Wetherspoon's wi-fi woes no more

Hooray. 

Caterer & Hotelkeeper reports that pub chain J.D. Wetherspoon is going to offer free wi-fi from next Monday, Dec 3rd.

Earlier, Regent Inns, who own Aussie bar chain Walkabout, also opened up wifi to all-comers. 

Both of them have branches on the Broad St Bridge in Birmingham, alongside Gas St Basin, at the heart of the canal network.  And there are various others spots on the canals where there's a Wetherspoon - e.g. Merry Hill, where I was last New Year's Eve (photographing an irate Wetherspoon manager).   McDonald's is also giving free wifi now.

Hopefully we'll see a point where all boatyards, basins and other canalside businesses consider it natural to give free wifi, the way they don't charge for toilets either. 

It's getting there gradually, often privately - The Plough Inn at Huddlesford, for example, where I took the photo here of my lunch and my computer. 

But most marinas still think that it's a good idea to charge for wifi, which is very shortsighted of them.

Roads and bridges are mostly free now.  Why shouldn't the internet be free too, like the roads? The moneyspinner is the opportunity for advertising and promotions on the login screen, for instance from nearby shops.

Comments

[Lisa]

I agree on this but NOT for TWO YEARS! Why?, well I recently signed up to vodafone for 2 years for quite a good deal for internet access where ever I am (Signal permitted). So I am tied in now!. Should have waited! I could be getting free acess now with all these free wifi places popping up!. Still, at least I can get on the internet almost anywhere at any time without having to pull up outside a pub for example! What am I saying! Its a pub!!!! Oh well. Will pull up anyway! sell my jam, have a drink and pull faces at all of you who are getting free internet access! lol. Great site, keep up good work. Lisa www.thenarrowshop.com