your free magazine | spring 2020 WETHERSPOONNEWS UK EDITION READ BY 2 MILLION CUSTOMERS

28 Oct 2019

DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND APPRENTICESHIPS APLENTY

RAZZLE AND DAZZLE WOMEN’S WONDERFUL BREWS Amazing £18m fundraising milestone for CLIC Sargent Spring real-ale festival to celebrate female brewers HOT FROM THE USA EU DEBATE A plant-based burger produced by Beyond Meat® Presents both sides of the argument

Available on iOS and Android NEW LIGHT 165 kcal

WHAT’S NEW FOR SPRING? Available from Wednesday 11 March

IL PITCHERS COCKTA

 Kopparberg Strawberry Delight  NEW  Hawaiian Pipeline Punch  MINI BOTTLE  Cranberry Breeze   Rhubarb Spritz   Moscow Mule   Mighty Booch  WIN! PRIZE CROSSWORD 109

INSIDE FEATURES DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND ...... TALKING MENU...... 76 APPRENTICESHIPS APLENTY 12 Mobile app for blind and visually impaired customers Our apprenticeship programme complements has had a great first year our internal award-winning training ...... SET TO CAUSE A STIR...... 80 SPRING REAL-ALE FESTIVAL 16 Wetherspoon launches Fairtrade sugar We’re celebrating female brewers, for our 12-day world’s to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight biggest real-ale festival A BURGER LIKE NO OTHER...... 20 LONDON GIN PUT A plant-based burger produced by Beyond Meat® WORLD IN A SPIN...... 84 When Alexander Gordon started his distillery in 1769, FOOD FACTS AT he couldn’t have known how far his spirit would fly ...... YOUR FINGERTIPS 27 ...... Digital customer information screens now CHOICE BIGGER THAN EVER 91 New research reveals that low-alcohol and in operation in all of our alcohol-free drinks are growing in popularity ...... FRESH FROM THE GRILL 32 ...... Our new simple and signature steaks are served RUM FOR YOUR LIFE 94 Our rum shack is stacked with choices for spirit animals, with your choice of accompaniments after the addition of two special concoctions ...... ON THE WAGON? 44 ...... Fuel your ride with low- or no-alcohol brews VE DAY 75 98 Our pubs come alive to mark VE Day 75 ’S PUBS...... 46 Our three pubs are distinctive draws in their own right WHY WE’VE HAD OUR FILL OF LANDFILL...... 101 A JEWEL OF THE SUBURBS...... 48 At our pubs and head office, we work hard Subtlety and respect the watchwords for award-winning to recycle anything and everything we can sensitive refurbishment of 1930s-built Greenwood Hotel MEAL-DEAL DRINKS...... 103 HISTORIES...... 51 Choice of drinks in our meal-deal and club-deal offers Ayr prayers are answered at The West Kirk just got even wider YOU SAY TOMATO, WE SAY TOMA-NO...... 52 THE REGULAR STUFF New carbonara pizza lacks one traditional pizza ingredient TIM’S VIEWPOINT...... 4 PASSIONFRUIT ...... 56 YOUR SAY...... 6 Added to our Kopparberg collection SIBA...... 54 RASPBERRY MOJITO...... 56 MEET THE BREWER...... 42 Premixed and ready to serve from the can COMPETITION...... 109 CRAZY...... 58 CAMRA’S TALK...... 110 Six new additions waiting for you EU DEBATE...... 60 NOW OPEN, NEW LOOK Presents both sides of the argument in respect of the EU WETHERSPOON HAS OPENED MORE JUST THE JOB FOR IRELAND...... 72 Four new pubs and a hotel NEW PUBS IN RECENT MONTHS ������36 OUR PEOPLE AND Written and edited by Eddie Gershon, along with welcome contributions from Wetherspoon staff. COMMUNITIES Using paper from sustainable resources, this is printed in the UK. OUR PEOPLE �������� 26, 45, 68, 70, 83, 99 Price and participation may vary per pub. All J D Wetherspoon food and drinks in this magazine are subject to local licensing restrictions and availability at participating free houses. Photography is for guidance only. J D Wetherspoon plc reserves the right COMMUNITY ���������������������������������73, 74, 77, 92 to withdraw/change offers (without notice) at any time. See main menus for allergen information, symbol explanations and additional details of our terms and conditions. BIRTHDAYS ������������������������������������������������� 106, 108 Android, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc. Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. OUR CHARITY CLIC SARGENT ���������������������������������������������40, 86 PB Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 3 Tim’s Viewpoint

Tim says: The public has been subjected to a relentless and mendacious campaign Time to break free from suggesting that food prices will rise without a ‘deal’. In fact, no deal means ending EU tariffs on thousands of non-EU imports, REDUCING prices. When the UK joined the EU, prices rose dramatically – when we leave, they will fall.

