JD Wetherspoon is turning 40.
In pub industry years, where change now tends to happen at breakneck
pace, that makes it something of an elder statesman. In 'real' time,
the chain is only a couple of years younger than I am, and consequently Spoons
has been around for my entire life; a constant presence since I started
drinking, albeit one that has changed substantially over time. Not necessarily for the better.
Marked by their latest beerfest featuring 40 beers - most of them new
and/or exclusive - this birthday is a milestone occasion for a staple of the British High Street that is as
controversial as it is popular.
Having visited over 600 of their pubs (exactly 612 at the last count), I consider myself one of the chains biggest fans, but also one of its more vocal critics. There is a lot that Tim Martin has done right, and few would argue that, on balance, Wetherspoons haven't been an overall force for good. but there are a number of worrying issues and a hell of a lot of ways in which things could improve.
