Why I eat local and mostly avoid chain restaurants
What I like about eating local (including being closer to where I live)
I live in a small (yet expanding) village, in Wales. I find eating in local pubs and restaurants easier, than searching out for chain restaurants. This might be because it’s easier to get to, I know the location and it’s always nice when I bump into friends I know and catch up with.
Local pubs tend to be smaller in size and have their own choice of food and specials, so even if they have a sister pub (same landlord, different pub) they tend to have slightly different menus and prices.
I also find local pubs make it easier, as a disabled person, to access because I find it hard going further than where I live most of the time. So when going to a chain pub that tends to be further away and it makes it harder for me to get there, especially as I don’t drive and rely on lifts, or my bus pass..
Some negatives of eating nearby (including different menus, difficult parking and higher prices)
Some of the negative side of local pubs include having a car park that is smaller so when locals try and get a space it is harder, especially on rugby and football big matches such as the yearly Rugby 6 Nations and all major football matches.
In the opposite direction, when it’s a quiet time sometimes visiting an empty pub can be lonely, whereas major chains around the country tend to have an influx of customers all year round and at lots of different times.
The chains also tend to have the same menu, and mostly cheaper prices in all their restaurants, so if you’ve been before you know roughly what to expect on the menu
My final verdict
Although I do like eating and drinking local, supporting local landlords and keeping their businesses open. I am definitely open to, when I’m in the city such as Cardiff, popping into the local wetherspoons for a quick drink or bite to eat. I am not completely dismissive of chain restaurants if I am nearby, but I openly choose mostly my local pub when I can.
LOCAL CHAINS NEARBY (LINKS):
Brewers Fayre: https://www.brewersfayre.co.uk/
Toby Carvery: https://www.tobycarvery.co.uk/
Wetherspoons: https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/pubs/
