A reporter who spent 16 hours in a Cardiff Wetherspoons has uncovered some surprising secrets about the popular pub chain. Bethany Gavaghan, from Wales Online, visited the Prince of Wales on St Mary's Street from opening at 8am until closing at midnight, documenting the ebb and flow of customers throughout the day.
Starting with a hot drink refill for £1.56, Gavaghan observed a quiet morning with only a few early birds grabbing breakfast and coffee. One elderly regular told her she visits every Wednesday and Thursday before catching her train to Newport, saying: 'I get in at 10am for work there but this is my bit of the day when I can think.' A mother with a toddler ordered eggs benedict, while two men held an informal business meeting over cups of coffee.
As the day progressed, the pub's character shifted. By late morning, friends Tilly and Wayne were enjoying a pint, demonstrating the chain's appeal to different groups. Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon noted: 'The Prince of Wales is an extremely popular pub. It plays a vital role in Cardiff's social scene... it is busy throughout the day, catering to different people at different times, from families to students to business people to individuals.'
Despite its reputation for cheap drinks, Gavaghan found the atmosphere surprisingly sophisticated. The building, once a cinema and theatre, lends itself to a relaxed dining experience. She concluded: 'What shines through when you spend 16 hours here is that you can kind of get whatever you want out of it, and that's exactly what people are doing.' The chain sells around 1.5 million cups of coffee per week across all its pubs.
