. (if you're at a Wetherspoons where it's served, it's very good stuff—it will have you putting those free decaf mochas to use!)

Costs are very reasonable, considering how pricey eating out in the UK can be (in my experience). I specify the costs as ranging from £1-£10, as it's true that that is all you will often have to spend—however, I was almost always enticed to spend more; everything I've had has been very, very good in terms of texture, taste, and value for money. If it's from Wetherspoons, the chances are that it's good—so if you're in the UK and you want what's nearly guaranteed to be a good meal, Wetherspoons is a safe bet. (For anyone who drinks—a wide variety of pints are priced very reasonably, here. I can't go into too much detail, as I don't drink—but a friend who does gave me the quick rundown.)

Regarding washrooms/toilets: The bathrooms are on the main floor—and the word that comes to mind is "dignified". As a male, I appreciate that there are separating walls for all of the urinals—the only time I'm not pee shy to the point of having trouble is when I'm back in Canada, under the strong influence of cannabis. I have been to many places in the UK (and Canada) without walls separating the urinals—it's never fun. The toilets themselves are very confidential—very, very tall separators. Good for you guys—few places anywhere at all get it so right. I think the Wetherspoons at the Sir John Moore even goes so far as to have individual toilets, entirely walled-off from one-another, with a very tall door; I've literally never seen such good execution on the idea of a "dignified public restroom", or anything close. Both are winners.

Love the location, love the food, love how I never feel like I'm a prisoner or live in a barn—it really is too bad I don't live in the country, let alone the area!...

I was with a group of nurses we were out for lunch and a drink after working through covid. After buying an initial round and food. We were sent lots of cocktails through the app from friends who were not able to join us. One of the girls had a burger which upset her stomach as it was greasy. She went to the toilet and was sick in the toilets. After a bit a staff member came over and said your table has been cut off as someone was sick. We said we are not drunk but she said "the flowery top was sick so no more drink the table is cut off. She was very rude and abrupt. My friend in the flowery top spoke to the assistant manager and explained the situation but with no success. We had a few drinks on the table so we decided to finish them. A very rude member of staff came and said I told you you were cut of you are not getting these drinks. We explained a friend had ordered them through the app and didn't know the table was blocked. I asked if she would be refunded and was told rudely no. I asked if they could be given to another table she said yes . When the other table went to the bar they were told no receipt no drinks. A friend came to join us and was allowed to nuy a drink for herself and was told if she gave it to us she was thrown out. Shortly after this we were told to leave. We were not being loud or unruly and were not drunk and had been enjoying the day until that incident. Other customers were shocked at what happened and couldn't understand why we were being treated so badly. As NHS workers we were treated appallingly one of our table was 65 hardly drunken yobs. Staff were rude and unprofessional would not recommend...

Generally enjoy this pub, its what you expect from a Wetherspoons and one of the few all rounder pubs in Irvine, which caters for families and custom of all ages, however after my experience today with my I.D. I won't be back, went here ordered 2 pints, got ID'd which I'm used to because despite being nearly 28 i know i look quite young, but unfortunately my Driver's License has a hole on it caused by the zip on the coin pocket of my old wallet, so I showed the waitress it and she stared at it for a good couple of minutes and then after conferring briefly with another member of staff handed it back and said sorry I can't accept that as it doesn't have a "PASS" Logo, I asked what are you talking about its a "Driver's License" it isn't supposed to have a PASS Logo and she said it's supposed to have a hologram PASS logo and it should be where the hole is, so I said, yes whatever and walked out...After googling to see what supposed hologram/pass logo she was talking about it came up with hologram steering wheel across where the picture is, so I went back in here and explained this to her, not expecting to get served as she has made the refusal so thats fine, so she came and spoke to me and I said to her about the hologram she was talking about, and instead of accepting she was wrong about a PASS Logo (Which a Driver's License does not have) she then said we can't accept that cos its damaged, so it turns she makes up the I.D. and refusals protocols as she goes, now if she said to me to begin with I can't accept that because its damaged, I wouldn't have been...