The Picture Palace - Braintree in Braintree

We ordered our drinks and food waited 30mins after I asked the waitress where our drinks were the food came out about 15 mins after that. We ordered chicken burgers with stuffing chips and pigs in blankets. The food came out without the pigs in blankets mentioned to the staff he said he wasn't aware he said he would bring them over we nearly finished our very very luke warm food. I mentioned to the waiter our food was just warm he said we should of mentioned it and they would of brought us another one. I said we didn't as we already waited 45 mins definitely did not want to wait that amount of time again.

I’ve been coming here some mornings to get food before and after gym - I can confidently say that the cooks here have no idea how to cook meat properly. This is meant to be medium rare. Some of the staff are absolutely clueless, and then get rude to you when you show any sign of discontent. Some other members of staff are nice though. But yeah - sort your chefs out

Service slow and food cold ( sent back and better 2ndt time). Plates cold. Could be very good but staff seem uninterested and casual, with little interest other than taking orders.

Went there last Sunday for breakfast, wow it was packed out. They understanding had run out of breakfast items and the food would be a 45 minute wait, so I left. The poor staff were rushed off their feet, but seemed to be lacking servers. Breakfast another morning.

This is essentially our local, we visit most weekends, usually for some breakfast and and a pint of ale. The food is generally ok, but tends to be very hit and miss. Some days, it's great. Other days, it's sliding towards awful. The service is the same, depending on who is working. There are some lovely lads and lasses there, but conversely, some seem to need an attitude readjustment, you aren't doing us a favour by serving us, it's your job. All round, great value for money and on the whole, good service.

A nice Wetherspoon in the old picture Palace good table service etc

My local Spoons. It's alright and the food is good

Everything is great here. BUT…. I won’t come back purely because of security cameras in the toilets. Yes it’s true and my children wouldn’t go to the toilet because of this nor did I want them to. I dont know if they’ve been forced to do this by the local authority, but it’s to distasteful for us. Shame, as staff, food and the building is great.

Came in for a quick bit and it took about an 30 minutes for our canned drinks to come despite there being multiple staff idling behind the bar. It then took another 30 minutes for two plates of food to come which were cold and not particularly nice.

Food service today, Saturday lunchtime, was very slow

Food wasn't up to standard. Ordered are food at the same time mine came out with 5min and lukewarm to hv to sit half an hour waiting for my friends food and we enquired where hers was to then be told her would be another 20min. Which ment I had finished mine before she had started. Also need a mind your step sign over by the disability toilet as my Friend fell down there as didn't know it was there. Reported accident.

Lovely place. Nice spaces between tables. Great value.

Great place for dinner and I drink. Highly recommend.

It's a spoons! does what it's good at good value food and drink

Went to this spoons for a quick bite at the weekend. Ordered at the bar but wasn't informed it was a wait time of over 45mins for food. Asked the very busy and harassed waitress how long our food would be. It was 2 pizzas and chicken strips. She went to ask and then came straight out with them. 1 pizza burnt, other undercooked and chicken strips cold. Really disappointing visit and I wouldn't go back to eat.

Good food at wetherspoons prices

Really helpful with drink prices and atmosphere is amazing.

George could smile for once and not be rude, silly boy, didn’t fancy cleaning any glasses and didn’t tell me the played where boiling hot when they in fact where!

Well this is one of the good weatherspoons I've visited. I'm totally impressed with the building here been the old cinema. I always mention staff that appear to rise above average so a shout and thank you to Timmy,and Josh,who displayed good bartender skills and politeness. I can only talk of staff that served me, Good staff and worth looking after these2 mentioned were great, cheers.

Far too noisy and tables were sticky ... Not the best Wetherspoons we have been to

Not bad. Could do with more staff. Great old building, shame not more has been made of it.

The fish and chips meal was delicious

Food is always good and hot. But stingy with the chips as 8 chips is not a portion to me lol

Your boh standard Witherspoon's. Nuf said.

First time in since it was a cinema. Kept all the heart of the old place.

Dirtier than your average Spoons

Visited this pub recently. Excellent pub! Amazing service and friendly atmosphere. The pub was nice and clean, not like some of the others I have been to in the past. Great value for food!

