What do Wetherspoon’s red plates mean?

WETHERSPOONS pubs and restaurants are a national staple, with customers enjoying cheap drinks, comfortable surroundings and familiar meals.

But one customer got a big surprise when their dish arrived — it wasn't the food that was unexpected, but the red plate it was served on.

What do Wetherspoon's red plates mean?

The mystery of the red Wetherspoons plates led to a heated debate on Reddit, with many people speculating what they could possibly mean.

Thankfully a spokesperson from the chain has cleared up the mystery surrounding the crockery.

They told Fabulous: "Wetherspoon did trial a red plate in a small number of pubs for use for children’s meals, to ensure all children’s meals were served on a cold plate.

‌"The company has moved on since then and just launched a melamine plate for the whole children’s menu which is in line with the design of the children’s menu.

‌"But there will be stock of the old red plate in circulation, until they break.

"No plan to change from the standard blue patterned plate any time soon."

How have customers reacted to the red plates?

When a Reddit user’s boyfriend was served food on an unexpected red plate at a Wetherspoons pub, they took to Reddit to share the surprise.

Posting a photo with the caption: "My BF got a red plate in Wetherspoons."

It turns out, they weren’t alone in this experience.

Others have also reported receiving red plates over the years, sparking a lively conversation on Reddit.

The discussion quickly became a mix of amusement and intrigue.

One Redditor humorously suggested: “It’s like the Wetherspoons equivalent of a golden ticket.

"There are only five of these plates in existence, and anyone who gets one will receive a free tour of the Wetherspoon factory and a lifetime supply of pub food and beer from non-EU countries.”

Another user echoed the sentiment, saying: “Spoons plates are always blue; I’ve never seen a red one before.”

A third added: “I’ve never seen a red plate. Happy for you.”

The buzz even made its way to X, formerly Twitter, where users continued to discuss the elusive red plate.

One tweeted: “So I went to Wetherspoons with my friend today before heading off to India and got a red plate!?

"Has anyone else seen one before?”

Another encouraged sharing, said: “RT this photo of the elusive red Wetherspoons plate and your 2020 will be blessed with good luck.”

A former Wetherspoons employee joined the conversation, revealing they had never encountered a red plate during their time with the company.

Is it possible to buy a Wetherspoons plate?

It is in fact possible to buy Wetherspoons plates as the range is not exclusive to the company, even though they've been using them for over a decade.

The range is called Vintage Print Prague Victorian Calico and is available in both blue and red.

Plates are available for purchase online at ecookshop.co.uk, with sets of four starting at £15 and prices reaching up to £27, depending on the plate size.

The dishes are made by the pottery firm Churchill China, established in 1795 and based in Stoke-on-Trent.

Churchill China is renowned for its high-quality, design-focused tableware.

The company combines centuries of ceramic expertise with modern technology to deliver innovative tableware.

Churchill China said it “captures the essence of a 1960s family caravan holiday” and consists of “a mix and match of patchwork prints and an explosion of uplifting colours”.

It also markets to the retail sector, collaborating with brands like Jeff Banks, Jamie Oliver, and Disney, and owns other English brands such as Queens and James Sadler.