Oxbridge groupthink NOT TRUE NOT TRUE Helen Dickinson, chief executive at the British Retail Consortium: The director of Resolution Foundation, “Sainsbury’s boss David Torsten Bell, said: “The Government’s technical Tyler warns a ‘no deal’ Daft decisions are inevitable when the top brass form an elite club notices demonstrate the facts “Under a no deal Brexit scenario … Brexit would raise the of a No-Deal Brexit - reduced tariffs on clothing, footwear, beverages cost of shopping” A striking aspect of the Rule by clever clogs is In reality, whether it’s a private Meanwhile, the UK economy He was also, no doubt, surprised availability and higher prices of and tobacco will rise by 10 per cent. UNTRUE food and medicine, increased erosion of democracy in the inevitable result of business, a school, a hospital has grown by about 40% in to learn that Wetherspoon, Tariffs on dairy products will rise Sunday 15 October 2017 delays and red tape at borders, by 45 per cent and by 37 per cent for the EU in the last 40 years excessive complexity. or the army, daft decisions are the same period, outstripping its customers and staff generate and a VAT bombshell for ” consumers and businesses. meat products. has been the stealthy use Democracy in Europe is inevitable when the top brass Germany and France. taxes of around three-quarters ” Tuesday 17 October 2017 NONSENSE of legal documents. form an elite club which of a billion pounds Thursday 23 August 2018 also undermined by the Chancellor British SENT OUT Byzantine complexity of the doesn’t have, as its top priority, (£750,000,000) per annum Retail ON BOXING For example, the Brexit Unsurprisingly, one of the WHOPPER consultation with those with Consortium Withdrawal Agreement main EU institutions. euro’s strongest advocates, – about one pound in every DAY the most detailed knowledge “SHOPPERS TO LOSE OUT (WDA) and separate Who understands the difference, Chris Patten, formerly the thousand which the taxman – workers and customers. “Clegg warns ‘hard IF UK DOESN’T ADOPT EU Political Declaration are for example, between the Governor of Hong Kong, collects (see tax table opposite). GLOBAL TRADE DEALS about 600 pages. European Council and the I first noticed the perverse was appointed Chancellor Comically, Jones also appeared Brexit’ will lead to As a member of the EU, the UK In reality, they’re virtually Council of the European Union? effect of Oxbridge ‘groupthink’ of Oxford University in 2003. unaware that Wetherspoon had 22% EU food tariffs” currently benefits from zero or low rate while opposing the adoption tariffs on various imports from trade unreadable – in order to know Although the UK has technically Another euro-fanatic, writer been named as one of the UK’s Monday 17 October 2016 deals that the EU has negotiated with of the euro in the UK about what they meant, the last left the EU, the danger Will Hutton, was appointed top employers for 17 consecutive third countries. From the day after the 20 years ago. UK leaves the EU, on 30 March 2019, parliament, mostly university to democracy remains. Principal of Hertford College, years, by the Top Employers Institute, with The Guardian, it will no longer be covered by these graduates, had to seek the The euro’s predecessor, the Oxford, in 2011. NONSENSE international agreements, so imported The public has been Oliver Shah, Caroline Wheeler and Tommy Stubbington advice of the Attorney General, exchange rate mechanism the newspaper he writes for, goods will be subject to higher tariffs bombarded with scare stories Plus ça change – subsequently, Supermarkets on Brexit: no deal featuring it on its website “ and potential customs barriers. For a top barrister or ‘QC’. (ERM), had resulted in 15% ‘will hike food bills by 12%’ (see opposite page) about the almost all of the main consumers this means higher prices. Then, rival QCs disputed the mortgage rates, recession, (see page 10). Supermarket giants have warned the Treasury ” need for a ‘deal’. proponents of Project Fear, Tuesday 26 December 2017 Attorney General’s huge unemployment and that a no-deal Brexit would force up the price of The purpose of these stories is since 2016, have been Vicious the average weekly food basket by as much as 12%. interpretation – and almost economic mayhem in the UK to persuade the public to sign Oxbridge grads. Jones appears to have close Senior executives from some of the big four incomprehensible legal and Europe. supermarkets made the alarming prediction in up to EU legislation by the These misguided intellectuals, links with Momentum, a political WHOPPER duelling ensued. ‘pressure group’, set up by fellow briefings to the Treasury on the impact on food back door – a so-called free many ‘self-identifying’ as prices of a no-deal Brexit. Katharine Viner, editor of The Guardian, said: Oxbridge grads Jon Lansman, Even if you decide to wade trade agreement which ties us ‘economists’, forecast a loss of The biggest tariffs on imports from the EU “A deal is better than no deal. No deal would through the WDA’s legalese, to EU laws and regulations. half a million jobs and James Schneider and others, could include cheese, up by 44%, beef, up by 40%, mean a reversion to WTO rules on trade yourself, you’ll probably have which advocated some of the and chicken, up 22%. ” between the EU and the UK. Among other That was why the previous Intellectual recession in the IMMEDIATE Sunday 12 August 2018 things, it would mean, as Mr Barnier points out, to read the Maastricht and Labour Party’s stupidest economic ” pro-Remain parliament tried aftermath of a leave vote – yet that there would be customs duties of almost Lisbon Treaties, as well as the overconfidence the UK has actually created policies – and the vicious and 10% on vehicle imports, of 19% on drinks, to rule out ‘no deal’. DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND… and an average of 12% on meat and fish.” Treaty of Accession, to get a has led many ONE MILLION jobs since then. remorseless hounding of some ” real understanding – good But negotiators should be of its best MPs. OR ARE THEY TRYING TO Friday 7 July 2017 Oxbridge Derangement luck with that. warned that no one will be to be seduced by It’s obvious, of course, that there MISLEAD DELIBERATELY? fooled for a moment by a deal Syndrome, evident in all The contrast with the ultra- have been countless great which ties us to EU laws, fails quasi-religious matters concerning Europe, successful US constitution achievements, over the centuries, The information below is an extract from Wetherspoon’s audited 2019 to restore fishing rights or fails may have been the reason is stark. by Oxbridge graduates. accounts and details the taxes it paid. to achieve a real restoration cults why the elitist journalist Owen Annual tax generated by Wetherspoon However, in the modern era at It took the founding fathers of democracy. Jones attempted a hatchet job 2019 2018 about nine months to hammer on Wetherspoon in an least, intellectual overconfidence If the UK public is tricked or £m £m out, with a representative from interview, supposedly about (or arrogance) has led many, like Contribution to cajoled on this vital issue, it VAT 357.9 332.8 each state present – and yet it Brexit, a few months ago. Patten, Hutton, Jones and has the power to drive imports Yet a middle-aged almost the economy Alcohol duty 174.4 175.9 is only four pages long. entirely Oxbridge élite, at the Jones’ main contention was Lansman, to be seduced by from France and Germany, at quasi-religious cults which are at Wetherspoon is proud to pay its PAYE and NIC 121.4 109.2 So, you and I can understand it. least, down to zero, CBI, the Financial Times, in that Wetherspoon underpaid odds with economic reality, share of tax and, in this respect, is Business rates 57.3 55.6 New sections have been added, irrespective of any agreement. boardrooms and politics, was its staff. common sense and the instincts a major contributor to the economy. Corporation tax 19.9 26.1 but everyone gets the gist. adamant that not joining would As he subsequently discovered, Critical of the voting public. Machine duty 11.6 10.5 This disenfranchisement of the cause the UK economy to fall however, Wetherspoon then In the year under review, we I’ve been highly critical of the Climate change levy 10.4 9.2 public, through complex apart – or, at least, fall behind. paid an average starting rate Universities award high marks generated total taxes of £764.4m, role of Oxbridge graduates Stamp duty 3.7 1.2 documents (‘obfuscation by Yet the public, unbrainwashed well above the minimum for clever arguments and are less an increase of £35.6m, compared in the prolonged European Sugar tax 2.9 0.8 excessive information’), is a by academic theories, could wage and the National Living concerned with conclusions or with the previous year, which debate – as, indeed, have Fuel duty 2.2 2.1 favourite tactic of technocrats see the folly of adopting the Wage – and, IN ADDITION, good judgement. equates to approximately 42% of Oxbridge academics like Carbon tax 1.9 3.0 when transferring power to euro, which lacked a proper paid the equivalent of about Real life is the opposite – truth Robert Tombs and Noel Malcolm. our sales – and also amounts to Premise licence and TV licences 0.8 0.7 people like themselves. government – a prerequisite 50% of net profits in bonuses and good judgement win the approximately one-thousandth of Landfill tax 1.7 A main issue is that the for a viable currency. glittering prizes. and free shares to employees all UK government revenue. TOTAL TAX 764.4 728.8 Threat highly educated appear And what a disaster it has been, – almost all of which went to Clever arguments win nothing, Since few people have the more susceptible to false This results in an average payment Tax per pub (£000 ) 871.4 825.0 with catastrophe in Greece and people who work in the pubs. if they turn out to be cobblers, time to read and understand presumptions than ‘the man on per pub of £871,400 per annum or Tax as % of sales 42.0% 43.0% southern Europe, double the in other words… these documents, they the Clapham omnibus’ – £16,800 per week. Pre- exceptional profit after tax 79.6 83.7 UK’s unemployment in the represent a deft and insidious especially if they form tight-knit eurozone and zero growth in Tim Martin Profit after tax as % of sales 4.4% 4.9% threat to democracy. social and business circles. Italy for 20 years. Chairman J D Wetherspoon plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2019

4 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 5 Letters HOW MY DREAMS WERE DASHED ANY HELP FOR BROWNED OFF BY BRAVO FOR Dear Tim HASH BROWN HIATUS I am a great fan of your steak & kidney When the waitress arrived, I asked her whether Dear Tim pudding – it reminds me of my childhood, the pudding was on the menu HIDDEN DISABILITIES? I am an avid goer to many of your when my mum steamed it under a cloth and she just said “no”. Dear Sir establishments for food and bevs in a basin! Yours is better because the suet I read, with interest, your recent issue’s article alike. However, one thing which Please, what are you playing at? Tempting about hidden disabilities – and it was great to THE TRIBUTES pastry is crispy on the outside. disappoints me is the lack of hash Dear Editor us with this lovely photo of a meal we cannot see what you’re doing to help. I’ve enjoyed this wonderful dinner in Sheffield, have! Very cruel. browns after noon. Bravo, yet again, for the very enlightening My six-year-old son is autistic, so has meltdowns, articles in your recent magazine (winter 2019). when I visit my son, in Poole (two pubs there), Jenny Platts I know you have an all-day when I visit my daughter, and in my local here on occasions, in public. Some airports have a breakfast option, but chips just do First, your tributes, in Remembrance week, in Romford. (via e-mail) lanyard system, enabling staff to recognise that not provide the same sustenance to the fallen and your generous contributions someone has a hidden disability and assist. When my friend suggested a matinée theatre Tim replies: I’m reminded of the immortal which hash browns do, especially to the Royal British Legion as a result. treat, I took her to Shakespeare’s Head lines from The Look of Love, by pop How about introducing a similar scheme in when accompanied by sausages, This follows on from last year’s commemoration (in Holborn). We scanned the menu band ABC : your pubs? I’m sure it will give assurance to eggs and the like. to Victoria Cross recipients in the Great War. – no pudding – so assumed that you had “I don’t know the answer to that question. customers that they’re being recognised. Please stop depriving us of our changed your winter menu. “If I knew, I would tell you.” Must add, though, staff at The Water House afternoon hash brown cravings. We ordered BBQ chicken melt and sat and In central London, we have beef & ale pie, but (in Durham) are great with my boy. Many thanks waited. I picked up the winter 2019 magazine I will ask the team whether we should revert to Yours faithfully Eve Garrett-Allen – and there, on page 14, is ‘such stuff as steak & kidney pudding. John McHugh dreams are made on’, with a fab photo of my Abingdon, Oxfordshire Durham (via e-mail) ABC lead singer Martin Fry favourite meal. (via e-mail) Tim replies: Many thanks. Will take a look at the Tim replies: Since chips are sold lanyard system. So glad to hear that the groovy with many post-breakfast meals, Water House team has been helpful. it’s quicker and easier for the hard-pressed kitchen teams to offer them to the all-day brunch. Write to us Hash browns after noon would be Your letter or e-mail really can SEEKING PUBS WITH PERFORMANCES fiddly… but I’ll ask. make a difference. So, please do Dear Tim keep writing. Should you have As regular visitors to your pubs around the any suggestions on how we can improve our service, country, my mum and I have always been Second, your outstanding article about the five please let us know. impressed with how Wetherspoon transforms MAY I TABLE A SUGGESTION? Wetherspoon pubs named after individuals Your Say Thank you buildings of local significance and architectural Dear Tim connected with RMS Titanic, which sank in 1912. beauty to their former glory. We are great fans of Wetherspoon’s I hope that similar testimonies will be made in There’s £20 of Wetherspoon This was never more so than at Opera House, pubs and hotels, yet always feel that future editions. in Tunbridge Wells, where we enjoyed dining what lets them down is, when busy, BUY Yours faithfully gift cards for every letter we print in the splendour of a converted theatre. having to clear away other people’s AT THE plates and glasses. Sometimes, it is John Woodward We were pleasantly surprised to see that an BAR Write: The Editor, Wetherspoon News, J D Wetherspoon plc, necessary to just dump everything opera is still performed here, occasionally, and Cheltenham, Gloucestershire Central Park, Reeds Crescent, Watford, WD24 4QL on another table. very sad that the next performance is sold out. Tim replies: Many thanks. I’ll pass on your When we were staying in a hotel in E-mail: [email protected] It got us wondering whether any of your other compliments. These histories are especially Japan, there was a station where you All letters and e-mails to the editor are read, considered and also passed onwards venues are used in this way? poignant. We’ve exhibited fascinating stories of (if appropriate), yet, owing to correspondence volume, not all may be answered. could place dirty cutlery, dirty plates local history, generally, on our pub walls for Kind regards and cups etc – and somewhere to tip many years – it’s fantastic that so many people Miss E and Mrs R Lock half-empty glasses, along with are interested. See page 98 for more tributes. somewhere to scrape food waste. Should you have any specific feedback, to which you wish to receive a reply, please write to the customer services team (via e-mail) It then left a clear table which could at the postal address above or use the customer feedback form on our website. Tim replies: Only our pub Opera House, easily be wiped clean. I’m afraid! But perhaps other venues could be considered. Buildings like The Caley Picture What a great idea, we thought. ENGLISH MUSTARD, House (Edinburgh), The Wallaw (Blyth) and The I know we would definitely be happy THANKS FOR PUTTING PEOPLE ABOVE DOGS Prince of Wales (Cardiff) are just a few examples. to place all of our finished remnants PUB FAN HAS A WOBBLE Dear Tim of a meal at such a station, and I bet In your autumn Wetherspoon News magazine, I noticed your policy not that most people (with a bit of WHERE ART THOU? Dear Editor to have dogs in your pubs. Good, fantastic – stick to it! encouragement) would be happy to Dear Tim I have been in several Wetherspoon pubs in the area SAVE US FROM PUSHCHAIR PILE-UP As an avid fan of good-old English mustard, My wife is in her 60s, I’m in my 70s and when we visit our family, every now and do the same. and as far away as Chester and Corby. Dear Tim I am constantly bemused by the apparent again, on the way home, we would treat ourselves to a pub meal. It is an idea worth trying, I feel. We go once weekly to Preston and always to The Grey Could you please make a space to put pushchairs? inconsistency of its supply across your pub chain. One day, we were eating in a good food pub, and a young couple with a dog Regards Friar. We enjoy the food – and the staff are excellent. We went into your pub in Penzance – and there I have been to Wetherspoon establishments came and sat on the next table to us. It started to scratch, so I said: “We are However, the tables on the balcony are very wobbly were six pushchairs blocking up the space Linda Slade which have it proudly displayed, along with the and have been for quite some time. eating.” “So what,” came their reply. between tables. (via e-mail) other condiments, pubs which have no mustard We have tried, like others, to wedge the table legs I went to the bar to complain and was told that the pub was now a dog-friendly at all and others (perhaps worst of all) which It was difficult walking around them – and I would Tim replies: You have hit the nail with mats and even the daily menus. place. We walked and would never go back. have only the wishy-washy ‘pretend’ mustard have thought them to also be a fire hazard. on the head. Our food sales have I think, because of food and hygiene reasons, dogs and food should not mix. from a certain superpower across the water! Can you please ask Tim Martin to either replace Thank you rocketed for many years in a row. or repair them, so that we can enjoy our food? You can’t rule out dogs licking off tables, eating off plates or taking up seating. As a champion of great English produce, could Marie Styche We just have to get better at (a) Yours truly We always now look for Wetherspoon: no dogs, fantastic disabled toilets with cleaning floors and (b) cleaning you please address this inconsistency? good access, a good choice of drinks and reasonably priced food. Keep it up! Hayle, Cornwall Mr and Mrs Maddocks tables. I discussed the stations you David Walker Yours sincerely PS We love your pubs! mention with pub and kitchen Formby, (via e-mail) It’s very difficult to legislate for managers (as I do for all letters in Mr Robert P Davies Tim replies: Tim replies: The ‘superpower across the water’ Tim replies: This can be a problem and I’ll take a look pushchairs – you sometimes see none, at other Wetherspoon News), yet they felt that Caernarfon, Gwynedd to which you refer is obviously the Isle of Wight. at The Grey Friar. I had two pints of Abbot and a glass times a few. Six is unusual – and any coffee shop customers shouldn’t have to clear of merlot the last time I was there and started to Tim replies: As someone who walked 45,000 miles with dogs (about 30 miles their own stuff. We’re working on it. Good news : Colman’s is back… and should be in or pub would be congested as a result. your pub soon! wobble myself, but that’s another story. a week for 30 years), I agree, but not everyone will. I will keep my eyes open for this problem.