Excellent food and drink, very reasonably priced and a great atmosphere.

Have been here several times of late and rest assured you can always see the chap with glasses smiling and serving attentively. (Fyi the chap with the muscles).... Great service and love the cheap beer

I have been using braintree wetherspoons for about 20 years. It is a family friendly place and the food is reasonably priced. Maia a member of staff orders the ales, she also asks customers if they want a specific ale ordered in.

Went for the first time with the kids on Sat morning. Nice to see them showing kids films. Enjoyed the breakfast.

Sadly the manager tim has run this place into ground isulted my wife when i went to toilet told her to shut up in bar area. When i confunted him for bullying her not for the first time may i add! He banned us like many other customers. Its a pub with a bar where people go to have a good time we will be taking this matter to directors and owners as i and my wife feel insulted we are good regular paying respectful customers. Somthing needs done before he ruins weatherspoons reputation. Great place to socialize good food and drink if you like a library that is very sad dont serve drink if you can take what happens when people drink. From the tall bloke and the red head as he reported us to pub watch all other pubs happy to have us and have made point of saying so they all agree only matter of time before tim ruins place. Small angry man syndrome

Always good clean and friendly food is also good

Food is basic, drinks are cold. Enough said.

Very friendly staff . The food flew on to the table!!!

Value for money food nice and hot

Valentine night no steak last night and today no pepperoni pizzas also today yet again no hot chocolate

Very large and open weather spoons with reasonable prices, staff are very friendly and helpful

A very nice Spoons.I will come more often.

other than being sworn at by a disabled customer for asking him to excuse me to let me get past his mobility scooter, which was blocking the fire exit route ! it was a mostly pleasurable experience .

Visit here when I'm down this way, lovely place. Staff are always amazing, food is good, can't fault it. Special shout out to Katie who goes above and beyond. Thank you for your help 🙏 😊

Very rude, uninformed staff led by manager more interested in going for a break with cigerette hanging out of his mouth. Greasy chips & microwaved veg.

Food gone downhill a bit not as good as other spoons fare, variety same but small cheaper portions.

It is a Wetherspoons, so it is being judged by those standards. The place itself is great, it reminded me of the dance hall (Jackrabbit Slim's) in Pulp Fiction - it is an old cinema (as one can guess by the name). The bar service was brilliant, the bar staff stopped what they were doing to serve immediately, also they seemed to know who was next to be served. It is not a place i'd been to before, but the clientele seemed friendly. The only downside was the burger bun was burnt, but on the food brightside, the pickle was particularly tasty

I use the app to buy my drinks but Jesus wept it’s slow service. Quicker to go to the bar and get drinks. Come on guys get it together and serve us quicker please

Good pub for a nothing special occasion. It was very dirty on this date, we got a dirty table, asked to clean, it was cleaned using a wet dirty piece of fabric, and so on...

Ok for a quick/ cheap drink, but 4 visits for lunch and there’s always missing items. When enquiring they tell you that you will get a partial refund. ( app ordered) Never have had anything returned. Will eat elsewhere in future.

The staff do a fantastic job especially considering how busy it gets. Jalfrezi, Tikka masala and katsu curry always a winner. 2 of our crowd had steaks which they were happy with. Service was fast especially being a Saturday night. Well done staff

The bar manager likes to think he's in London.. I'm clearly not your bruv or your fam! Think about your audience it's not the language people need in an outer London town! Cheap food and drink though the benefits end there. The staff are often rude and inconsiderate, and none seem to be happy at work. You'll wait an age to get served and don't dare to use the app. The look of contempt you will receive is enough to make you leave and never come back. Visit on a Friday or Saturday night and the bouncers are more concerned with where you smoke your cigarette outside than those snorting cocaine in the toilets. I guess those doing cocaine spend more money. It's crazy but sums up the mentality of the place. Ridiculous. Will I return? Probably not. I'd rather the secondhand cigarette smoke than those doing coke in the toilets unfortunately one is easier to control than the other.

My local pub to spend time with friends and new to meet..fantastic place to be , food always perfect and great atmosphere..

