Castle In The Air - JD Wetherspoon — Restaurant in Trafford

I'm a regular eater here. I usually go after a long 12 hour shift for some dinner and a pint. This is definitely one of the better Spoons. It is not smelly, or sticky like some. It's not even full of old men with red noses from 8am until close. Maybe because of its location. It is joined onto the Ski slope by the Trafford centre. The food is always good. I usually opt for the mixed grill, and although the cuts of meats do vary in size a lot, it's usually well cooked and filling. And the prices make it not worth buying the stuff, and cooking it at home. Although they prices have snook up in recent years at all Wetherspoons pubs. It used to be £13 for a large mixed grill with a pint. Now it's more like £18. Depending when you go, it can be busy or quiet. Weekends get busy, and evenings. I think people use it before and after skiing or 5 aside football quite a bit. In the afternoons though, it's generally ok. Occasionally you'll get a party in there or kids birthday, so they tend to make a mess like they do. Food arrives quickly tho. Even on busy days I've not waited longer than 20 mins. There is the usual large variety of drinks, shots, wines, cocktails, beers and ales all at a good to reasonable price. There is also a log fire at the far end which is nice in winter. Like most Wetherspoons, they have TV's and speakers set up, but never have them on. The speakers seem like the most pointless things there to be honest. No background music or anything. Occasionally the TVs are in for sports events. The toilets are usually clean and up some stairs....not the usual labyrinth of corridors you get in some Spoons. The disabled is downstairs by the bar, although lazy people will use that too. Parking is usually ok and is free. And there are outdoor seats too which gets very busy when the sun is out as you get a nice sunset from there over Barton Bridge. The staff are efficient, without paying any particular attention to regular returning customers like some places do. It's like they reset their memory for faces at the end of each day 🤣. I have seen other regulars in here quite a lot, and it's usually for food and drinks. Not just usual drunks. So yeah, it's a good one to try...

So today I went in and sat down for 15 mins to decide what food to get ,after making a decision I went up to the bar to order, standing there for around 3-5 mins not even acknowledged by the man behind the counter not even a polite hello or sorry won't be a min .as I looked round I made I contact with one of the female staff and she slowly walks over with tje grumpiest looking face not even a slight smile,I then asked I'd like to order food and the reply I got was "there's a kitchen malfunction were not serving food " not an apology or a smile or nothing, I didn't get the women's name other wise I'd mention it . Now all the menus were still on the tables and no signage to state that they were not serving food ,staff members seen us walk in and didn't think to mention to incoming customers they weren't serving food.

Also the table was grubby and dirty ,also a piece of trodden on food was on the carpet ,now I'd understand this if they were run of there feet but seemed some of the staff were just having a chat .

I understand this is a weatherspoons and not the most glamorous place but today was ridiculous .

I've been here on numerous occasions but I think this is the last straw .

I'm not one to leave review but this had...

Disappointing. This Wetherspoons can usually be relied on but I was disappointed today when we went for breakfast. Hubby had the large full English. He seemed happy enough. I had the bacon butty on sliced bloomer with spreadable countryside butter. The bread was slightly dry going on toasted like it had been sat under the hot lamps too long. No butter on either slice. (A travesty in my opinion). The bacon fat was slightly underdone so it was chewy. Eww. AND I don't know if the bacon was smoked or cured or had been left next to the detergent too long but it tasted weird. It didn't say on the menu but it's important to us smoked bacon haters. The refillable tea and coffee was ace, thank you. As was the pint of orange. Service pretty average but we didn't really give them opportunity to show us different to be fair. Pub felt clean. Toilets tidy and spacious. Would definitely go again but maybe not...