J D Wetherspoon

J D Wetherspoon, often called Wetherspoons or simply Spoons, is a British pub chain known for its affordable drinks, no-frills food, and habit of turning old banks, cinemas, and post offices into boozers. Founded in 1979 by Tim Martin, the company operates over 800 pubs across the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, and from January 2026, Spain. Based in Watford, Hertfordshire, it also runs the Lloyds No.1 bar sub-brand and 56 hotel properties. Wetherspoon is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange and sits in the FTSE 250 Index.

The chain has a reputation for courting controversy, particularly through Martin's outspoken views on Brexit and pub smoking bans. But its core business model remains consistent: buy up cheap, often historic properties, strip them back to basics, and sell beer at prices that undercut most rivals. Critics call the pubs soulless; regulars call them a bargain. Either way, Wetherspoon has become a fixture of British high streets.

The company's unusual name combines JD from JD Hogg, a character in The Dukes of Hazzard, and Wetherspoon, the surname of one of Martin's teachers in New Zealand who was known for being unable to control his classroom, a parallel Martin saw in his first pub. The company was originally incorporated as J.D. Wetherspoon Organisation Limited in 1983 and went public in 1994, with Martin retaining a majority stake. [edit]