Love it or loathe it, Wetherspoons remains a quintessentially British institution.

The pub giant operates approximately 800 establishments nationwide and generated £2 billion in revenue last year. From its venue-specific 1970s-inspired carpeting to its remarkably affordable beverages, from its forthright chief executive Tim Martin to its knack for acquiring magnificent Victorian structures and converting them into watering holes, the chain is deeply embedded in British culture.

However, what many may not realise – and what came as news to me – is that Wetherspoons not only operates hotels, but has done so since 1998. Its inaugural venue in Shrewsbury featured 22 guest rooms alongside the more familiar pub facilities.

Subsequently, 54 additional Wetherspoons Hotels have launched.

Deterred by Mr Martin’s forays into British politics and concerns about the chain outcompeting independent establishments through bulk purchasing advantages, my recent Wetherspoons visits had been restricted to airport emergencies and, occasionally, using their facilities without making purchases. Nevertheless, after Which? crowned its hotel the nation’s most budget-friendly earlier this month, I resolved to set aside previous reservations and experience it firsthand.

On a bitter Wednesday in November, I arrived at the Thomas Ingoldsby in Canterbury, frozen and dishevelled after an extended bicycle journey from Broadstairs. What followed warmed my frigid bones and completely transformed my perception of Wetherspoons.

The proposition is, quite frankly, extraordinary. Here’s the breakdown:

Price

Price clearly represents a major advantage in Wetherspoon pubs, and this extends to its hotel offerings. In the Which? survey, it achieved a rare 4* rating for value for money – one of only two hotels to do so, alongside overall winner Coaching Inn Group.

Whilst Coaching’s typical nightly rate stands at £128, Wetherspoon charges merely £70 on average. A double room at the Thomas Ingoldsby, reserved for next Wednesday, costs just £55. I enjoyed a £2.99 vegetarian breakfast following an evening of £1.89 pints of ale. Both proved surprisingly decent.

Perhaps it’s been too long since I’ve travelled beyond the M25, but those prices appeared remarkably low. In 2025, when simply leaving home seems to cost at least £20, the affordability of this experience stood out as the most noteworthy aspect.

Atmosphere

Prior to my hotel visit, my last Wetherspoon experience involved wandering into the vast and strangely quiet Coronet on London’s Holloway Road. The contrast in atmosphere couldn’t have been sharper on this particular chilly Wednesday evening in Canterbury.

Drinkers had turned out in force across East Kent. University students, cheerful groups of pensioners, solitary men reading books whilst eating onion rings.

All walks of life were represented.

The hotel rooms lie just a brief staircase climb from the pub, enabling guests to easily make their way up at closing time or indulge in a deli wrap and chips whilst bathing. A staff member informed me that last-minute room bookings are possible, though excessively intoxicated guests may be turned away.

The room

The room itself proved virtually flawless. Having visited numerous budget hotels over the years, this ranked amongst the finest.

The potential pitfalls when staying at lower-priced establishments include deteriorating furniture, unhygienic conditions and evidence of bedbugs. The ideal outcome is accommodation where everything appears well-maintained, relatively new, spotless and thoughtfully designed.

The Ingoldsby ticked all these boxes, whilst offering double rooms spacious enough for an impromptu late-night gathering (though such activities likely aren’t endorsed or permitted).

The accommodation also featured a substantial desk with a comprehensively stocked tea tray, a generous television and a vista of Canterbury Cathedral that few city hotels could rival. Only two of the Ingoldsby’s rooms boast that outlook.

Those situated on the hotel’s opposite side not only miss the view of the Anglican Church’s headquarters, but experience some disruption from morning lorry activity, according to staff. If available, room 110 is the optimal choice.

Following an extended, chilly day cycling through Kent, I was delighted to find the thermostat adjustable to 25 C, which genuinely delivered. It felt like being on holiday.

What’s included

Regrettably, Spoons hotel doesn’t offer an all-inclusive arrangement. One can only imagine the chaos that might ensue after countless bottles of Hooch and triple-cooked chips.

However, the actual provision isn’t stingy. Reliable Wi-Fi, a couple of packets of biscuits, fresh towels, two bottles of water and a generous supply of tea, coffee and hot chocolate sachets to sustain you until the 11am checkout.

Breakfast isn’t included, but given how affordable the morning meal options are, it hardly seemed worth grumbling about.

In conclusion

A friend’s wise father once remarked that Spoons is the closest thing to a genuine social institution this nation has remaining. As nightclubs shut their doors and members’ clubs disappear, the opportunities for people to gather are dwindling rapidly.

Spoons may well be one of the last true third spaces left in the UK, drawing people from all walks of life and every demographic. Now that it’s offering rooms of this quality at such remarkable prices, its appeal becomes increasingly difficult to dismiss.