The Spectator Reviews 

135
TrustScore 3 out of 5

3.0

While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more

To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more

See what reviewers are saying

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I took their 3 month, £3 introductory trial offer and cancelled it before it ended. They then offered me another 3 months at £3. I accepted. They then charged me full price (£50). Attempts to get the... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Despite telling The Spectator via their subscriptions line not to renew the subscription no fewer than five times, they went ahead and did it. Yes the news reporting is good but they are nothing more... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My first Spectator event ( theme English Wines).I felt most welcome - Jonny Ray convivial host - invited excellent Speaker Henry Jeffreys presented his book 'Vines in a cold Climate' -he also choose... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

We had a super evening at The Spectator. The organisation and professionalism shon through and the chance to meet fellow “Spectators” who are now no longer strangers A special thanks to Chloe wh... See more

Company details

  1. News Cooperation

Written by the company

The world's oldest weekly magazine. Since 1828.


Contact info

3.0

Average

TrustScore 3 out of 5

135 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

Replied to 83% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

How this company uses Trustpilot

See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.

3.0

All reviews

(135)

9 reviews in the last 12 months

Write a review
Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

An ideal afternoon

A cracking location, a friendly and sociable group of people, very well hosted by Jonathan Ray and an interesting and informative guide through the wines by Jonathan Maltus. His wines were excellent. The afternoon was rounded off by diving into a pub around the corner after the event had finished. Not a bad afternoon at all.

July 21, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

A pleasant summer afternoon

A great summer afternoon spent with good company in a pleasant garden. An opportunity to speak and chat with good quality writers, cartoonists and fellow readers of the Spectator in a very relaxed environment.

July 8, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The Spectator tea party was an excellent event

The Spectator tea party was an excellent event. The opportunity to meet not only the journalists, but also the marketing and digital media staff was extremely valuable. The supply of drinks and the entertaining failed rounded off a superb afternoon.

July 7, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fab night.

Fab night.

First one ever. I now realise its worth arriving a bit earlier as the starter wines are served and there's good chat!!

Gordon ROBERTSON

July 5, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent company

Excellent company. Very generous hospitality. Delightful and friendly journalists and a superb setting in the garden. A perfect afternoon.

July 7, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

The Spectator may not be the best brand and best magazine in the world - but it's in the top one.

July 7, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Beware of this company.

Beware of this company.
Cancelled months and months ago. They just keep making fraudulent charges against my card. Every month I lodge a dispute with my bank, the charge gets reversed and the following month they charge my card again. Avoid at all costs.

July 11, 2023
Unprompted review
The Spectator logo

Reply from The Spectator

Hi Wayne, this clearly shouldn't be happening and I have asked the customer service team to investigate. Please follow up via email at help@spectator.co.uk if you still haven't got this resolved.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Avoid

Awful
Got trial then cancelled it. Found out the cancellation hadn't gone through when they took money immediately queried told they would get back promptly and haven't heard anything.

May 25, 2023
Unprompted review
The Spectator logo

Reply from The Spectator

Hi Gareth, did you receive a response on this?

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Be wary of their special offers…

A good magazine but their special offers are bogus. I was promised 12 weeks on print and online for 12 weeks followed by a year online online only, for (effectively) £1 a week. Plus a £20 gift voucher. But they've decided is was online only and no gift voucher. And boy, are they digging their heels in. It spoils the enjoyment of reading the magazine when you realise they're out to shaft you.

April 24, 2023
Unprompted review
The Spectator logo

Reply from The Spectator

Hi Alexander Henry, if you can email help@spectator.co.uk with the offer you took out (it should be in your welcome email) we should be able to honour this, or explain why we can't. Rest assured we are not out to shaft you, this is most likely an error in the system that hasn't been dealt with adequately but we will endeavour to resolve if you get in touch.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Free Month's Trial is a Ruse

Signed up free month trial but Spectator took a payment from my account one week before the trial was due to end. I immediately cancelled the 'trial' and emailed my complaint but Spectator's bot-response claims they're busy and to not expect a response for a week. Disputed transaction and blocked them with my credit card provider.

April 20, 2023
Unprompted review
The Spectator logo

Reply from The Spectator

Hi there, payments should only be taken at the end of the trial. The customer service team should have got back to you by now, if they haven't can you please email help@spectator.co.uk and we can look into this for you.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Cancelled my subscription In January…

Cancelled my subscription In January but payments still being taken.

January 28, 2023
Unprompted review
The Spectator logo

Reply from The Spectator

Hi Damien, if you cancelled then of course payments should not be taken ongoing. Please can you email us help@spectator.co.uk and we can look into this for you and resolve.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Offensive article!!!!!!

In the article “Joe Biden hates Britian” it sayer Joe Biden reason for his hate was from “exaggerated but dated folklore of Irish
grudge” (Spectator)

I find this offensive 😡

April 12, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Disappointed

I took out a subscription to The Spectator on 12 March, having been enticed by the promise that I would receive a £20 John Lewis voucher by email within 14 days. I’ve contacted Customer Services 3 times but still haven’t received the voucher. No delay taking payments! Feels as though I’ve been scammed.

April 13, 2023
Unprompted review
The Spectator logo

Reply from The Spectator

Hi Lynne, that shouldn't have happened and we will escalate this and sort it out for you. Can you please email spectator@spectator.co.uk

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Racist article

From an recent article on ‘Joe Biden ‘Hates Britain’
There evidence ‘ Biden was steeped in the exaggerated but dated folklore of Irish grudge’

What it is saying here that Irish history is folklore I.e it’s made up and just a ‘grudge’ implicating the Irish famine, occupation of Ireland, Oliver Cromwell’s massacre of 200,000 Irish and plenty more examples. This not only describes our history as ‘exaggerated but dated‘ but suggests that the Irish hate the English and that they are too stupid to accept and move on from the past.

Honestly the spectator ngl gb news would have more pc takes than this and there run by Nigel Farage of all people

April 13, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

One star too many !

This is my second review… avoid and avoid. Was refunded for incorrect charge and then charged again. Now trying to cancel subscription. Impossible. No one replies. Will have to block via bank

April 12, 2023
Unprompted review
The Spectator logo

Reply from The Spectator

Hi Chris, if you were charged incorrectly you should be refunded and you should be able to cancel. Please email spectator@spectator.co.uk and we will process your cancellation manually.

The Trustpilot Experience

Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.

Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.

Learn more about other kinds of reviews.

We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.

Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.

Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.

Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.

Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.

Take a closer look