First on our grand Two Julians tour of Lowestoft was Joseph Conrad, the JD Wetherspoon pub located opposite the railway station. It was a hot day in East Anglia, but being by the coast helped matters somewhat.
JD Wetherspoon makes an effort to explain the names of their pubs, so I will use their text:
“When Jozef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowksi disembarked in Lowestoft, in June 1878, he could not speak a word of English. The Polish mariner then signed on as crew with the Skimmer of the Sea, a small coaster. Korzeniowksi had his first English lessons from the ship’s master and went on to become famous as Joseph Conrad, one of the leading writers of the 20th century. Much of Conrad’s highly acclaimed work was inspired by his long career at sea, including his novel Lord Jim – twice adapted as a film.
These licensed premises are named after the Polish mariner who disembarked in Lowestoft in 1878 and signed on as a crew member of a small coaster that sailed out of the port. He went on to become one of the leading writers of the 20th century, using the name Joseph Conrad. These premises are the former well-known Tuttles store, which was built in two stages. The original store opened in 1888. The larger extension was added in 1893. These premises were refurbished by J D Wetherspoon in July 2013.”
And here’s the first half of the Tuttles build, so the photo likely dates to around 1890. Tuttles was a hugely significant department store in Lowestoft, with a long history spanning well over a century, with this area still referred to as Tuttles Corner. The business began in the mid-19th century with Henry Tuttle, who started as a grocer and provision store at 66 High Street in 1843. The enterprise quickly grew, leading to moves and expansions to other premises in the town and by 1866, Henry Tuttle had diversified into drapery and millinery. The iconic Tuttles building at Station Square was acquired by Henry and his son Ebenezer Tuttle in 1886 and in 1888, Tuttle & Son officially opened their ‘Bon Marché’ department store to the public at this location. It rapidly expanded its offerings, adding a dressmaking department by 1890 and undergoing a major refit in 1897 to include departments such as haberdashery, laces, wool, hosiery and other assorted accessories. Ebenezer Tuttle himself was a prominent figure in Lowestoft, serving as a Town Councillor and later as Alderman, eventually becoming Mayor of Lowestoft from 1904 to 1906. In July 1964, a fire sadly destroyed an ornamental turret that graced the south-west corner of the building. In 1960, Tuttles was taken over by Debenhams Limited, but despite this, it continued to trade under the Tuttles name for a time before eventually closing its doors in 1981.
The building remained in partial usage, but it took JD Wetherspoon to come and complete a more substantial renovation. Above is the Google Streetview image from 2009 and the Weigh & Save that was in the premises for several years.
This is where the entrance to Weigh & Save was once located. The pub is sizeable, this is some of the downstairs, but the upstairs section is just as large. There are plenty of tables outside the front as well, but also plenty of seagulls so we weren’t tempted to move out into the danger zone.
Stairs to the upstairs toilets, which are as usual for the chain a little bit of a trek. The pub felt generally clean and tidy, with no annoying background music intruding into the general ambience.
Slightly out of date, but interesting to see the beers that were available to request.
The real ale selection wasn’t actually that exciting for the chain, their generic three real ales as well as the Exmoor Gold. The staff member at the bar was very new, but he was polite, engaging and was doing his best, but it was evident that the chain had rather dumped him into the deep end. I won’t complain about the beer selection at the chain, as they make a real effort to have some craft beers available in cans, so there’s always something of interest.
Julian testing the beer temperature and he said that it was spot on, especially in the extreme temperatures that we were facing. He has very high standards.
Here’s my well-kept half pint of Gold from Exmoor Ales, a pleasant beer with a toffee flavour to it, with a lightness and sweetness, as well as being refreshing given the aforementioned low temperature. The price was reasonable, this was just £1.99 for a pint.
Lots of AWPs, these likely make the pub a fair chunk of money and are tucked out of the way in this venue.
The on-line reviews for the pub are around average for the chain, I thought I’d have a little look through them to see if there was anything surprising and delighting.
“NO DOGS ALLOWED apparently . . . but there are signs EVERYWHERE apparently, said this irritable staff person – except there are ZERO signs on the side door – and nothing that jumped out on the front door! I was told to leave with my puppy (who was securely in a bag) by a bar-woman with as much charm as a house brick, and she would have 100% liked to have been even more unpleasant if I hadn’t been so generally affable about it. Low-rent customer service, you see, you can can always say things nicely, unless you don’t actually know how to; upbringing, education, manners . . . that sort of thing. You either have them, or you don’t. Can’t even sit outside with a dog apparently either, in the fresh air, on a nice day. So be aware, NO DOGS ALLOWED OUTSIDE either! Okay, so now that this puppy should be with us for at least a decade, probably longer, I guess the Joseph Conrad will be losing our custom for the next decade plus. Hey ho! Erm, does Wetherspoons even know that the UK is a nation of dog lovers? Has anyone told them? Should we, do you think?”
