Woman divides opinion after bringing her own ingredients to Wetherspoons after menu change – but is it genius?
THERE’S nothing worse than a restaurant changing the recipe for your go-to order.
Of course, you could just deal with the new version of your favourite grub, or you could take a page out of this foodie’s book and bring your own ingredients to restore the food to it’s former glory.
The Wetherspoons fan was enjoying a meal with her friends when she shocked them all by pulling out a bag of gravy granules from her bag.
Why you might ask, well, the food fan had previously discovered her favourite gravy was no longer on the menu and had been replaced chicken gravy.
Taking matters into her own hands, she decided to bring her own gravy granules to the pub, much to her friends’ horror.
The incident was shared on TikTok by the mum’s pal Vicky, who captioned the viral video: “It’s never a normal girls night with me and my friends.”
In the video, Vicky asked her friend to repeat what she’d just asked the waiter to bring to the table.
“For a mug of boiling water and a tea spoon,” the woman explained.
She went on to explain that she doesn’t like the new chicken gravy, so decided to bring her own, in a sandwich bag no less.
“I couldn’t bring the [gravy] container because the boys are having gravy with their tea,” she went on to explain.
The viral video then showed the foodie mixing her dark gravy in the mug before pouring it over her chips as her friends looked on embarrassed and poking fun at her.
“Improvise, adapt, overcome. This is elite level resourcefulness,” one person commented on the clip.
A second agreed the woman’s move was nothing short of genius, they said: “To be fair, that’s a flipping brilliant idea.”
and a third said: “Spoons gravy is disgusting, I support this decision.”
Meanwhile, someone else had a similar problem in Ikea, they explained: “I’ve taken Bisto ready made in a flask as my kid doesn’t like the gravy they do but still wants Bisto with her meatballs.”
But others weren’t convinced by the move and slammed the woman in the comment section of the video.
“Just stay home and eat your child at that point,” one said.
“Even the couple in the back [of the video] are judging,” someone else said.
And another wrote: “I’d be ashamed. Don’t go out.”
But it turns out she isn’t the only person who brings their own condiments.
Someone else chimed in: “I’ve brought salad cream to Wetherspoons because they stopped doing it lol.”
“I’ve got sachets of HP sauce in my bag in case somewhere doesn’t have it,” another admitted.
And another Spoons fan wrote: “I bring my own garlic and herb may to Spoons as they don’t do it and I need it for pizza.”
The condiment debate comes just weeks after the boozer revealed their Christmas menu
What’s new on the menu this year?
For this year’s festive period, customers can order a new pizza version of the popular “big cheese burger” released last year, which is covered in gooey mozzarella, brie, cheddar, blue cheese sauce topped with rocket from £9.84.
Senior consumer reporter Adele Cooke tried the big cheese pizza and scored it 3.5 out of 5.
There’s also a smaller, eight inch portion available for £6.51 at the pub we visited – but prices vary depending on location.
It’s not the first time Wetherspoons has launched a festive-themed pizza, as it unveiled a chicken, stuffing, bacon and brie pizza in 2022.
This year, the menu also features a never-before-seen burger, pizza and dessert.
There’s also a new vegan five gold rings burger on offer from £10.43, combining a Beyond Meat plant-based patty, BBQ sauce, iceberg lettuce, tomato and red onion, topped with five onion rings.
For those looking for a lunchtime pick-me-up, there’s a brand new southern-fried chicken and stuffing wrap.
And for those with a sweet tooth, there’s the all-new cookies and cream blondie.
How can I save money at Wetherspoons?
FREE refills - Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day.
Check a map – Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other.
So if you’re planning a pint at a Spoons, it’s worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you’re settling in at the cheapest.
Choose your day – Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights.
For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual.
Pick-up vouchers – Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled.
Get appy – The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table – but you don’t need to be in the pub to use it.
Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play.
Check the date – Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry.
It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14.
As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.