6 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 7 AWARDS AWARDS PENNIES WELL SPENT AT OUR

AWARD-WINNING LOOS The Castle Hotel, Ruthin The Gatekeeper, Cardiff

Jolly’s Hotel, Broughty Ferry The Old Borough, Swords

The Caley Picture House, Edinburgh

etherspoon has the best toilets in the pub Triumphing industry and beyond – that’s official. The company also won several national awards: the Champions W The company won numerous awards in the Loo of the League Award, for having five or more diamond or platinum Year Awards 2019, aimed at highlighting standards of away-from- awards; the Market Sector Award, with Wetherspoon triumphing in home washrooms. the hospitality sector; the Corporate Provider Trophy (a UK-only Independent inspectors visit pubs’ toilets anonymously and judge award), awarded to that corporate organisation or authority with them on a range of criteria, including décor and maintenance, 10 or more entries which, in the judges’ opinion, is maintaining a cleanliness, accessibility, hand-washing and -drying equipment and consistently high standard of away-from-home washrooms. overall management. Loo of the Year Awards’ managing director, Mike Bone, said: “This A total of 836 Wetherspoon pubs was judged by inspectors, with is another fantastic achievement for Wetherspoon in the prestigious 58 awarded gold, 771 gaining platinum and seven achieving the annual Loo of the Year Awards. highest-possible diamond rating, introduced for 2019; this focuses “In addition to being the first pub entrant to achieve the new on the highest standards of cleaning and the provision of clean and diamond award, Wetherspoon was presented with a range of well-maintained facilities to meet all users’ needs. national and UK awards and trophies. Best Determination The Paddle Steamer, Largs The Prior John, Bridlington Wetherspoon was judged to have the best pub toilets in England, “To achieve such significant results requires many elements, led, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, as well as the best importantly, by the determination of Wetherspoon’s chairman hotel toilets. Tim Martin, to not only provide exceptionally well-designed and The Prior John (Bridlington), The Caley Picture House (Edinburgh), unique pubs, but also include award-winning-toilets. The Gatekeeper (Cardiff) and The Silver Penny (Dublin) were the “The high standards of cleaning and maintenance are then provided winners in the pub category in their respective countries. by local pub management and staff in meeting a basic human need According to the judges, the best hotel toilets could also be of its customers, in spacious and attractive surroundings.” found at Wetherspoon, at The Troll Cart (Great Yarmouth), Wetherspoon’s head of acquisitions and new developments, Jon Jolly’s Hotel (Broughty Ferry), The Castle Hotel (Ruthin) and Randall, said: “We are thrilled to have won so many awards and The Old Borough (Swords). recognition for our pubs’ toilets. Other individual awards went to The Picture House (Colwyn Bay) “We invest time and money, along with creating great designs, to which judges considered to have the best toilets in an historic building. ensure that we provide our customers with excellent toilets. Wetherspoon is proud of the fact that it offers accessible toilets in its “The fact that independent judges have rated so many of our pubs so pubs, with the company winning praise for doing so. highly, in terms of design, cleanliness and facilities, is very rewarding. The Paddle Steamer (Largs) was acclaimed for offering the best “We will continue to offer the best-possible toilets in our pubs.” accessible toilets in Scotland. The Pontlottyn (Abertillery) won similar praise as did The Silver Penny (Dublin). The Silver Penny, Dublin The Troll Cart, Great Yarmouth