Cavernous area, toilets on same level here.Not keen of camera in the toilets but this is probably due to vandalism or drugs problems. Used frequently as I'm here for over two weeks and also using other pubs and there is many. Cod and chips was not available on two occasions, 3rd time, viola! Can't fault on ales selection which is the paramount reason why I use 'spoons. Well done Tim. Exmoor Beast, gem.

We had the Christmas dinner it was awful didn't have any stuffing today but still changed the same price it was bland couldn't eat it.

This was our 1st time in this weatherspoons and will not returning, 1st of all I ordered a coffee with our meal , one machine wasn't working and the only one working run out of milk , I kindly asked a gentleman collecting the glass to refill it , I was told to wait , the poor oap lady was making a cup of tea and the milk in the jug has also run out so she asked him nicely for more milk he snatched the jug away from her and slammed it on the counter , she waited about 15 minutes for the milk , My hubby ordered the double American burger which came to the table black so burnt it was un edable also the chips seemed to have been warmed up, I had the sirloin steak cooked medium which was full of grizzl and the onion rings were so burnt I couldn't bite into them and the chips were also heated up , I know its a cheap meal but that was unreal disgusting

Went for lunch today. Greeted at bar by a lady who yawned in our face. Food came up without side order of garden peas. Server tried to correct this but came back and said they had been put on my daughter’s plate as they had run out of serving pots. He said the Manager had told him to remove my daughter’s meal to the kitchen so they could take the peas off and put them in a pot. We said this was not acceptable and asked for the Manager. He refused to give us a side order of peas and made the same suggestion as above. My daughter had started eating her meal and did not want it taken away. He would not budge so I pointed out that some people are allergic to peas (they are related to peanuts), so they should not be putting them on any plate of food. The Manager said that we would have told them if my daughter was allergic to peas. I pointed out that her meal did not come with peas and that the Festive menu did not say this meal may contain peas. The peas were for my wife and I. He clearly thought that customers should not complain if their food came wrong. He got aggressive and verbally abused me by calling me ‘arsey’. I told him that if I was being arsey he would know about it, he pulled a face at me, tutted and said ‘really?’ In a sarcastic manner. Realising he was trying to goad me into saying something further I said nothing else. Then out of the blue he announced he would refund my daughter’s meal. Also, for the second week running the Pigs in Blankets were missing but felt too intimidated to point this out. Then the server said our desserts were ready but we were only half way through our meal. He went back to the kitchen and sorted this out. Later only my wife’s dessert arrived so I had to chase for the other two which came 20 minutes later. Our worst restaurant experience ever and also noticed some other people were having problems today. We thought it said Wetherspoons over the door, not Fawlty Towers!

Average food, cheaper food & drinks.

Everything you would expect at a Weatherspoons.

So we’re to start… just visited here and after telling us there’s no bread for our breakfast the manager offered extra hash browns with a follow on statement of “well that’s all we can offer so” another words take it or leave it in which we didn’t even care I just walked over the road to get some from Tesco my self!! After our drinks taking 20 mins to arrive to the table as we was using the app this also come with an apology from the manager on duty Matt!! After being sat there for 25 mins or so and after ordering food the opened all 8 doors being October was freezing we kindly asked if they could close the doors we was sat by as we all we could smell was second hand smoke in October winds (this was done) half way through our food the manager Matt came over and told us tuff!! deal with it and proceeded to open the doors were all my table decided to stop eating and asked for a refund in which he’s responded no! I then asked for he’s name and he also said no it’s only me finding he’s name on Instagram I now know he’s name and then told me to google head offices number!! Over all very mad management skills bad attitude service slow and how can you run out of bread when your based opposite Tescos

So we’re to start… just visited here and after telling us there’s no bread for our breakfast the manager offered extra hash browns with a follow on statement of “well that’s all we can offer so” another words take it or leave it in which we didn’t even care I just walked over the road to get some from Tesco my self!! After our drinks taking 20 mins to arrive to the table as we was using the app this also come with an apology from the manager on duty Matt!! After being sat there for 25 mins or so and after ordering food the opened all 8 doors being October was freezing we kindly asked if they could close the doors we was sat by as we all we could smell was second hand smoke in October winds (this was done) half way through our food the manager Matt came over and told us tuff!! deal with it and proceeded to open the doors were all my table decided to stop eating and asked for a refund in which he’s responded no! I then asked for he’s name and he also said no it’s only me finding he’s name on Instagram I now know he’s name and then told me to google head offices number!! Over all very mad management skills bad attitude service slow and how can you run out of bread when your based opposite Tescos Also our waitresses neck was full of love bites posh!

