If you’re looking for the perfect place to drink away summative stress without breaking the bank, look no further. Sure, everyone has their Spoons of choice, but which is the correct option, and should the Whiffler even be considered? 

Spoiler alert: if it’s a fifteen-minute bus ride away from the city centre, it’s automatically disqualified. 

Price: 

Although most of the menu is priced evenly across the Big Three (Glass House, Bell Hotel, and Queen of Iceni), with the Glasshouse and the Bell having a near-identical menu, the Queen of Iceni wins this round. Though a pint of Stella is £4.60 against the Bell Hotel’s £4.43, pitchers here cost a whopping 50p less than at the other two city locations, making Boudicca a slightly better bang for your buck. 

Location: 

The Big Three locations all have their advantages. While the Queen of Iceni is a shorter walk away from the clubs on Prince of Wales Road if you fancy a couple of drinks before braving the Loft queue, and the Glass House is by Elm Hill and Tombland if you want a nice evening stroll, the Bell Hotel is unbeatable. Right at the heart of the city, by the buses, Castle Quarter, and the Market, the Bell Hotel is the perfect location for any time of day. 

Vibe: 

When it comes to vibe and atmosphere, the Queen of Iceni is barely in the running. Hosting a louder, much older crowd than the other two, it is hardly the place to get the party started (unless you’re dying to share a Spoons dancefloor with tipsy wine mums). In the daytime or on a weekday, the Glass House, with its big windows and open space, is the place to be. However, with less seating than its Red Lion Street counterpart, it quickly overcrowds, and you’ll likely find yourself standing at a tiny table or end up migrating to the Bell after all. 

Conclusion: 

Winning two out of three categories, with the best location and ambiance (and slightly cheaper Stellas), The Bell Hotel is the best Spoons in the city, though this won’t come as a surprise if you, too, have run into classmates on your way to the bar. If you finish your degree without having spent at least one night taking Bell bathroom selfies with your friends before nearly spewing a mix of pizza, pitchers, and 4-for-£5 shots, have you even really lived? 

Image credit: Wikimedia Commons