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Drapers Arms, Peterborough

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user reviews of the Drapers Arms, Peterborough

please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.

I call in every couple of weeks and have still never been disappointed by the quality and condition of any real ale I have tried. Apparently there are only a couple of Wetherspoons in the country which have a higher turnover of real ale than here. There are now plans to build a roof garden terrace which should increase this still further. Even if you are not a fan of Wetherspoons the Drapers is well worth a visit.
Stamfordian - 23 Aug 2018 23:08
Made an unscheduled stop here yesterday on the way from the Peterborough Beer Festival back to the station. It's a Wetherspoon's about 4-5 minutes walk from the station. Didn't get to see too much. But the interior seemed nice enough. Ales were Grainstore Ten Fifty, Sharp's Doom Bar, Greene King IPA & Abbot, Brewsters Hophead & Marquis, Newby Wyke Wolfpack, Oakham Inferno & Thornbridge Jaipur. Ciders were Weston's Old Rosie & Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon. Will have to make a return visit when a little more sober.
blue_scrumpy - 23 Aug 2018 18:29
Very busy Wetherspoon's. Fair range of ales, seemed to be in good condition. Probably nearest pub to the railway station.
Aztecgoat - 25 Jan 2015 09:32
Reasonable Weatherspoons, rather more welcoming than most a good place to wait for a train at the nearby station and with large windows that make the place more airy than most such pubs on summer day. Beer range is reasonable though not very adventurous and quality good. Easy to find at the west end of Cowgate near the Bourges Boulevard/Thorpe rd roundabout.
Arctium_lappa - 17 Feb 2013 21:13
More comfortable than most with efficient and friendly staff who actually talk to the customers, this has a more pubby atmosphere than your average 'spoons. If you're travelling on a budget you will probably end up in one of these establishments for a meal and a drink at some point - usually quick in and out - but here you might want to linger. Of the two nearest pubs to the railway station, in my opinion this is preferable to the Oakham Brewery Tap which is one of those "big barn" conversions in which I never feel at ease.
rabdes - 21 Nov 2010 10:01
One of the best Wetherspoons I know, and I regularly visit. Has 5 handpumps for regular beers and 5 for ever-changing guests, so always something interesting to drink. Very rarely does the condition of a pint disappoint. The manager knows what he is doing, and has been here for years - a pointer to how important this function is to such establishments. Other staff are good as well - if at times overworked. Usual Wetherspoons fare as far as food and other drinks are concerned. I will continue to drink here whilst present standards are maintained. A point to mention - it has become the venue for away football supporters who are herded here from the Station by the police, so can be loud and intimidating on occasion, but relegation for Posh should reduce this now.
Stamfordian - 18 Jun 2010 11:00
Another visit to Peterborough, and we called in for the curry. There was a good selection of ales on and we chose Oakham Citra and Grainstore Silly Billy. Both in good condition. Good prompt service at the bar too. No problems with either food or beer. The room appeared tidy so I would call it a good Wetherspoons.
gillhalfpint - 2 Apr 2010 08:13
Tried to buy a drink at 11.30 on a thursday morning but no chance. Customers were three deep at the bar and there were just two staff serving. Admittedly it was the week of the Peterborough beer festival and there were a lot of people stopping off here on their way from the station to the festival site (the festival didn't open until 12.00), but surely the Manager could have anticipated that there would be extra customers around and laid on a couple of extra staff. After all the pub was running its own beer festival to compliment the official one and had taken out adverts in the festival programme enticing people to come in and visit.
Yet again Wetherspoons lets itself down and loses customers and income for the want of a few pounds on staff wages.
The pub did look quite pleasant but that's all I can report.
Grailhunter - 4 Sep 2009 13:37
Grainstore Gold, Rutland Panther, Holden�s Special, Woodforde Wherry, Pedigree, Old Peculier, Directors, Ruddles, Abbot. It�s a pretty good �spoons.
trainman - 7 Jun 2009 11:30
Not that much to say as it is after all a Wetherspoon's and they're all very similar. Open to midnight which is always handy (I think it maybe later on a weekend). They had TEN real ales on when we visited, but it was during their beer festival so I don't know what the usual number is.
This one's definately preferable to the other JDW in Peterborough (College Arms) and seems to be in a nicer part of town. That's from a very quick observation though, I don't know the area!
Blackthorn - 1 May 2009 17:33
Late reivew from October. Enjoyed a couple of Newby Wyke guest beers, but not a lot else to say.
gillhalfpint - 17 Jan 2009 12:07
Compared with the other 'spoons house in Peterborough this is a much better bet - customers who aren't there just to get as drunk as they can in the shortest amount of time.

I've never eaten here, so can't comment on that, but the beers always good, and there's worse places I can think of to pass a few hours with a few beers.
nmckenn - 24 Dec 2008 00:15
Visiting the town on a Thursday afternoon/early evening (semi-frequent visitor) and having wandered round the town simply trying to find a place for pub grub that wasn't full of people looking to pull, I ran out of options so ended up here.