8 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 9 glasgow AWARDS FULL HOUSE AS ALL SEVEN PUBS AWARDS COME UP TRUMPS IN GLASGOW AS EMPLOYERS GO, WE ARE A SHINING EXAMPLE Wetherspoon has been recognised that the implementation of its people strategies enriches the officially by the Top Employers world of work of its employees. Institute as a Top Employer “The certified participants are a shining example of a dedication 2020. to people practices as they continuously commit to empowering It is one of only 82 organisations their employees for a better world of work.” across the UK recognised for achieving the highest standards Wetherspoon’s personnel and legal director, Su Cacioppo, in the field of human resources management. said: “We are extremely proud to be named as a Top Employer It is the 17th consecutive year which Wetherspoon has been United Kingdom 2020. certified by the Top Employers Institute – the independent “The recognition comes from an independent organisation which organisation behind the Top Employers project. researches numerous companies, so it is extremely pleasing that The certification is based on independent research which shows Wetherspoon is considered among the best across the UK. that Wetherspoon has ‘outstanding HR policies and offers excellent “The company employs more than 42,000 staff across its pubs working conditions’. in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, as well as at its head office. The HR Best Practice Survey encompasses more than “Wetherspoon is committed to offering each and every staff member 100 questions which cover 600 ‘people development’ practices the best opportunity to succeed and grow within the company, across 11 topics: talent; strategy; workforce planning; talent including studying for qualifications and apprenticeships. Pictured (left to right) are pub managers Graeme Goodwin (The Crystal Palace), Lauren Fleming (The Hengler’s Circus), Mick Murphy acquisition; on-boarding; learning and development; performance (The Counting House), Donna Walker (The Sir John Moore), Bobby and Jennifer McCrone (The Society Room) and Luke Murray (The Esquire House) management; leadership development; career and succession “This is evident in the number of staff rising through the ranks management; compensation and benefits; culture. at Wetherspoon.” Seven Wetherspoon pubs in Glasgow were recognised at the Best “This recognition is testament to the hard work of all the staff and Top Employers Institute’s CEO, David Plink, said: “To become Wetherspoon is featured on The Guardian’s careers homepage Bar None Glasgow (BBNG) awards 2019. management at the pubs. Well done to everyone.” recognised as a Top Employer, an organisation will have to prove – which showcases the 2020 UK Top Employers. The pubs all achieved the highest-possible ‘gold’ award at the Lise Fisher, city centre operations manager and co-ordinator of annual ceremony which rewards licensed premises and their staff BBNG awards, said: “Best Bar None is all about adopting positive for ‘best practice’. management practices in support of a safe night out. GAINSBOROUGH The ‘gold’ achievers were The Counting House (on St Vincents “Being a Best Bar None venue helps the public to identify those Place), The Crystal Palace (on Jamaica Street), The Hengler’s premises doing outstanding work.” Circus (on Sauchiehall Street), The Sir John Moore (on Argyle Launched in 2005, Best Bar None Glasgow is a community safety SWEYN AGAIN AS FORKBEARD Street), Sir John Stirling Maxwell (on Kilmarnock Road), initiative working to encourage and enhance best practice across The Society Room (on West George Street) and The Esquire House the licensed trade. (on Great Western Road, Anniesland). FOLK RETAIN THEIR CAMRA TITLE It is delivered on behalf of Glasgow Alcohol & Drugs Partnership, The Sweyn Forkbeard (Gainsborough) is celebrating Helen Dumbreck, Wetherspoon’s regional manager, Glasgow, said: in partnership with Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Business success, yet again, after being named ‘Pub of the “I am delighted that all Glasgow city centre pubs achieved a gold Resilience Centre, Police Scotland and the licensed trade. Year’ for the second successive year. award at the BBNG event, the highest-possible award. Pub manager Amanda Fretwell and her team received the highly coveted Campaign for Real Ale HELENSBURGH (CAMRA) award, for 2019, from Gainsborough CAMRA’s branch members. DEFIB DUO AWARDED FOR HELPING TO SAVE A LIFE Amanda said: “I was surprised and thrilled, last year, Two staff members from our Helensburgh pub, near to win the award for the first time, so imagine my Loch Lomond, in Scotland, have been recognised excitement this year when we retained the title!” for their quick response and life-saving actions. The Sweyn Forkbeard has plenty of excellent local During a November incident at The Henry Bell, competition, also specialising in real ale, so to win the shift manager Semone Hindes and team leader ‘Pub of the Year’ award again is particularly pleasing Jack Brough (pictured) had to use a defibrillator for Amanda, who has managed the pub for the past on a customer who had collapsed. six years. Their swift actions saved the life of that customer. Amanda added: “We have a great relationship with The Scottish charity Heartstart Scotland was our local CAMRA branch members, many of whom made aware that the pair had used the defibrillator, are regular customers – and we thank them for their with assistance from an off-duty doctor on the continued support.” premises, while they waited for the ambulance The pub serves five real ales, including three ever- service to arrive. changing guest from local breweries, among Consequently, Heartstart Scotland presented both them Beermats Company, The Hop Studio, Semone and Jack with a certificate of recognition. Pheasantry Brewery and Milestone Brewery. The charity also offered to provide defib training Scott Young, Gainsborough CAMRA’s chairman, to all staff at the pub – which took place at the end added: “We think it’s a great achievement to win of January. the ‘Pub of the Year’ award two years in a row. Semone said: “It is fantastic that all of the team “The real ales are always in decent condition, have had the opportunity to train on the defib, thanks to Amanda and her team, who are always thanks to Heartstart Scotland, as we can never welcoming and friendly. predict when it will be needed and who will be “They like to interact regularly with customers, on duty at the time. as well as with local CAMRA branch members, “The British Heart Foundation is also going to be Pub manager Amanda Fretwell is pictured (centre) with staff and local CAMRA branch especially when it comes to selecting their guest presenting us with a certificate, in recognition of members, receiving the award from Gainsborough CAMRA’s chairman Scott Young ales – which is very much appreciated.” saving a life, which is lovely.”

10 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 11 APPRENTICESHIPS DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND

Pub manager Tracey Pounds at The Green Ginger, Torquay Pub manager Tracey Pounds has worked for Wetherspoon “I had the time and support from my family, as my children are APPRENTICESHIPS for the past 10 years, having joined the company initially with now all adults, as well as from my pub team and the company, minimal qualifications. to help me to expand my knowledge. Tracey, who took over as pub manager at The Green Ginger “After completing that course, the opportunity to top up the (Torquay) in May 2017, has since completed her diploma in diploma to a degree was offered… and I jumped at the chance. leisure retail management (July 2018) and gained her BA Hons “While both courses have been challenging and eye-opening Management Practice in 2019, all while working for and – it has been an amazing experience, during which I have met supported by Wetherspoon. some lovely people. APLENTY Tracey’s daughter Rebecca Marlin also works for the “The work has been hard at times, however I have had a good Qualifications we offer to employees have helped us, again, company as a part-time team leader at The Postern Gate time completing the degree.” (York), while studying for her degree at the University of York Motivated to become recognised as one of the UK’s top employers and The Green Ginger (Torquay) while at home. Katy Wade, Wetherspoon’s senior recruitment & qualifications Tracey reported: “Rebecca is working towards her degree in manager, said: “Tracey is a great example of a manager who ur recognition, once again, as one of the UK’s Apprenticeship the conventional way, at university, and has acquired up to wholly understands the benefits of keeping her team top employers is due to many contributing and Our apprenticeship programme, which complements £50,000 of student debt. positive factors, encompassing our reputation our internal award-winning training, also offers individuals motivated and encourages them to be the best they can be. O “What has amazed me the most about my studies is that it for excellent working conditions. real and clear career prospects with Wetherspoon. “She has some of her own team enrolled on the Wetherspoon hasn’t cost me a single penny, thanks to Wetherspoon. As a company, we are committed to offering each and Launched in 2017, our nationally recognised apprenticeship programme, at levels 2 and 3, and has led by every staff member the best opportunity to succeed apprenticeship programme is available from associate “I would highly recommend this opportunity to any manager.” example by completing her own qualification – while working. and grow within the company – which includes studying for level through to pub manager and beyond, with the Paid “The degree apprenticeship is offered in partnership with qualifications and apprenticeships. opportunity of gaining qualifications along the way. Tracey’s course was funded by the company, including paid Leeds Beckett University and is a challenging (yet rewarding) In 2019, a total of 94 Wetherspoon employees gained Since 2017, we have had more than 300 employees time off to study. course to complete. a qualification while in our employ. successfully complete an apprenticeship and more than 600 She continued: “I left school at 16 with basic O level “All of our degree students complete a project, in which they The class of 2018/19 saw 78 people gain a professional diploma employees achieve their functional skills in maths or qualifications, before studying for a general catering course investigate and present an improvement opportunity within in leisure retail management, English – a GCSE equivalent which employees can complete at my local college in Chesterfield – with no plans to study for the business. if they did not previously hold GCSEs in these core subjects. Sixteen of our pub- and head office-based employees, for the a degree. “We have seen some fantastic degree projects and have With various apprenticeship opportunities offered nationwide, first time, gained a BA (Hons) degree in business management “I worked in a few catering roles, had a family (five children) and already implemented some of these recommendations including Level 2 Hospitality Team Member and Level 4 Hospitality in practice. joined Wetherspoon as an associate, working my way up. in Wetherspoon. Manager, there are career paths available. Since we launched the diploma course in 2009, in partnership “I became a duty manager and progressed at The London Inn “All of our graduates should feel extremely proud of their ● with Leeds Beckett University, we are proud that 361 Anyone interested in joining Wetherspoon (Torquay), taking on my first pub, The Vigilance (Brixham), individual achievements. Wetherspoon employees have graduated, having studied on an apprenticeship programme or requiring where I stayed for two years, before a big challenge came up “Not only have they gained a degree apprenticeship, but alongside their job with us. further information should e-mail or call: [email protected] | 0333 014 3669 at The Green Ginger. they have also been assessed by the Chartered Management “In my three years at The Green Ginger, I started my diploma, Institute and, in turn, become chartered managers.” since I wanted to get something extra back from the hard work which I had put in.

