If you want good pub food and a pint without breaking the bank you can’t beat a trip to Wetherspoons – but where is the best venue in East Lancashire?

Using Tripadvisor reviews, left by local people and visitors from further afield, we have compiled a list of the best (and worst) Wetherspoons pubs.

Despite being part of the same chain these venues have their own advantages and disadvantages, with some securing a higher Tripadvisor rating than others.

Here are the highest and lowest rated Wetherspoons in East Lancashire according to TripAdvisor:

 

1. The Old Chapel, Railway Road, Darwen
Rating: 3.5 based on 418 reviews
 

This is the best rated Wetherspoons in East Lancashire, according to Tripadvisor.

The majority of reviews for this pub are ‘very good’, with punters praising its value for money and food.

One reviewer said: “This is a lovely spacious building. My order was taken and the food arrived within 15 minutes and was perfect.”

Another said it was “the best ‘Spoons around”.

A third reviewer only awarded the venue three stars, claiming tables were not cleaned quickly enough.

This building first opened in March 1866 as a place of religious significance and was a Wesleyan Methodist Chapel described as ‘the finest building in Darwen’.

In 1969, it was bought for £14,500 and converted into a supermarket until it was fully refurbished in a ‘Spoons in 2014.

 

2. The Boot Inn, James Street, Burnley
Rating: 3.5 based on 169 reviews

27 per cent of The Boot Inn’s Tripadvisor reviews are ‘excellent’.

One reviewer said: “For a spoons I thought I’d share my thoughts as I wouldn’t normally, but the service from the staff is very good, very fast and polite.”

Another said: “Worth visiting when in Burnley.

“Very nice to sit outside. Ale was delicious and good value for money. We would recommend to all.”

Another said:  “Good, quick food. Great prices. I think the fact it’s a busy, town centre pub may put some people off but to be honest we’ve never had any issues.”

 This pub replaced an earlier Boot Inn, which stood on the same site.

The first Boot Inn was built in 1911 - and before that stood a small farmhouse and like several other farmhouses in Burnley, it was converted into a public house in the late 18th or early 19th century.

 

3. The Wallace Hartley, Church Street, Colne

Rating: 3.5 based on 153 reviews

The Wallace Hartley has received mixed reviews on Tripadvisor.

One reviewer, who have a five star rating, said: “Good pub, good friendly staff, good atmosphere, and good food drink at great prices. You just can't beat it.”

Another said: “Decent Wetherspoons as far as the pubs go. I've been in better, I've been in worse. Decent selection of ales.”

This pub is named after historical figure, Wallace Hartley.

He was born in Colne back in 1878 and he was certainly an impressive figure in the world of music; most notably, he is known for being a bandmaster on the ill-fated Titanic, which sunk in 1912.

 

4. The Commercial Hotel, Church Street, Accrington
Rating: 3.5 based on 149 reviews

One reviewer praised this pub’s food and service.

In 2022 she said: “The pub certainly need a refurbishment but the food and service was second to none.”

Another gave a five star review and said: “This was our second visit, this time as a family of three, and the service, ale and food was outstanding.

A third said: “Good service and friendly staff - food was reasonably priced too and the drinks selection was good. Thank you.”

The landmark corner building had been the Regency Bar since 1977. 

Before then, it was the Commercial Hotel for almost 100 years. Built in 1881, it was the second Commercial Hotel on this site.

 

5. The Postal Order, Darwen Street, Blackburn

Rating: Three stars based on 169 reviews

According to Tripadvisor, this is the lowest rated Wetherspoons in East Lancashire – but 54 per cent of people still rated it ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’.

One person said: “Staff are lovely and to be honest it’s a very nice Wetherspoon compared with some of their venues.

“A lovely building that felt cleaner than most. I would return if I ever visited Blackburn again.”

Another said: “Although it wasn't at all busy, there were many tables waiting to be cleared but the team didn't appear to do much.”

A third gave three stars and said: “Worth it if you are on a budget and like predictable. It was clean and presentable though”.

‘The Postal Order’ takes its name from its previous usage as post office.

The site is typical of the grand, Edwardian post offices built in the early 1900s.

Which Wetherspoons is your favourite? Let us know in the comments.