The Moon Under Water - JD Wetherspoon — Restaurant in Watford

I am very local to this pub and have been for about 10 years. However recently its has declined in quality of product, both food and drink, and also the attitude towards customers is slipping. In the past 3 months I have had to send back 3 meals for being to cold, and leathery, the food has obviously been left for hours in a hot hold to become tough and cold, Though the first 2 times it was delt with correctly by the manager or team leader on duty. However today I complained about a cold gormet burger, literally cold to the touch. And upon complaining I was spoken to as if i was a child. Being made to believe I was stupid for complaining as the panic'd team leader/supervisor told me "it was busy"... on a monday... with no apology. They gave me a new burger by which time everything else was cold. I ate a bit of the burger before trying the onion rings, becoming completely put off, more so than i was before, as I once again bit in to leather... but this time its leathery batter and over cooked onion rings. The beer was nice today and I wont be askong for a refund as I paid through the app and can't be bothered with the complication. However I highly recommend going somwhere else. The columbia press is not only more nice in quality, but also has friendlier staff, and amazing food (for a spoons), also the chefs seem to care about the food they are cooking. To justify this comment, I am a bar manager (and chef when needed) and understand the health and safty protocols of a spoons. I will not be returning for fear of food poisoning, and with this post warn the general public to do the same.

Too long? Bar staff are great, team leaders are rude, the cooks dont care about health and hygiene, they seemed to be more focused on profit and wastage, then they are customer experience.

Update. This place is an embarrassment. Shambles. How does the GM sleep at night being...

As a loyal customer for over 12 years, I’m honestly shocked and disappointed by the new menu. It feels like a complete betrayal of what Wetherspoon used to represent — affordable, hearty pub food with decent portions. Now, it seems more like a bad imitation of overpriced chain restaurants with none of the value.

All the classic, filling dishes like the half roast chicken or the full steaks are gone. Instead, we get a menu filled with the same small burgers and endless curry options. At this point, it feels more like an Indian restaurant than a British pub — is this still Wetherspoon?

The burgers, once bulky and satisfying, now look like they were taken straight from the McDonald’s kids menu. The "quality upgrade" is meaningless when the portions are 1/4 the size and double the price. A small plate — basically some frozen chips and a couple of chicken wings — now costs £15. This used to be a place where families could eat without breaking the bank. Not anymore.

They’ve even introduced a “£3 small bites” section, which just highlights how much regular portion sizes have been cut. It’s a sad attempt to make it look like they’re offering variety, when in fact they’re just charging more for less.

And after 12 years of politely asking for proper hot sauce, the best they could do is add those pointless sweet chili sachets that do absolutely nothing. No real improvement, no real spice — just the same bland taste, now in smaller portions at a higher price.

Meanwhile, cleaning standards haven’t improved, service hasn’t improved, and definitely our wages haven’t quadrupled like the menu prices have.

Honestly, I used to think “Let’s go to Wetherspoon” whenever I wanted a good, reliable meal. Now? I don’t see the point. Maybe it’s time for a new CEO — someone who remembers what made Wetherspoon great in the...

In terms of layout and decor, this Wetherspoons pub hasn't changed a bit since it was opened more than 30 years ago. That's not a bad thing, as it's very spacious and you can usually find a table. It boasts a long bar, and there is, of course, a huge trek to the lavatories upstairs. :-) Yes, the carpets are hideous, but there's probably so much spilt on the things that it makes sense for them to be so dreadful. The pub has some interesting photos of local historical interest on the walls, which is a nice touch.

Food and drink are even better value nowadays than I remember in the early days. You can purchase a meal with a drink for not much more than a fiver. Service is pretty quick, although you occasionally have to remind staff about elements of an order that haven't arrived.

The atmosphere is what you'd expect from this chain. I saw it jokingly described as a bit like wandering into the middle of a zombie apocalypse, but that's a bit harsh! :-) Clientele can be a little bolshy sometimes, if they think you're pushing in front of them, but otherwise you won't find any trouble in this pub.

One depressing aspect is the prevalence of gambling machines which, given the average demographic of the daytime clientele, seems a bit like preying on the vulnerable. Steer clear of those machines.

Bar staff are efficient without being overly friendly. I guess they are busy all day because this place never seems to have a quiet period. Waiting staff are polite and helpful.

It's exceptionally busy on a Watford FC matchday and I would never attempt coming here for a pre-match drink for that reason.

Overall, a place I would visit at quieter times for a great-value meal and a drink. You won't find a better value...