12 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 13 The GlassBlower sinceFebruary 2013 and The pubisthetwice-monthlyvenue for the The accolade, from theArmedForces & 14 FOR ITS MILITARY MANOEUVRES GLASS BLOWER WINSMEDAL castleford Veterans’ Breakfast Clubs (afvbc.com), isa support ofthelocalveterans.support Castleford Veterans’ Breakfast Club. meet upevery first andthird Saturday of recognised withaspecialaward. Sarah, who has been pub manager at Sarah, whohasbeenpubmanagerat the month. the pubinCastleford, West Yorkshire, for its thankyou andmanagementat tothestaff atTheGlassBlowerteam have been Launched inAugust 2016, around 40 people Pub manager Sarah Heppinstall and her Pub managerSarahandher Heppinstall is always keen togetinvolved withher has worked for Wetherspoon for 18years, local community.local AWARDS Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com

“The event isnot onlyachancefor people “We reserve twiceamonth,offer thetables event –ithasgonefrom strength tostrength a 10-per-cent discountonbreakfast and since itslaunchalmostfour years ago. similar event, said:“We are proud tohostthe Castleford Veterans’ Breakfast Club members. Council CllrSandra Pickin. recently moved toTheBroken Bridge network for helpand information for the receiving from acertificate Wakefield members, theirfamilies andsupporters, welcome anywhere between 20 and60 veterans –whichissoimportant.” (Pontefract), where heaimstosetupa She ispictured (front) withbreakfast club to meetupand socialise, butalsoagreat Kitchen managerScottSpencer, who The Castleford Veterans’ Breakfast Club ● [email protected] [email protected] on Facebook (ifpossible)ore-mail: on Facebook. Thosewishingtoattend as thoseinvolved whichhelp inservices www.facebook.com/groups/castlefordvbc members ofthearmedforces, aswell meets from 9amonthefirst andthird veterans, includingtheRBLandSSAFA. Saturdays ofthemonth. It isopentoanyone withamilitary background, includingcurrent andformer should indicatetheirintention

The club’s event details are available The club’seventdetailsare “We are tohave pleased for beenshortlisted theaward. The awards are inthe vegan talent tohighlightthebest community. The overall winnerwill bedecidedonby publicvote. WE TICKTHEBOXES FOR VEGAN VOTERS Wetherspoon hasbeennominated for high-street best restaurant Wetherspoon intheVegan hasbeenshortlisted Food &Living Wetherspoon’s food-development manager, Oliver Addis, said: 2020 Reader Awards. for vegan options. “It’s aterrificachievement tohave allseven Wetherspoon pubsin year“This isourbest yet sincethe schemewas extended, andwe The Playfair (intheOmniCentre), (at TheBookingOffice Waverley Awards 2019 for theirwork asafe tosupport nightoutin All seven pubsachieved ‘gold’ attheEdinburgh BarNone Best A nationalaccreditation, BarNonewas Best first launchedinLeith STRIKE GOLDINEDINBURGH SEVENTH HEAVEN AS WE EDINBURGH and TheAlexander Graham Bell(bothonGeorge Street), are very proud ofthisall-gold success. Winning BarNone‘gold’ aBest award were Order TheStanding (on ConstitutionStreet, Leith). Scotland’s city. capital In anannualawards ceremony, every Wetherspoon pubinEdinburgh It isajointinitiative amongtheCityofEdinburgh Council,the the fantastic we teams have working across themall.” Edinburgh achieving award thehighest-possible andhighlights Duncan McSporran, Wetherspoon’s area manager, Edinburgh, said: Lady (on StJohn’s Road, Corstorphine) andTheFoot oftheWalk Bridge), Picture TheCaley House(on Lothian Road), TheWhite Edinburgh LicensingBoard, Police Scotland,theScottishFire and in 2011 andwas extended in2016 tocover thewholeofEdinburgh. has beenrecognised for practice itsbest asalicensedpremises. “We are always lookingto addtoourrange of vegan for meals our includeourvegan“These breakfast, quinoasalad,vegan burger, “Our pubsoffer an excellent range of whichis vegan meals very “Well donetoeveryone whotookpart.” “This year, scores for venues participating were higherthanever BarNoneisanextremely“Best valuable scheme, givingwell- To BarNoneaccredited, becomeBest licensedpremises mustfirst customers to enjoy.” city’s licence-holders. deserved recognition tothemany licensedpremises whichstrive apply through process anassessment todeterminewhetherthey Carstairs (The Alexander (The Carstairs Graham Bell),JaiVimalachandran Cllr NormanWork, Edinburgh LicensingBoard Convener, said: popular withourcustomers. meet anagreed setofoperational standards. they Onceassessed, will become a gold (highest possible),will becomeagold(highest silver orbronze Bar Best (The Caley Picture Caley (The House)BookingOffice). andScottHorne(The Order), Standing Playfair),(The Susan English (The MattKnowles (The Foot(The oftheWalk), MarkBrown WhiteLady),Steph (The fresh fruitdessert. five-bean chilli,sweet potato, andour &spinach curry chickpea facilitate asafe andwelcoming atmosphere for everyone. to improve theexperience for peopleinEdinburgh. McSporran (back)withpubmanagers toright)DanielFiddes (left Pictured are Wetherspoon area managerEdinburgh, Duncan None-accredited venue. Rescue Resilience Service, theScottishBusiness Centre andthe before, demonstrating theefforts by participating to venues jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 15

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Tessa said: “I have never travelled overseas before – and there is A trio of brewers from Marston’s Brewery, Aneta Izdbeska, nothing more exciting to me than to be travelling to a place with Naomi Pallister and Victoria Hearnden, has brewed the new such a rich history, culture and brewing tradition. ruby-coloured Russet (4.2% ABV) exclusively for us. “My admiration for Wetherspoon’s pubs runs deep, as I have Two more festival exclusives include one from Manchester-based heard only remarkable things about what a staple the pubs are JW Lees Brewery, which is JW Lees Bourne and Booth (4.5% WOMEN’S WONDERFUL BREWS in every community. ABV), produced by brewing duo Abby Bourne and Amy Booth, “Many of my peers, friends and mentors call Wetherspoon pubs ‘an and from Shepherd Neame brewer Nic Allen, her new deep institution’ – and I could not be more honoured to become a part golden beer In the Nic of Time (4.8% ABV). of this celebration of ale.” Stout Project Loch Lomond Brewery’s award-winning black oatmeal stout, COME BARRELLING THROUGH A huge thankyou to all of our friends at our five host breweries for Silkie Stout (5.0% ABV), is also definitely one to look out for, Spring real-ale festival to celebrate female brewers from UK welcoming our visitors, once again, as part of our long-running brewed by Scottish brewery owner Fiona MacEachern. and highly successful international brewers’ project. The festival will feature new, seasonal and speciality beers, and far beyond As well as the fabulous five overseas brews, we have sourced many of them available in our pubs for the very first time and all a further 25 festival beers from breweries across the UK – to available to order via the Wetherspoon app. his spring, we’re celebrating female brewers, in our Antipodean complete our real-ale line-up. Our special third-of-a-pint glasses will be available once again too, 12-day world’s biggest real-ale festival. Belinda Gould joined us from Brew Moon Brewing Company, New Among them, making an exclusive début at the festival, is Otter helping you to sample many of the festival ales – with three for the T Our bi-annual spectacular showcase of beers is, this time, Zealand, to produce Antipodean (5.5% ABV) at Shepherd Neame; 30 Years (4.0% ABV), brewer Mary Ann McCaig’s new golden beer, price of a festival pint. celebrating female brewers from the UK and international breweries. Terrapin Beer Co’s Jess Hurd travelled from the US to brew celebrating this popular Devon brewery’s 30th anniversary. Don’t miss this spectacular showcase, at the world’s biggest Terrapin Hey Pal (4.2% ABV) at Banks’s Brewery; Australia-based The event is taking place at all Wetherspoon pubs, across the UK real-ale festival at Wetherspoon. Wheaty Brewing Corps’ Thebby Bitter (3.9% ABV) has been and the Republic of Ireland, from Wednesday 25 March until brewed by Steph Cope, at Wadworth. Sunday 5 April, inclusive. Italy’s Luana Meola brings us Chocolate Porter (5.0% ABV) from Five female festival brewers from overseas will be producing Fabbrica della Birra Perugia, via Adnams Brewery, while Tessa WED 25 MAR – SUN 5 APR their ale recipes right here in the UK, to line up alongside 25 beers, Gabiniewicz journeyed from Land & Sea Brewing Company, in some from Britain’s best female brewers, who have brewed Canada, to brew her Estuary Session IPA (4.5% ABV) at Hook award-winning and several exclusive festival ales. Norton Brewery. ALES NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER ON THE WETHERSPOON APP

Steph Cope (Wheaty Brewing Corps) Sara Barton (Brewster’s Brewery) Georgina Young (Bath Ales) Tessa Gabiniewicz (Land & Sea Brewing Company)

