The familiar sight of a Wetherspoon pub, a cornerstone of affordable British social life, has seen its menu evolve dramatically since the chain first opened its doors in 1979. While the current offering features everything from classic breakfasts to a new Christmas selection, several once-popular dishes have vanished from the lineup, leaving a void in the hearts of some dedicated patrons.
Bygone Deals and Weekly Favourites
For years, the start of the week was marked by Mexican Monday, a themed event that allowed customers to build their own burritos, enjoy nachos, or opt for a naked burrito. The fillings were diverse, ranging from Quorn chilli to barbecue pulled pork, rib-eye steak, and chicken breast strips. An alternative was the barbecue pulled pork and cheese quesadilla. This deal, priced at a tempting £5.49 with a soft drink or £6.49 with an alcoholic beverage, was sadly retired in 2017, making way for the current Small Plates Deal.
Another weekly tradition that has disappeared is the Sunday roast. The Sunday Club offered a choice of hand-carved topside of beef, roast pork, half roast chicken, or a lentil, mushroom, and mozzarella roast. Each meal was served with roast potatoes, a Yorkshire pudding, sage and onion stuffing, vegetables, and gravy, all for just £8.09 including a drink. The final serving of this beloved British staple was on Mother's Day in 2016, and it now only makes a seasonal appearance on the Christmas menu.
Controversial and Much-Missed Offerings
Not every discontinued item is fondly remembered. The chicken chow mein had a brief tenure on the menu between 2016 and 2017 and is not mourned by all. Comments on platforms like Reddit describe it as "horrific" and criticise its "overly soft noodles and vegetables" which resulted in a "pure mush" texture.
In contrast, the removal of the hot dog selection to accommodate new items like the Drive Thru burger was met with significant customer dismay. The menu featured a traditional hot dog with chips for £5.69, as well as premium options like a barbecue hot dog with pulled pork and cheese and a Mexican dog topped with chilli and cheese. Their departure was so keenly felt that it sparked petitions for their return, with one enthusiast stating they are "still mourning the loss of the pulled pork hogdog."
The End of an Era for Grill Lovers
Perhaps one of the most significant blows to loyal customers came in May of this year when Wetherspoon's implemented a major menu overhaul. This update saw the permanent removal of two menu staples: steaks and the iconic mixed grill. The disappearance of these items also led to a change in the Tuesday Club promotion, which previously focused on steaks but has now been substituted with a gourmet burger deal featuring newer additions like The Big Smoke and Buffalo and Cheese Meltdown.
This year's menu changes confirm that even in a establishment as consistent as Wetherspoon's, the only constant is change, much to the chagrin of fans of the old favourites.