Had a stop over in the Travelodge across the road and was happy to see a Weatherspoons across the road. The picture palace is dark and dingy from the outside, so much so it almost look closed. Then we entered and not many people in there at all, apart from the usual looking suspects you see that live in the spoons full time. This was Sunday (6pm) so normally it's busy period with people eating. Anyway another family were in so we wasn't the only family in there. Ordered food and a few drinks, they came in good time and food was good. It was chilly also so we didn't stay for long. Strange place, no atmosphere at all. 2.5/5 gave 3 stars as 2 would have been a bit harse.

It's a Wetherspoons, so you know what you're getting - reasonable food at a reasonable price. Nice deco interior for old theatre/cinema as wee though.

Stuff amazing really kind and helpful, but... I do remember 2 years ago ordering there fish and chips and having 2x Stella's easily.Big fish and plenty of chips. Now you need to drink Stella quite quickly because your fish and chips are half what you got some time ago. If you want to experience proper fish and chips go to Manor Place and order extra large code, massive difference for roughly same price

Had a fabulous meal. Drinks and food were perfect.

I can see why this pub is in the Good Beer Guide! My first visit tonight, but definitely not my last. Very clean pub with great staff and really good quality beers served just how they should be.

One of the nicest Wetherspoons I've ever visited with 10/10 customer service!

Great pub located in an old movie theatre. The aesthetic still contains many of the features from the theatre. You cannot access the upper levels at all. But the staff are friendly and service good

It was Saturday 3.30 pm , we decided to try weatherspoons in Braintree, we walked in wasn’t to crowded but it was difficult to find a clean table without the clutter of dirty plates and glasses , so we walked out again , very disappointing.

Very cheap and good food and drink choice. The staff are really helpful if any problems arise and will put it right at your request.

Called in today with a group of 10 adults with mild learning difficulties, staff very friendly and helpful with them. Food arrived in good time with no issues all looked and tasted lovely. Venue is lovely and the young lady who came over (think she might of been a manger) was friendly and checked everything was okay with our food and took the time to chat a little before we left. Will return again when next in Braintree.

We had a great night meeting friends before a gig. The service from James was outstanding. My friend got chewing gum in her hair and James rushed to the rescue with a glass of ice which he advised to use to get it out despite being run off his feet. We will definitely be back. Thank you so much James. XxX

The food was not good. Chicken had a really weird taste. Portions seemed small. Service was ok. I won't be going back. And I won't be recommending this to anyone.

3 SEP 2023- Excellent ales at great prices. Food great value. Excellent staff

It’s funny because when I was in the middle of the day

Popular venue, groups of people of all ages enjoying a night out. Insufficient staff to cope with numbers . Large queue to order food and long wait for it to be served. Staff were apologetic.

Took 1 hrs to get food and wasn't told that there was a delay. Food portions were smaller than usual and didn't taste of much.

We were extremely disappointed when we came to this Wetherspoons. We frequently eat at the restaurant in Witham and have always been well served so were looking forward to eating in Braintree. We arrived at about half 8 and ordered starters and drinks on the App. These arrived and were delicious, meanwhile we ordered our main courses on the App. These and more drinks had just arrived and we had not even begun to eat when a member of staff came over and asked my daughter's age. When we informed the staff that the girls were 21 and 15 we were told that we would have to eat up and leave within 15 minutes as children under 18 are not permitted after 9pm. We explained that to eat our whole meals in 15 minutes was not possible and so were given take away boxes. This was disappointing as our meals would then be cold. We offered to move tables to the family area but were told no that we had to leave. We were understandably disgruntled and asked for a refund... something which we feel should have been offered rather than us having to ask! We were told the food could be refunded but not the drinks, rather unfair as there was not enough time for us to drink them. What makes us most cross is that nowhere is this policy of under 18s not being permitted displayed anywhere on the premises, the menu or the app. In contrast, Wetherspoons advertises itself as being family friendly. Also we have many times enjoyed evenings in the Witham Wetherspoons and have never once been challenged about age limits.