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GREENE KING SUNRISER OTTER 30 YEARS 4.0% ABV TERRAPIN HEY PAL 4.2% ABV GLUTEN VEGAN SAMBROOK’S CANDLEMAKER BIRRA PERUGIA TITANIC NEW SCHOOL BREW MOON 1/ 5/ 9/ FREE 17/ 21/ 24/ 28/ 3.8% ABV Otter Brewery, Devon. Est. 1990 Terrapin Beer Co, Georgia, USA. Est. 2002 4.5% ABV CHOCOLATE PORTER 5.0% ABV ANTIPODEAN 5.5% ABV Greene King Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1799 This new golden beer, celebrating this This russet-coloured American brown ale Sambrook’s Brewery, Battersea. Est. 2008 5.0% ABV Titanic Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1985 Brew Moon Brewery, New Zealand. Est. 2002 This new golden seasonal ale has an popular brewery’s 30th anniversary, makes delivers a smooth, easy-drinking mouthfeel, This rare black IPA, brewed again especially Fabbrica della Birra Perugia, Andrea Reed from Charnwood Brewery, This golden-coloured pale ale has generous 13/ ELGOOD’S Torgiano, Italy. Est. 1875 inviting, fruity, hoppy aroma, leading its exclusive début at this Wetherspoon with distinctive toasty, roasted and BLACKBERRY PORTER 4.5% ABV for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival, a new-school brewery established in quantities of tropical fruit, citrus and fruity to bold fruity flavours, balanced by real-ale festival. Aromas of tangerine and chocolate notes, balanced and enhanced has aromas of pine, citrus and treacle, This black beer is based on a classic 2014, has brewed this new, exclusive beer notes in both the aroma and flavour, balanced subtle malt notes and culminating in a peach lead to a crisp and fruity flavour, by a prominent hop bite in the flavour. Elgood’s Brewery, Cambridgeshire. Est. 1795 leading to flavours of liquorice, spiced porter recipe, with the addition of for us at Titanic Brewery, considered an by a crisp, light, malty base. This delivers a refreshing character and hoppy finish. with a smooth, rounded finish. Brewed by Jess Hurd at Banks’s Brewery, This dark ruby-coloured speciality beer is malt loaf and citrus hops, with notes of roasted cocoa beans delivering chocolate old-school brewery. This red-brown beer full, refreshing character and a lasting finish. Brewed by Georgia Grouchman. Brewed by Mary Ann McCaig. West Midlands. both gluten free and suitable for vegans. cocoa, figs and coffee in the finish. flavours, complemented by roasted, uses traditional quantities of darker malts Brewed by Belinda Gould at Hops: Mosaic Hops: Huell Melon, Magnum Hops: Fuggles, Magnum, Progress The predominant blackberry aroma, with hints Hops: Chinook, Citra, Mosaic malty and coffee notes, resulting in to combine with modern hopping rates, Shepherd Neame Brewery, . Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), oats (GLUTEN) of malt, leads to a rich, roasted malt palate, Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) a smooth and complex character. resulting in a hoppy aroma, a full and Hops: Galaxy, Kohatu complemented by a pleasing hop bitterness Brewed by Luana Meola at balanced flavour and a smooth, dry finish. Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) INTERNATIONAL BREWER and clean berry fruit flavours in the finish. Adnams Brewery, Suffolk. Brewed by Andrea Reed and Will Bott. INTERNATIONAL BREWER BLACK SHEEP Hops: Fuggles 18/ HARVIESTOUN HEAVEN CENT Hops: Goldings Hops: First Gold, Fuggles, Target 6/ Allergens: none GLUTEN VEGAN MONTY PYTHON’S DEAD PARROT 4.6% ABV Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), oats (GLUTEN) Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) FREE 10/ BATH QUEEN OF HEARTS 4.1% ABV 4.3% ABV Harviestoun Brewery, INTERNATIONAL BREWER 29/ WADWORTH Black Sheep Brewery, North Yorkshire. Bath Ales, Somerset. Est. 1995 Clackmannanshire. Est. 1983 SWEET MOLLY 5.5% ABV Est. 1992 14/ HOGS BACK CITRUS PALE ALE This new blond IPA has pleasing hoppy, 25/ LANCASTER IPA 5.1% ABV PURITY APA 3.9% ABV This new, warming amber-red ale has been Wadworth Brewery, Wiltshire. Est. 1875 2/ This new amber-coloured beer makes brewed exclusively for this Wetherspoon 4.5% ABV floral notes and a perfect balance of malt 22/ BREWSTER’S PERSEPHONE Lancaster Brewery, . Est. 2005 This new ruby-coloured beer has been brewed Purity Brewery, Warwickshire. Est. 2005 its exclusive début at this Wetherspoon real-ale festival. The toffee and raisin notes, Hogs Back Brewery, . Est. 1992 and bitterness. It has generous quantities 5.0% ABV This new, light golden beer has been exclusively for this Wetherspoon real-ale This new gluten-free and vegan-friendly real-ale festival. The fresh hop aromas of imparted by generous quantities of crystal This new golden-coloured seasonal ale of citrus, pine and resinous flavours, Brewster’s Brewery, Lincolnshire. Est. 1998 brewed exclusively for this Wetherspoon festival. The subtle smoky aroma leads to a beer has been brewed exclusively for citrus fruit and pine squawk against sweet malt, combine with pine and spicy hop delivers a blend of floral and citrus notes in delivering a crisp and refreshing character. This light golden beer, brewed exclusively real-ale festival. The blend of three British soft toffee and caramel sweetness, balanced this Wetherspoon real-ale festival. It is malt and rye notes, while the malt and hop notes, while the addition of dark fruits gives both the aroma and flavour, with subtle malt Brewed by Lisa Matthews. for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival, is a hop varieties delivers citrus and orange by a light roasted and a moderate a hazy pale golden in colour, with zesty flavours blend to create a perfect balance a distinctive to this ale’s character. notes giving a fine balance to the light, hoppy Hops: Centennial, Eureka, Magnum, Waimea stronger version of this brewery’s multiaward- notes, with a fruity, balanced and full-bodied hoppiness, with spicy and dark fruit notes. Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), aromas of berries, peach and passion fruit, with a fruity kick and a refreshing finish. Brewed by Georgina Young. character – culminating in a long, dry finish. winning Hophead. The intense hop aromas flavour developing into a full, lasting finish. Hops: Chinook, Target Hops: Chinook, Galena oats (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) leading to a fruity, balanced flavour. Hops: Bramling Cross, Challenger Brewed by Mo Zeiher. of citrus fruits lead to refreshing flavours of Hops: Admiral, Godiva, Pilot Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), Hops: Columbus, Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), oats (GLUTEN), Hops: Fuggles, Mosaic, UK Cascade zesty marmalade and a lasting, hoppy finish. Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) Allergens: none rye (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) rye (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) Brewed by Sara Barton. 19/ SALOPIAN THE MURMURINGS Hops: Bramling Cross, Cascade, First Gold 30/ OAKHAM ROGUE HOP OF A LOST LEVIATHAN 4.8% ABV Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) 26/ MAXIM AMERICAN PRIDE IPA 5.6% ABV 3/ WHEATY BREWING CORPS 7/ MARSTON’S RUSSET 4.2% ABV 11/ HOOK NORTON OFF THE HOOK 15/ JW LEES BOURNE AND BOOTH Salopian Brewery, Shropshire. Est. 1995 5.2% ABV THEBBY BITTER 3.9% ABV Oakham Ales, Cambridgeshire. Est. 1993 Marston’s Brewery, Staffordshire. Est. 1834 4.3% ABV 4.5% ABV This golden IPA sparkles with mesmerising Maxim Brewery, County Durham. Est. 2007 This new amber-coloured IPA has been Wheaty Brewing Corps, This new ruby-coloured beer, brewed Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire. Est. 1849 JW Lees Brewery, Manchester. Est. 1828 tangerine and papaya sorbet notes, delivering 23/ LOCH LOMOND This pale golden beer, last seen in July brewed exclusively for this Wetherspoon South Australia. Est. 2014 exclusively for this Wetherspoon real-ale This new, golden-coloured beer has been This new beer has been brewed exclusively for a hoppy and full (yet not overpowering) SILKIE STOUT 5.0% ABV 2017, has been brewed again exclusively real-ale festival. Its generous blend of This light amber-coloured beer, packed full festival, has a balance of malt and hop brewed exclusively for this Wetherspoon this Wetherspoon real-ale festival. It is light flavour which melds beautifully across a Loch Lomond Brewery, for this Wetherspoon real-ale festival. hops delivers an aroma and flavour which of hops, is a little beer with a big flavour. Its notes in the flavour, with undertones real-ale festival, with an impressive range of mahogany in colour, with a well-balanced, brazen sea of passion fruit and lemon zest. West Dunbartonshire. Est. 2011 Created in the style of an American are bursting with tropical fruit character, Hops: Centennial, Challenger, Mosaic, hops provide plenty of tropical fruit notes and of caramel and toffee complemented hop varieties delivering a strong combination full-bodied flavour and emerging bitterness, This award-winning black oatmeal stout IPA, the tropical fruit aromas lead to an culminating in a smooth, dry finish. hoppy flavours, with a biscuit-malt backbone by a subtle dry hop finish. resulting in a clean and crisp character. Nelson Sauvin abundance of dry blackcurrant notes in of orange and citrus notes, along with a Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) has an inviting roast coffee aroma, leading Hops: Cascade, Centennial, Columbus, Summit providing balance to its refreshing character. Brewed by Aneta Izdbeska, Naomi Pallister full-flavoured, refreshing character. Brewed by Abby Bourne and Amy Booth. to a robust and rich chocolate flavour, the complex, well-balanced flavour. Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) and Victoria Hearnden. Hops: Cascade, Citra, Willamette Brewed by Steph Cope at Brewed by Janet Tailby. Hops: Celeia, Pilgrim balanced by subtle hop notes and rounded Hops: Goldings Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) Wadworth Brewery, Wiltshire. Hops: Admiral, Challenger, Mandarina Bavaria, Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) off with a smooth, creamy finish. Hops: Cascade, Ella, Enigma, Warrior Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) UK Amarillo, UK Chinook 20/ SHEPHERD NEAME Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) IN THE NIC OF TIME 4.8% ABV Brewed by Fiona MacEachern. Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) Hops: First Gold, Pacifica INTERNATIONAL BREWER 16/ LAND & SEA Shepherd Neame Brewery, Kent. Est. 1698 Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), 27/ VALE JEKYLL AND HYDE 8/ ST PETER’S HOP IT 4.2% ABV ESTUARY SESSION ALE 4.5% ABV This new deep golden beer has been brewed oats (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) 5.2% ABV St Peter’s Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1996 12/ ADNAMS FISHERMAN Land & Sea Brewing, exclusively for this Wetherspoon real-ale Vale Brewery, Buckinghamshire. Est. 1995 RFECT PINT This copper-coloured ale has an inviting, festival, with a fresh, floral aroma leading THE PE AT THE 4/ CONWY EL CAMINO 4.0% ABV 4.5% ABV This deep red beer, last seen in May 2013, ERVE PERF British Columbia, Canada S EC ICH T T H EM W P to a balance of citrus notes, a refreshing S E hoppy aroma, leading to a well-rounded R has been brewed again exclusively for this B U A Conwy Brewery, Conwy. Est. 2003 This golden beer has aromas of T P Adnams Brewery, Suffolk. Est. 1872 U

