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The Last Plantagenet (JD Wetherspoon), Leicester
Leicester
LE1 6FD
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 5 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Last Plantagenet (JD Wetherspoon)
I visited this rather bland city centre Wetherspoons wondering whether I was in for the sort of disastrous experience that befell Quinno in his review below, so it was something of an odd anticlimax to find a perfectly functional branch of this familiar chain. You enter into a large carpeted room with lots of regular tables and chairs under walls painted in warm shades and adorned with a great many information boards detailing various aspects of local history. Some central wood panelled pillars break up the entrance space a little before the servery appears down the right hand side with rows of high tables and stools opposite. Further in, there is a raised bare boarded seating area to the left with a curved partitioning rail dividing it from the rest of the room. Beyond is a darker rear section with banquettes to the left and padded bench booths to the right under a quite pleasant stained glass ceiling feature. Several TV screens throughout the pub were showing muted Sky Sports News and a soundtrack was supplied by a group of Japanese students who were playing music on their phones in the front corner of the pub. The whole place has that unmistakable Wetherspoons feel to it and manages to be instantly recognisable and yet utterly featureless at the same time.
There were six guest ales and six ‘Spoons regulars (three different beers doubled up) on the bar plus one cider. I ordered a pint of the Milestone Azaca Gold, but this spluttered its last as it was being poured, so I had a rethink and went for the Milestone Classic Dark Mild instead, which was a very nice pint for £2.25. In sharp contrast to Quinno’s experience, the staff were friendly, helpful and remarkably efficient.
Every city seems to have a ‘Spoons that is content to just plod along without really excelling at anything and this is most certainly Leicester’s version. The High Cross is the nicer of the central Wetherspoons, but this place was inoffensive enough to merit an occasional flying visit.
On 18th July 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Last Plantagenet (JD Wetherspoon)
This is possibly the largest of the three city Spoons and thankfully was an improvement on the dross ones out in the Leicester suburbs.
It's a long narrow room with typical furnishings although I did spot the odd armchair.
The bar has three sets of five hand pumps which had some reasonable options but could have been better. Four were available soon, then there was the JDW Trio Of Doom with the GK Beers doubled, London Pride, the Everard's International Defender, Marston's Old Empire, a cider, Milestone Shine On and Grainstore 1050. I went for the 1050 (£2.40) which was in great condition.
I didn't have any real problems with this one, the beer choice could have been better but at least there was something worth drinking and it seemed to be run OK.
On 29th June 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Last Plantagenet (JD Wetherspoon)
We've walked past here on our last two visits to Leicester, so this time we decided to give it a go. The pub had a varied selection of guest ales, so decided to try the Wood Farm Victorious which was pleasant enough. A decent enough pit stop, when heading to or from the station.
On 3rd February 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Last Plantagenet (JD Wetherspoon)
A completely different experience for me on my Thursday night visit compared to the old reviews below. A fairly standard JDW with a raised seating area to the left. Several guest ales on the bar alongside the JDW regulars. I had a pint of Medieval Last Plantagenet which was originally brewed for the pub, although I've had pints of it elsewhere recently. It was in very good nick. The service was swift, friendly & efficient and I got talking to one of the barstaff about Leicester pubs in general. I also got chatting to another couple of guys who were in Leicester for the rugby and had only recently been converted to real ale, so they were asking my advice. They then bought me a pint as a thank you. So friendly customers and staff, well kept ale, good service. No problems with this pub for me. I'll call back next time I'm in Leicester.
On 10th May 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ericonabike ericonabike left this review about The Last Plantagenet
The distinction between 'street drinking' and being in a pub gets a little blurred here at times. Distinctly varied clientele - I once had the unique experience of walking past a woman urinating in the street outside. Can't recommend - if you want a Wetherspoons in Leicester go to the Highcross on High Street instead.
On 22nd May 2011
- rating: 3
[User has posted 25 recommendations about 25 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Last Plantagenet
Rocked up in need of a point whilst waiting for my travel connection up north. Stroll in, notice that one half of the bar is busy, the other deserted. Go up to the deserted part of the bar to grab my beer and a bit of food.
Oh Lord what a mistake.
The reason it was deserted was because the trainee barman (let's call him Goon), was Eastern European and had absolutely no idea what he was doing, and appeared to have no-one shadowing him. Now don't get me wrong, I have no problem with overseas bar staff, sometimes they are better than Brits. But they need to be trained properly and have a basic grasp of pub-English. This fellah was woefully short of both.
Let's have a look at the facts:
1. Asked for a Mocha for the missus. After going through a range of variations of the word 'coffee', off he went to ask someone what a Mocha is.
2. Goon reappears and I ask for a half of one of the guest ales. Goon disappears to ask the manager what a half was and where it was on the till. Then he couldn't undo the the lock properly to release the handpull so said that it was off. The temptation to reach over the bar and unlock it for him was immense, but I probably would have been chucked out. So I thought I'd persevere and asked for a half of the next one along, which I noticed was unlocked. The half eventually appeared, with a bigger head on it than James Harries - explaining the concept of the 'top-up' was excruciating.
3. Time to ask for food, not looking forward to this, but I was in too deep and also the queue at the other bar had got bigger. The Pikey Platter (2 for 6.99) being the obvious option for two people. I pointed at the menu and picked out the two I wanted, which he rang through at full price. So cue another trip to find someone to correct it.
4. Rang through by someone else in the end, then I paid. Goon took the money and then wandered off, oblivious to a) my receipt for the food, and b) the Mocha (remember that?). Managed to get someone else over to produce the receipt and go and make the Mocha. Whilst waiting, I looked at the receipt and saw that my half had been rung through as a pint. After having a second half to compensate I eventually got back to my seat 15 minutes after I went to the bar.
5. The food arrived and the chips were undercooked and cold.
This place is a shambles, managed by day-releasers from the funny farm. Giving a kid with pidgin English and no obvious bar skills a shift unsupervised and untrained makes the mind boggle.
Don't bother with this place, forget the beer range and 'value', they don't give a toss about the customer. Pay a premium and go to the Criterion, Vaults or Derby and Rutland. It really is worth it. Possibly the worst experience I've ever had in a pub.
On 4th January 2007
- rating: 1
[User has posted 5099 recommendations about 5082 pubs]