Ordered food for my friends online, only for them to be told the order was silly? The also refused a refund!!! Wth I ordered them a load of shots and drinks and some beans to eat as one of them is diabetic and he loves beans. This is outrageous they told him it was silly to his face. Then they brought over different drinks to what I ordered and refused to refund the food!? That’s £15 this manager has stolen from me plus the £36 on the wrong drinks! I will be taking this further until I receive a full refund.

Not particularly busy. Ordered through the app, beer took a while to arrive but when it did barman was nice enough. Ordered ham egg and chips, not great ham, eggs were good, meagre portion of chips, server just set it down on table and walked off. Gather it's a wetherspoons but service was poor in my opinion, food just about matched description, but the beer was great.

Very good service all staff were friendly and happy to help ! Food was fantastic especially for a weather-spoons :) Service very quick Would return !

In all my life I never been to somewhere so dirty so bad we didn't even finish the food

Not a bad pub, but they need to sort out the usual lunchtime drunks who sit front left swearing and shouting. Not a good look especially when children are close by.

First time here. Breakfast was excellent no muffins though, staff were very good. Toilets were a lot cleaner than a lot of Wetherspoons I have visited. Will certainly return next time I visit the area

On a Saturday at lunch time, every little independent cafe in town is packed and it's hard to get a seat, yet The Picture Palace is half empty... And it's easy to see why! It used to be an OK place to go and have some cheap food and drinks. Not amazing, but it was fine for a 'Spoons. However, since the pandemic, the place has really taken a nosedive. The food quality has gone down yet the prices have increased. Tables are dirty, often not cleared or cleaned. Was given dirty cutlery that had clearly already been used! No apology from staff when I pointed this out, just a grunt. Can't blame them too much, the whole place would make anyone despondent. Also it absolutely reeks in there. Couldn't wait to leave. Won't be returning!

A typical Wetherspoons. Ok food, ok service and ok surroundings. Value for money - absolutely!!

Lovely food! Service was ok one or two issues but very minor. We really enjoyed our time food come so fast, waiting for a bottle of wine and 2 glasses for over 15 minutes to find out the barman chucked away the ticket so we would of been waiting a long time if didn't go up. Probably quicker here to order from the bar rather than the app. It was my only time I have been here though so might be a one off but it was so loud in there people just acting a little childish. Can barley have a conversation.

It's definitely worth a pit stop. It is worth it for the old theatre experience.

Hit and miss. Not enough staff. Got a simple order wrong and drinks machine needed refilling for what seemed like ages. Had to ask for coffee mugs. Tables not cleared. On another day it might have been different. But not for me.

a really well converted cinema into a great wetherspoons restarant, neatly laid out. original character maintained

Was there for a wake for Jimmy. Nice enough place, did was OK too.

Lovely pub nice atmosphere food was hot and great X X X

Waited over a hour for breakfast on fathers day yet there advertising fathers day thats lost custom as we got our money back maybe management should look at there staffing and foul young lady dressed all in black just rude would sack her on the spot ignorance is obviously rife at this wetherspoons

Lovely Ambience with mouth watery meals and drinks and deals that makes you want to come back again and over again.

Had breakfast it's food when Ur ruff.

To be fair they are trying to reduce price rises but the servings have been reduced.

Met a friend there tonight for dinner. Ordered fish and chips, fish was inedible. Mostly batter hardly any fish 🐟

The picture Palace was good much lighter in there now. They put a glass roof window in. Given the place a coat of paint too.

I really like the decor and style of this building

Visited early for coffee and a bowl of their excellent porridge deliciously enhanced with maple 🍁 syrup. Staff friendly as usual.

Went to order food 3 times to be told on each occasion to be told they were out of stock, all they had was light bites,terrible way to run a business TIM !#!

I've not been for a while and was amazed to see you no longer stick to the carpet . The food was OK and drink was reasonably priced

Couldn't cut into my breakfast sausage because it was so hard, we suspected it was reheated. Sent my breakfast back & it wasn't much better second time around. By noon I was feeling rough & by 6pm I was being sick at a service station on the M6. Was a shame as the serving staff seemed nice enough.