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bitterness and a background of malt flavours. F This golden beer has distinctive aromas malty flavour and moderate bitterness, with This rare beer has been brewed again, grapefruit, candied ginger and pine, Wetherspoon real-ale festival. The subtle C A S S E Brewed by Nic Allen. K S malty, sweet and hoppy notes combining to U aromas of passion fruit and grapefruit lead M of fresh green pepper and tropical fruit, with floral undertones, leading to a A HO after a few years’ break, especially for this R E QU RE E-A N F deliver a balanced character throughout. Hops: Cascade, Fuggles, Target to rich roast malt flavours, balanced by fresh CCRE POO leading to a hoppy, refreshing flavour with a Wetherspoon real-ale festival. It is deep red toffee malt sweetness, complemented DITED J D WETHERS Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) well-balanced bitterness and lasting finish. Brewed by Hayley Oakes. in colour, with a flavour which, although by grapefruit and a hop resin bitterness, berry fruit hop notes and a dry, lasting finish. Hops: Cascade, Citra, Columbus, Ekuanot Hops: Admiral, Motueka, Pilgrim clean and refreshing, conjures up roasted resulting in a clean, crisp finish. Hops: Styrian Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) nuts and dark chocolate, along with a Brewed by Tessa Gabiniewicz at Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), wheat (GLUTEN) lingering taste of liquorice and dark fruits. Hook Norton Brewery, Oxfordshire. Brewed by Dawn Baldry. Hops: Cascade, Citra, Pilgrim, Spruce Centennial Hops: Goldings Allergens: barley (GLUTEN) Allergens: barley (GLUTEN), oats (GLUTEN) INTERNATIONAL BREWER

ALES NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER ON THE WETHERSPOON APP

18 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 19 NEW BEYOND BURGER™ FOOD HOT FROM THE USA, A BURGER LIKE NO OTHER Our intrepid explorers have brought back, from Chicago, a plant-based burger

tasting mission to the US has uncovered a truly Try our NEW Beyond Burger today – served as a classic burger, tasty and innovative plant-based gem, thanks to with chopped Cos lettuce, sliced tomato, red onion A members of our food-development team. in a sour dough burger bun – or a gourmet vegan burger Discovered by our intrepid travellers on a trip to Chicago, version, with rocket, red onion, tomato salsa and smashed a new burger has been added to our menu (available from avocado in a sour dough bun, served with onion rings. 11 March). Produced by Beyond Meat®, our NEW Beyond Burger™ is designed to appeal to our growing fan base of carnivores and Here’s the science… flexitarians who are looking for delicious, satiating plant-based How does Beyond Meat rebuild meat without genetically protein… without the compromise. This burger contains no modifying anything? GMOs, no soy, no gluten or cholesterol. The question is answered by the company’s basic thesis that Beyond Meat sources the same building blocks as meat, Juiciness yet directly from plants. Comprised of the same core parts as meat – proteins, fats, Using heating, cooling and pressure, the company creates Gourmet vegan burger carbohydrates and water – the Beyond Burger is made using the fibrous texture of meat, using plant-based proteins. simple, plant-based ingredients. Peas provide the protein; Then, it mixes in fats, minerals, fruit and vegetable-based beetroot provides the meaty red hue; coconut oil and potato colours, natural flavours and carbohydrates – to replicate starch offer mouth-watering juiciness and chew. the appearance, juiciness and flavour of meat. The producer, Beyond Meat, has a rapid and relentless The company heard from its consumers that they are approach to innovation, constantly improving and evolving its increasingly uncomfortable with genetically modified products to make them completely indistinguishable from their ingredients; this, in turn, has guided its ingredient choices animal-protein equivalents. as a consumer-driven brand. It has also found that these products are not necessary in building great-tasting, juicy Benefits plant-based meat. Beyond Meat is on a mission to build meat perfectly from plants About Beyond Meat While more difficult to accomplish by sticking to these Beyond Meat Inc is one of the fastest-growing food companies Beyond Meat’s brand commitment, Eat What You Love™, which tastes great, delivers the nutritional benefits of meat and guidelines, it is committed to perfectly building meat from in the United States, offering a portfolio of revolutionary plant- represents a strong belief that, by eating its portfolio of plant- is accessible and affordable to all. Towards these ends, it is plants without GMOs. based meat. based proteins, consumers can enjoy more, not less, of their committed to a rigorous cycle of rapid and relentless innovation. The company is not inventing new materials, just finding simple plant-based equivalents and assembling them in the Founded in 2009, Beyond Meat has a mission of using simple, favourite meals; by doing so, they help to address concerns The commitment to health and nutrition is a key differentiator architecture of meat. plant-based ingredients, applied in fresh ways, to replicate related to resource conservation and animal welfare. and sets the standard for plant-based meat. The products are the taste, texture and other sensory attributes of popular Beyond Meat’s portfolio of fresh and frozen plant-based proteins made with simple, plant-based ingredients and are designed to That assembly is similar to the simple process used to make animal-based meat products, while offering the nutritional and is sold at more than 58,000 retail and foodservice outlets in meet, if not exceed, the nutritional profile of their animal pasta – mixing the plant-based ingredients, compressing environmental benefits of plant-based proteins. more than 50 countries worldwide. protein equivalents. the mixture and then shaping it into the final product.

20 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 21 In Scotland, at The Sir John Moore (Glasgow), Burns’ week was celebrated in traditional fashion, thanks to piper Calum Stewart. He is pictured with customers Fiona McAllister (right), toasting the haggis with a dram, and Bethany MacLeod ROUND-UP

Customers Daphne Geary (left) and Dot Saunders tuck into our Burns menu options at The Whalebone (Downham Market)

South of the border, in Manchester, kitchen associate Declan Smith (left) and shift manager James Hayes showcase some Burns’ week meals at The Mardi Gras BURNS’ NIGHT CATCHES FIRE ALL ACROSS THE UK etherspoon pubs across the UK, Isabella Hay performs the Highland sword dance at The James Watt (Greenock) once again, enjoyed our ever-popular W annual Burns celebration. Celebrating the life and poetry of the Scottish poet Robert Burns, the full 10-day event yet again proved a huge hit with our customers. As far south as Devon, at The Talk of the Town (Paignton), the Grindrod family enjoys Pubs in England, Wales and, of course, Scotland served our Burns celebrations, where customer Christine and her sons Jordan (left) and Scottish haggis, neeps and tatties for the Burns event which Ashleigh toast the event included Burns’ Night itself (25 January). Customers were also able to enjoy another meal to mark the occasion: Caledonian burger – a 6oz beef patty, with haggis, whisky sauce, chips and six beer-battered onion rings. Also, to toast the Burns event celebrations, our pubs served a special guest ale, Harviestoun Haggis Hunter (4.3% ABV), from Scotland’s Harviestoun Brewery, in Clackmannanshire. The beer, made using Bobek, Cascade, Celeia, East Kent Goldings and Fuggles hops, is described as a tawny-coloured ale. It has a spicy, floral hop aroma, with a fruity, hoppy flavour, and is the ideal accompaniment to our haggis meals. Among the drinks choices for the Burns event meal deals were two Scottish single-malt whiskies, Glenmorangie and Glenfiddich, and Scotland’s BrewDog Elvis Juice beer, as well as Scottish gins No. Ten, Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla, Hendrick’s and Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger. Wetherspoon’s marketing assistant, Jen Swindells, said: “The Burns event is always a great opportunity for our customers to sample some traditional Scottish food and In Dumfries, once home to Robert Burns, customer Peter drinks and to celebrate for longer than just 25 January itself.” Angelini gets to grips with some of the Scottish poet’s work Customers Jacqueline and Kevin Jackson, from Maryport, are served haggis, neeps and at The Robert the Bruce tatties by bar associate Peter Zegveldt at Woodrow Wilson (Carlisle)

22 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 23 JANUARY SALE ROUND-UP

The Central Hotel (Shotton) Customers Joseph McDowall and Kathleen Griffiths The Good Yarn (Uxbridge) Pub manager Tejinder Bilkhu (TJ) welcomes toast the January sale customers Hamish and Theresa Barker

The Brockley Barge (Brockley) A sale pint and a smile from pub manager Cesar Kimbirima ARMSFUL OF BARGAINS

AT OUR JANUARY SALE The Hengler’s Circus (Glasgow) Customers Alasdair Pirie (left) and Drew Brown The Bridge House (Belfast) Customers Edwin and Carolyn Connor, Our ever-popular January sale was enjoyed, once again, by Mint and Sanpellegrino), four draught soft drinks, Guinness, enjoy a pint from the sale selection from County Antrim customers across the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Lavazza iced cappuccino and Remedy Kombucha. Our pubs served a selection of alcoholic, low-alcohol and alcohol- The low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks included Beck’s Blue, free drinks at reduced prices during the 15-day event (14 days in Budweiser Prohibition Brew, Heineken 0.0, BrewDog Nanny State Scotland), at the beginning of the year. and Adnams Ghost Ship. The drinks featured in the sale were a real ale (Sharp’s Doom Bar), a Our pubs in Scotland served Innis & Gunn draught lager, instead of craft beer (Shipyard), one lager (Coors Light), two (Kopparberg Shipyard, while in Ireland the beer selection included BrewDog Punk IPA Strawberry & Lime and Magners) and a selection of from and Blue Moon, with Irish gins Silver Spear, Mór and Dingle also available. Coldwater Creek (pinot grigio, merlot, white Zinfandel rosé). There were also three spirits, two Gordon’s gins and Smirnoff vodka (inclusive of a mixer), four soft canned drinks (R White’s raspberry lemonade, Dalston’s Fizzy Rhubarb, Gunna Muscovite Lemonade &

