Chance pint that started a revolution

nlnews@archant.co.uk
24 August 2005

TIM MARTIN: ³right place at the right time²

THE re-opening of The Spoons pub, in Muswell Hill, has reminded all wanna-be entrepreneurs of how a small business can grow into an empire.

The pub, in Colney Hatch Lane, was the first of what is now the giant JD Wetherspoon's chain.

Tim Martin, chairman of Wetherspoon's, said: "When I first heard about Marlers, as it was then called, I was having a pint at North London Squash Club, as it then was, in Muswell Hill.

"I was studying law, but didn't like it, and hoped to start a new squash club as a business, although I had no site and no money.

"I visited Marlers with a few pals for a pint, because the beer in most brewery pubs, in those days, was keg.

"I got to know the guv'nor Andrew Marler, who had converted the pub from a bookies (although it used to be a drinking club for Tottenham Hotspur players before that), who liked running pubs as much as I liked the law.

"I acquired the lease of the pub from Andrew a few months later, thinking running pubs was easy.

"I soon discovered it wasn't and made every mistake you could think of and a few more.

Mr Martin added: "Looking back, I'm very lucky the customers put up with me, because if they hadn't, a promising career could have ended very prematurely.

Lucky

"I was also lucky that there was a huge resurgence in demand for real ale, at a time when most London pubs were owned by big brewers.

"All in all, I look back on my time as a Muswell Hillbilly with nostalgia and think how lucky I am to have been at the right place at the right time."

Mr Martin bought the site in 1979. It was simply called Wetherspoon's then.

No longer a Wetherspoon's pub, The Spoons re-launched after extensive refurbishments on Friday under private ownership. Manager Marvyn Browning said on Friday: "We are hoping for a lot of people.

"A lot of people said they would be down here. It should be a great night.

"Everyone is looking forward to it and is excited."

The chain is actually named after one of chairman, Tim Martin's, teachers in New Zealand, called Mr Wetherspoon, who once wrote on his school report that he would never amount to anything.

The JD part came from the Dukes of Hazard character, JD "Boss" Hogg - apparently one of Mr Martin's favourite shows.

John Cryne, chairman of North London Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), said: "It's funny how most of it started in north London. It was based on where he lived. He was able to pick up pubs that were unfashionable. They were not expensive to pick up. I hope Wetherspoon's continues to succeed."

There are now more than 640 Wetherspoon's pubs across the country.

william.lee@archant.co.uk