Love them or hate them, Britain has no shortage of Wetherspoons. 

Famed for cheap pints and pub grub, the chain operates a whopping 852 branches across the UK.

But one branch in a corner of Essex coast has failed to impress visitors – who have been very vocal about it.

Clacton-on-Sea gets a bit of a bad rep as it is, with the seaside town having one of the worst rates of anti-social behaviour per resident, with 68 incidents for every 1,000 compared with the UK’s average of 17.

It’s even been labelled a ‘dump’ by those who live there.

Once a thriving holiday destination for Londoners in its heyday, it could well be bought back from the brink thanks to a £20million cash injection as part of the levelling up fund.

The Government has said it is hoped the fund will “put an end to people feeling like their town is ignored by Westminster and empower communities to take back control of their future, taking long term decisions in the interests of local people”.

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Speaking about the funding, Levelling Up Secretary, Michael Gove, said: “We know that in our towns the values of hard work and solidarity, common sense and common purpose, endeavour and quiet patriotism have endured across generations. 

“But for too long, too many of our great British towns have been overlooked and undervalued. 

“We are putting this right through our Long-Term Plan for Towns backed by over £1 billion of levelling up funding. 

“This will empower communities in every part of the UK to take back control of their future, taking long term decisions in the interests of local people. 

“It will mean more jobs, more opportunities, and a brighter future for our towns and the people who live and work in them.”

Let’s hope that the Moon and Starfish, the local Wetherspoons located in the thick of it by Clacton Pier, also improves, as 174 of the branch’s 825 reviews were rated poor or terrible.

Punters said the Spoons was the ‘worst ever’, with one saying they would ‘never return’.

Reviewer Marlou, who visited in August said: “Knew it was Weatherspoons so not expecting much and it was even worse than that. The staff were unfriendly and unhelpful. And as for the loaded fries really can’t see how chips can be overcooked on the outside and undercooked on the inside.”

Another said: “The servers and service was lovely. However the quality of everything else was poor. Food came out stone cold. Taste was highly inferior even compared to an average weather spoons. The cider we drank was just about passable. But when combined with the food and time it took to be brought we were thoroughly dissapointed.

“The toilets were foul. Upon being seated food was brough past us. As it was we could smell sour foul smelling fish. Making us avoid the fish completely. Which for a seaside town is extremely disappointing.”

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Another ranted: “Management you should’ve embarrassed. First visit you had Tesco sized cages full of stock on the pub floor after 11am. And you were sorting your stock among guests. Health and safety code what??? Never the Twain shall meet. The food late and the drink substandard.

“Second visit, no cages in sight so a good start. But the drink I purchased was turning as I was as drinking it absolutely disgusting.

“When I politely pose a question about my disgusting drink I am met with puzzlement in a face to face of one of a few people in the building that had no place being behind a bar. This place will be one of those reasons folk say the pub trade is dying.”

However, it’s not all bad as some did leave good reviews.

Posting in September, one happy customer said: “Had a lovely lunch time experience food was hot, glad i chose the small portion I would never have managed a normal serving, staff were lovely and helpful. Wouldnt look to go eat anywhere else.”

Another raved: “Been here several times over the years and to be honest it’s a spoons, you know what your getting and you know how they run. Never had a bad pint here.”

Express.co.uk has contacted JD Wetherspoon for comment.

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