Wetherspoon has implemented a policy prohibiting the use of Scottish £20 and £50 notes in its establishments in England, leading to incidents where customers were denied service. One such case involved a pensioner named Craig Neil, 72, from Troon, Ayrshire, who faced embarrassment when attempting to pay with Scottish currency at two pubs in Newcastle – the Mile Castle pub and the Keel Row bar. Despite having a pint poured for him, Neil was informed that the pubs do not accept Scottish notes, a practice enforced by Wetherspoon due to concerns raised by the Bank of England about counterfeit Scottish currency being circulated by criminal groups.
According to a Wetherspoon spokesperson, the ban on Scottish notes was put into place in November of the previous year, but it does not apply in Scotland or in specific locations with strong ties to Scotland. The decision was prompted by a warning from the Bank of England regarding the prevalence of fake Scottish £20 notes in circulation, leading to an increased risk of accepting counterfeit money. As a result, Wetherspoon opted to refuse Scottish £20 and £50 notes in their English pubs, although they stated that this policy is subject to periodic review.
This move by Wetherspoon comes amidst a separate incident where a customer, Adam Gale, successfully petitioned for the reinstatement of tuna jacket potatoes on the menu at his local Wetherspoon pub, The Rodboro Buildings in Guildford. After expressing his disappointment at the removal of the tuna option and directly contacting Wetherspoon’s founder, Tim Martin, Gale’s request was granted, with Martin humorously acknowledging the oversight and promptly reintroducing tuna to the menu.
The changes in Wetherspoon’s currency acceptance policy and menu offerings highlight the company’s responsiveness to customer feedback and external concerns, showcasing a commitment to adapting its services in line with customer preferences and operational considerations.