UK city votes Nando’s its top restaurant and Wetherspoons its best pub
A UK city has sparked an online row after voting Nando’s it’s best restaurant and Wetherspoon’s it’s best pub.
The national chains both came up trumps at an award ceremony meant to celebrate local businesses in Preston.
Foodies served up a feast of sarcastic comments after the high-street heavyweights sunk local eateries and bars.
One local tweeted: “A f***ing Nandos?! I’ll give Preston a wide berth if that’s their culinary summit.”
Paul Eyles said: “Lol I mean really?
‘RUNNER UP WAS BURGER KING’
“I know Preston isn’t renowned for being overrun with fine eateries but we can definitely do better than Nandos!”
Darren Wilson commented: “The very best restaurant in the whole of Preston is a Nandos?
“I do enjoy a Nando’s don’t get me wrong but the best restaurant!!”
Preston councillor Peter Kelly insisted staff at the city-centre Nando’s are ‘overjoyed’ at their award.
Nandos fought off competition from Italian restaurant Angelos, and stylish Greek venue the Olive Tree Brasserie.
But outraged Tweeter Liam told organisers they should ‘re-evaluate whether these awards celebrate Preston or celebrate national corporations’.
He tweeted: “While independent restaurants work so hard to make themselves known, to be distinct and different, you’re the organisation happy for a Portuguese chain to beat them.
“That’s not celebrating Preston, is it? Why allow chains to enter?”
Wetherspoons watering hole The Twelve Tellers beat craft-beer bar the Plug and Taps and student pub The Adelphi.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “The Twelve Tellers is a superb pub which is enjoyed by thousands of people in Preston each week.
“We are delighted that people voted it as their favourite pub In Preston.
This is why the public shouldn’t be trusted to vote on anything.
Twitter user, Rory Cocker
“It is very much a local business, providing employment to many people and although it is part of Wetherspoon, it has its own identity and is very much a one off pub in terms of design.”
A spokesman for organisers Preston Business Improvement District (BID) replied that 50 per cent of winners were independent local businesses.
The account tweeted: “To clarify, businesses nominate themselves or other businesses.
“Entire list of nominees is put to public vote, finalists are the nominees with the most votes received, the winner is the one with the highest number of votes.
“We do not select the finalists or the winners.”