The comment about the team member’s upbringing tells me all I need to know here. Same old thing, the chain has made a policy not to allow dogs, but by all means comment on the team member’s education as that seems proportionate…. And, no, don’t tell them, they already know.
“Unfortunately due to the overzealous door staff and the alleged manager, laughing and enjoying yourselves is not permitted in this establishment.”
Good, people enjoying themselves can be too decadent.
“My disabled daughter was visiting Lowestoft recently. My daughter cannot walk without crutches and asked staff to help her get a mug of coffee to a table. They refused, citing football as the excuse, and claiming to be short staffed. This event occurred at 9 am on Saturday 17th August 2024. At that precise moment, the restaurant was not at all busy with very few customers at the tables and staff standing around chatting. I am appalled at the policy of Wetherspoons to refuse to help disabled customers”
If that’s true, that does seem to be entirely sub-optimal.
“If you are disabled and require assistance because you are on crutches and cannot carry a cup yourself do not go to this Wetherspoons. Today I was told that despite it being 8.55 in the morning they couldn’t help me with a cup from the coffee machine because it was football today. The restaurant was half empty and the TVs were not switched on and they flatly refused to help a person who walks with two crutches with a cup from the coffee machine. When I asked to speak to the manager, he eventually said they would help me “ This one time”. But I thought don’t put yourself out mate and I asked for a refund. Next time I will do it myself and this will result in me pouring coffee all over the floor which is clearly what they want. Obviously, they have plenty of time to clear up spillages, although I would’ve thought it would be quicker just to help as person than to be so rude and unhelpful as to refuse. But it’s okay I work for Lbc and BBC radio so this will be being broadcasted about In the next few weeks, if I don’t get a satisfactory response to my complaint from their Head Office”
Hmmmm. LBC and BBC Radio, but I can’t find details of either organisation broadcasting this story….
“Was in this afternoon with my dog outside and was told to leave as weatherspoons don’t allow dogs in there pubs. That is fine not all pubs do. BUT I was outside on public land owned by the council not weatherspoons. They might have a street licence that means the council give them permission to put tables and chairs out there but the land is still owned by the council”
I Googled this and it seems that a pavement licence does indeed give the venue the right to enforce its policies within the licensed area, as long as public access is maintained next to it. This has annoyed several people though, likely those hoping that they can get themselves an exemption to the dog policy.
“Wetherspoons dog policy is pathetic. I can understand not allowing dogs inside but to not allow dogs outside is ridiculous. Are people with dogs not supposed to eat? If this is not discrimination, I don’t know what is.”
I think I can come with some other definitions of what discrimination is. I suspect that there is always the option of taking your dog to a venue that does want them, there are no shortage of such places.
“why did this place refuse to let me drink MY dr pepper that I payed for. I brought the drink into the restaurant with under a quarter of It left and I got told by one of the staff members that I was NOT allowed to finish my drink as I hadn’t purchased it in the building despite having ordered a full 3 course meal. do better.”
It doesn’t seem unreasonable to ask people to buy drinks from the venue rather than bring them in from outside….
“Typical Weatherspoons. Clients need to get jobs instead of boozing from 8 in the morning”
Or someone could mind their own business.
“In Joseph Conrad upstairs ordered drinks £16.00 odd Rhys kindly went downstairs for 2 pints of Coors light to go with Bootle of wine.. come to order meal with free drinks another£20 was then told too busy to go downstairs for Coors will have to order from upstairs only Rhys wrong answer as a holiday person been coming here for well over 10 years will not be coming back from table 138”
Order on the app, problem solved.
“In wethersproofn in lowestoft no Southern comfort and only got got 4 bottle of vodka for Christmas eve that is very bad really upset about this.”
The reviewer sounds like that they were very brave dealing with such a crisis.
“On the 16th of December, i came for a what i expected was going to be a nice chilled dinner with my husband m, when a young boy not sure the age but i believed his name was to be alfie, said to me “how much f***ing food do you have left to come out” all because me and my husband had a long day and we was very hungry. We are both in our early 50’s so we was very appalled to be spoken down to by a young lad. I will not be tolerating this because i was not looking to come for a meal and be sworn at for being hungry. Like i am supplying your wages and don’t want to be spoke to again like this. I think he should be given a disciplinary for his actions because that is not how you treat members of the public”
I don’t know, maybe I’m a bit rustic, but Alfie does seem to be a character and pubs can do with more of that.
“Came in at 16:30, by 17:15 nobody as much as asked me if I wanted something to drink yet. Looked at me and ignored me. Hmm…
Will be the first negative review I will write on the travel blog about my experience in Lowe…EVER!”
I’m guessing that the customer didn’t notice that table service wasn’t happening….
Anyway, I’ve digressed once again by reading the reviews. I personally thought that the venue was well run, the real ale selection was reasonable although smaller than usual for the chain, the team members were polite, the surroundings were comfortable and the beer was well kept. A suitably positive start to the day in an historic and interesting building, with the usual value for money drinks.
