Shocking footage believed to have been filmed inside a Wetherspoon pub kitchen shows filthy conditions including mouldy food and dirty microwaves.
The video clips were shared on TikTok by a user called @wetherspoontruths, who asked: “Have you ever eaten in a Wetherspoons??”
One clip shows staff posing alongside piles of dirty crockery, before recording mess elsewhere in the kitchen.
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A second video supposedly featured photos taken after a manager had closed the kitchen the night before, with the user saying: “Her husband does the kitchen check btw.”
The scenes were reportedly captured at The Bell Hanger in Chepstow, South Wales, which currently has a 3.9 star rating on Google.
A number of TikTok users were horrified by the ‘rotten’ conditions, with one writing: “Why are you trying to ruin a good thing here?”
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However, many defended the pub chain, claiming it was likely a fault with staff at the specific site.
“Worked in about 20 different Wetherspoons in my career and never seems this, the standards are so high it’s unreal so this got to be a one off,” one user said.
Someone else commented: “This isn’t Spoons' fault though, this is a staff issue.”
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A third added: “I’m guessing the maker of this account got sacked for not doing their job right and is now mad and is trying to expose them out of jealously.”
Responding to the first video, which featured stacks of dirty plates, another said: “Looks like any other kitchen mid service.”
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Another wrote: “Just looks like the clean up after a lunch rush lmao.”
In a statement, JD Wetherspoon admitted conditions at the pub were previously ‘below the required standards’.
However, the chain said it has since undergone various changes, having recently been awarded a food hygiene rating of 5.
The statement said: "We believe that the photos are of The Bell Hanger in Chepstow and were taken by an ex-employee.
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"It is difficult to comment in detail on the photos due to a lack of context. It is true that the pub in question fell below the required standards in the past.
"Since then there has been an investigation and management changes.
"The latest inspection of this pub on 8 December 2022 by the Environmental Health Officer for Monmouthshire County Council resulted in the pub being awarded the maximum food hygiene rating of 5 (out of 5), which reflects the standards of cleanliness and hygiene which are now in place.
"Wetherspoon pubs have an average food hygiene rating of 4.98 (out of 5). Out of Wetherspoons’ 769 pubs in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 754 pubs which have been assessed under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme have been awarded a maximum 5 star rating."
LADbible has reached out to JD Wetherspoon for further comment.
Topics: UK News, Food And Drink
Jess Hardiman