A university student from Bromley has set herself a unique challenge – to visit and rate every single Wetherspoons pub in the UK before her 30th birthday.
Charlotte Toller, aged 20, is currently studying journalism at the University of Roehampton. When she’s not attending lectures or working part-time at a local pub, she’s on a mission to review all 800 Wetherspoons pubs across the country.
Her evaluation criteria include everything from price and decor to the distance of the toilets from the bar, the design of the carpet, and the overall atmosphere.
A Quirky Quest Born in Bromley
The idea was born last September while Charlotte and her boyfriend, Finn Hutchinson, both 20, were enjoying a few drinks at their local Wetherspoons, The Richmal Crompton – fondly referred to as “Spoons”.
Though she hasn’t yet reviewed her local branch, she began her pub-hopping journey at The Cordwainer in Northampton later that same month.
“We realised that on the Wetherspoons app you can tick off all the ones you’ve been to and we thought, wouldn’t it be cool if we could just tick all of them off?” Miss Toller told the PA news agency.
With 800 Spoons across the UK, the challenge is no small feat. Charlotte admits finding the time for the adventure is a task in itself. Nevertheless, she’s determined to hit every location before turning 30.
She’s been sharing her journey with thousands of followers on TikTok under the handle @charlsaurus. So far, she’s reviewed 13 pubs, each time ordering her go-to drink – an Absolut Vanilla vodka and Pepsi – to keep things consistent.
“I find it crazy how you can order a drink and the price can be double or triple what you would pay in certain parts of the country,” she said.
Ranking the Spoons: Carpets, Cost and Convenience
Two pubs currently top Charlotte’s list: The Peter Cushing in Whitstable and The Rockingham Arms in Elephant and Castle, both scoring an impressive 8.5 out of 10.
“I have to be biased – my favourite one is The Peter Cushing in Whitstable, it’s very nice and my grandparents have a house in the area,” she said.
Posting her review on TikTok, Charlotte noted that The Peter Cushing stood out for its clean carpet and welcoming beer garden. However, she deducted points due to the inconvenient toilet location.
The unique focus on carpets began after a viewer commented that each Spoons pub has its own distinct carpet design — a detail Charlotte has since confirmed through her travels.
On The Rockingham Arms’ flooring, she remarked: “It’s not pretty but it’s not ugly.”
The pub’s central location and the relatively low price of her drink, which cost just £4.16, helped it achieve a high score. “What I have noticed is the airport (Spoons) don’t have carpets so I always mention that in the videos.”
While some pubs are no longer contenders for the top spot, Charlotte still appreciates the efforts in design. The Swan & Castle in Oxford earned praise for its themed carpet featuring swans and castles.
On the flip side, The Four Candles in Oxford received just three out of 10. She described difficulty finding a clean table, and said her drink lacked fruit.
To date, the most Spoons Charlotte has visited in a single day is six — all located in London. She often fits pub visits around other travel plans, frequently accompanied by Finn or her friends.
“Sometimes people comment and I remember someone commented there is one in Nottingham, and I have a friend who lives there and was planning on visiting her so we went to the Spoons,” she added.
“Some people have also commented saying they are going to do something similar, which is great.”
Her most viewed video — a review of The Swan & Castle — has amassed over 350,000 views.
“I did not think I would ever go viral, I just wanted to have a bit of fun,” she said.
Charlotte believes Wetherspoons holds a special place in the hearts of Gen Z, serving as a reliable meeting spot that’s affordable and familiar.
“I first went to a Spoons when I was 18 and everyone is counting down until they’re 18 so they can go to a Spoons and I think it’s because it’s fairly cheap, it’s a good place to go with your friends to play games or just have a chat,” she said.
“Even now, all my friends are off at university and we still all come back and meet at our local Spoons in the holidays.”