It was heaving busy, and I found the lone empty table in the place right at the front. Great, I thought, so I could look out and watch the world go by and so my late-arriving friend could find me easily...

It was definitely one of those places where you know you're not in your own town because everyone stares as you walk through the place. I thought maybe I'd somehow got a big black spludge of something on my face without realising it, but no. Really off-putting...

Despite all the people, the service was quick enough at the bar. However, my meal seemed to take an absolute age and just when I was thinking of going up to ask about it or try to cancel the order, a couple of blokes pulled up in a car out front and came in straight to my table and told me I would have to move because they were going to set up as a band in 5 minutes. They had no interest whatsoever that I was sat and settled with all of my shopping bags, waiting for a meal with no other empty tables in the place. I had to leave all my things on their own and try to find another place to sit. When I got back, they had already started moving my table and the chairs away with all of my things in them. Can�t say I was happy about this at all, after a long day and wander about trying to find a place for a quiet, low-key little pub meal (quiet? Not a place in town!), still waiting for food and now faced with having nowhere to sit to eat it.

Why couldn�t someone have mentioned this to me earlier when I�d put in my food order and gave my table number?

One of the staff tried to help but sadly I was in no mood by that point. Luckily, someone nearby left so I took their table just as my meal arrived, but was unhappy and uncomfortable with where I'd moved/felt stuck. Rushing through the food after waiting so long and now being stressed about the flaff about, I was rather disgruntled about the whole experience.

The food was fine � the usual chain pub fayre � but very messy and I�d only been given one thin napkin and didn�t feel comfortable leaving all of my things on their own to go ask for another (no one who worked there ever passed by to ask for help).

I didn�t feel my expectations were overly-high going in, and maybe got the place on a bad night, but all in all, I wouldn�t go here again when visiting PE unless � <i>maybe</i> � I was with a group of locals who didn�t attract stares and/or who looked as if they were looking for someone to desperately chat them up.
cynthiaxuk - 20 Dec 2008 23:40
Busy pub, but more effiecent that other Wetherspoons I know.

Beer selection was great, when I spotted the Old Peculiar I knew I'd made the right choice.

The seating is crammed in, good luck moving about!
petergoesrock - 3 Aug 2007 13:41
Peterborough CAMRA pub of the year and rightly so, which is saying something when you see the quality of the town;s free-houses - does the important things very well.
mtaylor40 - 1 Jun 2007 23:04
Cracking pub, much better atmosphere than the College Arms (also Wetherspoon) but then it is aimed at a more discerning client�le.
Joff - 29 May 2007 14:08
A good pub to start a daytime visit to Peterborough with as it opens early and serves a good breakfast, ideal to fill up before the festival or a pub crawl, it also has an interesting little range of guest ales at a decent price.
Tweeky - 22 Apr 2007 20:17
Called in on our way to a festival and enjoyed the beer. No smoke - great.

gillhalfpint - 15 Apr 2007 22:55
One of the best in town. Good service and non-smoking.

Quite difficult to get a seat as it is always busy, prime location near the all you can eat Chinese Buffet, just keep off the J2Os.
DeggyT - 4 Nov 2006 23:40
Smallish 'Spoons (loos especially), but nice concise beer range with focus on micros rather than the regionals. My Mauldons Porter turned oout to be the previous special, a golden beer, but really tasty. By the way, P'boro was absolutely dead at 11.30 on a Thursday night - what do people do there !
mtaylor40 - 13 Oct 2006 21:22
A Very nice offering from Lloyds No1 Bar,8/10
fat_beer_badger - 26 Aug 2006 13:54
A large Pub in Peterborough, No to sure where they are going with this ?, when it was the Old Monk it was Light and airy, with the staining of the wood and a general darkening of the decor I suspect they are trying to potray a Dikensian feel to the place. time will tell, shame they don't do London Pride anymore Happy Daze at the Old Monk !
Amarok - 3 Mar 2006 22:21
Best up and coming hostelry in Peterborough. Non smoking, good quality beer and as its a wetherspoons, reasonably priced and decent quality grub.

Will probably get in Good beer guide this year.
Fenlander - 31 Jan 2006 22:01
This pub has now reopened as the Drapers Arms with a mostly good range of real ales at good prices. Completely no smoking.
pcamra - 19 Jun 2005 12:34
Located near the bus garage, in the Old Monk premises.

This is a non-smoking Wetherspoons.

Standard Wetherspoon prices and good value food.

Excellent breakfasts. Very good staffing & attitude.
TeeeCeee - 1 Apr 2005 13:09
Currently closed. Has been bought by Wetherspoons group and will become a "new" type of Spoons without branding, with beers from around the world, different food, etc - or so they say.
pcamra - 19 Feb 2005 12:31

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