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I've been to spoons to day for dinner as I was one of the many that got free tickets to the pre-opening for a free meal and two free drinks. I was busy and well organised, just like many of the other spoons I've been to. The food was very good and a nice quick service. The staff were all nice and very friendly. This is just what Bedlington needs, somewhere for people to go without the binge drinkers, just to sit have a quiet chat with mates and some decent food if required. I for one will become a regular customer.

Totally agree with you Merlin - this is the occasion that MUST be kept going. For many, many years I did Cenotaph parades with other members of the services but now I am just a bystander and a very proud one at that.

Excellent turn out today for the Remembrance Service in Bedlington. Well done everybody.

British understatement at it's best The train was quite crowded, and a U. S. Marine walked the entire length looking for a seat, but the only seat left was taken by a well dressed, middle-aged, French woman's female poodle. The war-weary Marine asked, 'Ma'am, may I have that seat?' The French woman just sniffed and said to no one in particular: 'Americans are so rude. My little Fifi is using that seat.' The Marine walked the entire train again, but the only seat left was under that dog.. 'Please, ma'am. May I sit down? I'm very tired..' She snorted, 'Not only are you Americans rude, you are also arrogant!' This time the Marine didn't say a word; he just picked up the little dog, tossed it out the train window, and sat down. The woman shrieked, 'Someone must defend my honour! This American should be put in his place!' An English gentleman sitting nearby spoke up, 'Sir, you Americans seem to have a penchant for doing the wrong thing. You hold the fork in the wrong hand. You drive your cars on the wrong side of the road. And now, sir, you seem to have thrown the wrong bitch out the window.'

Very important day of the year for me. I wouldn't miss it for nothing. Although the one I went to was in Streetsville, Ontario, Canada my heart went out to all our Men and Women of the armed forces all over the world.

Neil I think that most people on here, in their weird and wonderful way, do support Wetherspoons, but, if everyone agreed without a bit of debate and discussion,airing their views, then it would be a little bit boring on here, don't you agree? I don't think that we are doom mongers, we are just putting a few points across and answering, in our own way, some points that regardless of personal opinion need discussing! I have views,other people have theirs and you have yours but that does not mean that we are against anything that is for the good of Bedlington. Sorry am rambling but I hope you get what I mean. Once again, Good luck to Wetherspoons and time will tell who, if anyone, was right!

This is something I've heard repeated in many quarters, and it does intrigue me. You have to ask who these locals are that don't go drinking in Bedlington now, and where they go, or if they go out at all. You also have to ask why that is, and why a Wetherspoons will suddenly offer them an opportunity they don't already have. I can see that some of the establishments are not attractive to certain clientele, yet the Tavern recently had a major league make-over and is very pleasant indeed. The Sun is a perfectly reasonable and tidy place to go for a pint, and the Northumberland is also a pleasant bar. What is it about Wetherspoons that will have all these people coming out ot of the woodwork to drink there? Is it the cheap beer? That's great, but the clubs offer cheap beer, so that's hardly the incentive that's going to change people's drinking habits. Is it the food? Great, too, decent, basic grub at a good price, I like that; but I'm only going to eat once in an evening. My point may seem pessimistic - and in many ways it is - but I can't see where the trade is going to come from; Wetherspoons will attract the regular afternoon drinkers who frequent the Grapes, for instance, but only as long as they are allowed to remain there as they won't be able to behave as they do in the Grapes! It will attract th usual Friday and Saturday evening drinkers, like me, who will pop in for a pint, just like I do in most places, and it will certainly garner a Sunday lunch crowd. But draw people back, or out, who don't drink in Bedlington now? Why? Beer is still cheaper in Tesco's.

I'm far from sad, but I am someone who likes a pub to be a pub. I respect Wetherspoons for making a go at it with the Lion as, as I've made quite clear, it should be a pub, and it was being left to rot. I have no problem with the concept of the 'family oriented pub' but don't see why I should come on here and declare it will b a massive success when that's not what I believe; as I've made quite clear, I simply don't see where the business is coming from. I've also said that I will be going in, because my views are based on market forces, the way pubs are in the town at the moment and my experience of other Wetherspoons establishments. I cannot understand the attitude of people saying 'They've got my custom' or vice versa without actually having tried it, that makes no sense. I doubt 'other folk' will be aggrieved at the comment about 'old gadgies' because, as I clearly pointed out, it was a quote from a younger 'gadgie' among a group who I happened to be talking to last night; personally, I don't think the place will be full of 'old gadgies', but that's clearly the opinion of many of a generation younger than me. These lads, by the way, used to drink in the Lion years ago, when I did, and we had many a good night in there. Clearly, they are accepting that it's not really going to be to their taste. so what hope is there for the Lion? I may be wrong; many people on here believe that a Wetherspoons is 'what the town needs'. I may find that it is packed every day. I doubt it. People won't start coming out in the evenings again just because there's a Wetherspoons in town. Nobody other than those who already do will begin drinking in teh day, and most of those frequent the clubs and will not go to Wetherspoons. There is no passing trade, and no waiting trade - this isn't Ashington, with it's bus terminus, or Newcastle. So where is all the business coming from? I'm sorry that me not being all positive is not to your liking, but there is also one other aspect of all this that I find difficult to accept. I drink in a selection of pubs on the front street that are run by landlords and landladies who have, for many years, provided me with great service and are trying to keep their head above water. They pay high rents, high prices, and now along comes a company that can afford a failure looking to play the lead in the market. What happened to supporting local businesses? Are all the people on here who are gagging to go to Wetherspoons regular pub-goers, like me (really, if you drink in Bedlington, you will know me)? Or are they just being enticed by the prospect of a new kid in town? I suspect the latter, and that most will go in for a lookie, and then head down to Tesco's for 15 cans of lager at a bargain price.