ladbible homepage
ladbible homepage
  • Home
  • News
    • UK
    • US
    • World
    • Ireland
    • Australia
    • Science
    • Crime
    • Weather
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV
    • Film
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • Netflix
    • Disney
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Money
  • Originals
    • FFS PRODUCTIONS
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Citizen Reef
  • Videos
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Wetherspoon's pubs used to have a different name but Tim Martin changed it
Home>News
Updated 15:25 28 Jan 2023 GMTPublished 15:23 28 Jan 2023 GMT

Wetherspoon's pubs used to have a different name but Tim Martin changed it

The old name did not last long

Emma Guinness

Emma Guinness

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

Wetherspoon - or Spoons as it is more commonly and affectionately known - is nothing short of a British institution.

While Spoons is not exactly winning any prizes with Gordon Ramsay, most Brits know that the pub chain can be relied upon for a meal and a cheap drink, but did you know it used to have a completely different name? Seriously.

It's hard to imagine Spoons being called anything other than, well, Spoons, but like a lot of pubs, the pub - which has the official name J D Wetherspoon plc - was initially named after its owner Tim Martin.

Advert

For the first month of business, it was known as Martin's Free House, which is probably why no one can remember the chain ever having a different name.

Wetherspoons is no longer named after its owner, Tim Martin.
Alamy / Izel Photography

When you think about it, this actually makes a lot of sense when it comes to the history of Great British chains - just look at Morrisons, which is named after founder William Morrison, and Sainsbury's, which gets its name from John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury.

However, as was later revealed on Spoons' website, Martin obviously didn't like the name and decided to rename the pubs after an old teacher.

The original Mr Wetherspoon taught the now-boozer mogul geography back when he was living in New Zealand.

The website states: "For the first month of trading, it was called Martin's Free House – after its owner, Wetherspoon's founder and chairman Tim Martin.

"Then, early in the new year of 1980, the pub was renamed Wetherspoon, after Tim's teacher, who'd taught him at school, when he lived in New Zealand."

For one month, Wetherspoons was called Martin's Free House.
Alamy / PA Images

While on the surface this seems like a sweet tribute to Martin's old teacher, it turns out that it was actually more of a dig.

The Express reported that he deliberately chose that name because this teacher told him that he 'wouldn't amount to anything'.

Martin himself weighed in on his reasons for naming the pub after a teacher he disliked, and he told the Independent back in 1999 that the original Mr Wethersoon 'was the least likely person to control a pub because he could not control a class.'

At this point, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Martin's teacher had J.D. Wetherspoon on his class door, but he didn't.

Instead, these initials are a reference to The Dukes of Hazzard character J.D. 'Boss' Hogg.

The more you know, eh?

Featured Image Credit: TW Photo Images / Islandstock / Alamy
Emma Guinness
Emma Guinness

Recommended reads

World Cup referee denied entry to USA three days before tournament kicks offUlrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesHolly Willoughby speaks out after being 'shoved' by Kim Kardashian at Monaco Grand PrixSky Sports'Billionaire' Lee Andrews 'pleads for wife Katie Price to set him up a GoFundMe'Instagram/@wesleeeandrewsChristian Eriksen breaks silence after collapsing on pitch for second timeUlrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Advert

Choose your content:

9 mins ago
2 hours ago
6 hours ago
15 hours ago
  • Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
    9 mins ago

    World Cup referee denied entry to USA three days before tournament kicks off

    It's only the latest controversy ahead of the iconic summer tournament

    News
  • Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
    2 hours ago

    Christian Eriksen breaks silence after collapsing on pitch for second time

    The former Manchester United man was able to walk off the pitch on this occasion

    News
  • GoFundMe
    6 hours ago

    Hiker thought he was 'going to die' after grizzly bear dragged him 20ft in terrifying attack

    The 32-year-old was left with severe injuries after being mauled by a grizzly bear during a hike

    News
  • David Rogers/Getty Images
    15 hours ago

    England and Scotland fans given World Cup pub boost but 42-year-old drinking ban remains

    Both nations head there for group games, and their fans will want to drink

    News
  • Khloe Kardashian says she 'forced' Tristan Thompson to have a vasectomy
  • Couple added another woman to their relationship and it changed everything
  • Justin Bieber set to be the highest ever paid Coachella headliner but will have to abide by serious rule to keep it all
  • Man earned £100k a year doing job no one wants but it had a worrying ‘dark side’