The Moon on the Square (Basildon) Duty manager Luke Paul with regular The Robert Pocock (Gravesend) Duty manager Mark Burton and team leader customer Richard Greenwood Andrea Sandut

The Bell Hanger (Chepstow) Team leader Tom Stretton serves gin

The Resolution (Middlesbrough) Customer Donna Hodgson from Skelton The Felix Holt (Nuneaton) Bar associate Oliver Briars and duty manager St. Matthew’s Hall (Walsall) Shift leader Sanjeev Mehmi and The Great Glen (Fort William) and Innis & Gunn for drinking Coldwater Creek Skye Beasley, with customers Bob, Kev, Jon and Brian bar associate Demi Rogers customers Jenny King and Alasdair Greens

24 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 25 OUR PEOPLE ALLERGEN AND NUTRITIONAL SCREENS

THE FLYING BOAT • DARTFORD FOOD FACTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Digital customer information screens now in operation in all of our pubs he installation of our new digital customer Specific information screens, in all of our pubs, is now The functionality of the screen also allows customers to eliminate T complete (due as at March 2020). specific allergens from the menu, so that they can see only those HIGH ACHIEVERS SOAR The screens will provide customers with extensive information on dishes tailored to their choices and requirements. allergens and dietary details (calories and carbohydrates), as well Customers can use a calorie filter to choose meals which suit their as full ingredient listings by dish and individual menu item. nutritional requirements, be those low- or high-calorie dishes. Wetherspoon has been rolling out this new technology since Information about carbohydrates, salt, sugar, fat, fibre and protein October 2019, to further improve our customer information. is also available for every food item. Essential The simple-to-use touchscreen enables customers, in addition, AT THE FLYING BOAT The digital screens provide information to allow customers to view to search for dishes which are suitable for vegetarians or vegans. all of the essential details on our food and drinks. Our guest ales vary daily, from pub to pub, across the many regions The screens, for customers to use at their leisure, aim to offer easy of the UK, yet customers can now access them all from our new access to full allergen and nutritional information. customer information screens. The screen information provided allows customers to read through Dietary and check our ingredients, as well as the 14 allergens specified by Staff will be able to direct customers to the screen, where they can the Food Standards Agency. find the information, although staff will not be able to advise on any As well as food menu items, information on allergens in all of specific dietary choices. Wetherspoon’s drinks, including thousands of guest ales which can Once a dish or drink has been chosen, you can order at the bar or be found across our estate, is also available. using the app – as usual. This information can be found on jdwetherspoon.com too. Wetherspoon’s allergen, nutritional and dietary information is also available on our menus, website and app.

1. Getting started 2. Disclaimer notice 3. Food and drinks categories 4. Expanded meal category

5. Meals’ allergens 6. Meals’ nutritional and ingredients 7. Filter screen 8. Filtered dishes

Pub manager Lauren De Souza took over at The Flying Boat (Dartford) “They are definitely showing those additional skills at work, and in the summer of 2019. their course projects have brought extra ideas to the pub, which Lauren may have been at the pub for less than a year, having arrived is a bonus and a god-send, if I’m honest.” from The Robert Pocock (Gravesend), but she is immensely proud of Lauren added: “The apprenticeship is open to anyone interested her experienced team and their achievements. – I would definitely recommend it.” Towards the end of 2019, four staff members completed their Peter has worked for Wetherspoon for 10 years, while Dawn has year-long Wetherspoon apprenticeship, all gaining a ‘distinction’ been with the company for three years – and they are not the only – the highest-possible grade – in their level-2 hospitality course. employees in their family. The successful students are shift manager Maria Isitt and shift Their daughter Hannah Collins, formerly a kitchen manager leader Jess Stevens, together with husband-and-wife team leader with Wetherspoon, now works as part of our induction training Peter Bramall and bar associate Dawn Bramall. team, while her husband (their son-in-law) George Collins is Lauren said: “I am so very proud of all of them. the pub manager at The Society Rooms (Maidstone). “They are also proud of their achievements… and so they should be. Pictured (left to right) are Dawn, Lauren, Peter and Maria. “It is so great to see people succeed – and that extra knowledge, learned through the scheme, will help them in the business.

26 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 27 All smiles from customer Leela Solanki at The Central Bar (Shepherds Bush) PUBS IN STAFFORDSHIRE GET INTO GEAR FOR #DRINKORDRIVE ROUND-UP

ALL HAIL THE ALE etherspoon’s pubs across London, once again, celebrated some of the many brewers in the W capital with our annual London beer festival. The 10-day event, which took place at the end of January and beginning of February, showcased 18 London brewers and their festival brews at 129 participating pubs. From Acton to Wimbledon, our customers in and around the capital enjoyed ales from breweries based in the north, south, Wetherspoon’s pubs across Staffordshire supported a road safety “We offer a large range of soft and non-alcoholic drinks at our pubs, east and west of the metropolis. campaign, helping to prevent drink-&-drug-driving-related deaths including free refills on tea and coffee too, so people certainly Among the beers and breweries were Redemption EXPA during the Christmas and new-year period. don’t have to miss out on the fun and socialising by not drinking alcohol, whatever the time of year.” (3.6% ABV) from Redemption Brewery, Tottenham, in the north; The campaign, run by Staffordshire Police, asked local pubs The Cronx Kotchin (3.9% ABV) from The Cronx Brewery, Croydon, and restaurants across the region to promote their message, Chief Inspector Mat Derrick, of Staffordshire Roads Policing Unit, in the south; Three Sods Session IPA (4.4% ABV) from Three Sods #DrinkORDrive, on beer mats distributed to the participating said: “Every day in Staffordshire, we continue our aim to reduce Brewery, Bethnal Green, to the east and from out west, Sambrook’s Shift leader Thomas Van Langenberg serves a selection of festival ales at venues, as well as offering designated drivers a free the number of fatal and serious road traffic collisions and protect The Alfred Herring (Palmers Green) non-. road users. White Frost (4.0% ABV) from Sambrook’s Brewery, Battersea. The Butler’s Bell (Stafford) was one of a number of pubs backing “Sadly, there are still some drivers who choose to drink alcohol Sambrook’s also brewed a Watneys Beer under licence, the campaign, helping to ensure that motorists think twice about before getting behind the wheel. Watneys Young Harvey (4.0% ABV) for the festival. driving while under the influence of alcohol. “People often think that one or two drinks don’t matter, but even Ales from other breweries included those from The Park Brewery The other venues taking part were The Acorn Inn (Lichfield), a small amount of alcohol can affect your ability to drive safely. (Kingston upon Thames), Truman’s Brewery (Hackney Wick), The Arnold Machin (Newcastle-under-Lyme), The Bole Bridge “So, the best advice is to make alternative travel arrangements or By The Horns Brewery (Summerstown), Portobello Brewery (Tamworth), The Green Dragon (Leek), The Hedgeford Lodge avoid alcohol completely if you are driving.” (Portobello), Reunion Ales (Feltham), Windsor & Eton Brewery (Hednesford), The Linford Arms (Cannock), The Plaza (Rugeley), (Windsor), Signal Brewery (Croydon), Enefeld Brewery (Enfield), The Poste of Stone (Stone), The Lord Burton (Burton upon Trent), The campaign supported ongoing work as part of the force’s The Reginald Mitchell (Hanley), The Old Swan (Uttoxeter), Operation Lightning; this aims to reduce the number of deaths Five Points Brewery (Hackney), Wimbledon Brewery (Wimbledon), The Wheatsheaf (Cheadle) and The Wheatsheaf (Stoke-on-Trent). and serious injuries on the roads of Staffordshire and to disrupt Brewery (Twickenham), Southwark Brewery and deter criminals from using the road network. (Southwark) and East London Brewery (Leyton). Debbie Whittingham, Wetherspoon’s regional manager, Staffordshire, said: “We were only too happy to help in promoting Pub manager at The Butler’s Bell, Mhari Falmer is pictured (front) The festival’s organiser, Rob Davies, said: “The London beer this serious message on behalf of Staffordshire Police. at her pub with PCSO Alison Osborne and managers from some festival is now a well-established and eagerly anticipated event of the region’s other participating Wetherspoon pubs. in the Wetherspoon calendar. Behind the bar at The George (Wanstead) are (left to right) team leader “It is always a fabulous opportunity for our customers, those living Josh Henry, bar associates Chloe Williams and Mollie Pell and team leader PEAS PLEASE PROMPTS OUR PORTION PLEDGE in London or just visiting the capital to sample some of the great Tim Robson Wetherspoon has joined the Peas Please campaign, set up with the Peas Please aims, by 2023, to deliver meaningful change in the food beers which London brewers have to offer.” aim of getting everyone in the UK eating more veg. system by making it easier for everyone, particularly those on low The company has pledged to ensure that every one of our children’s incomes, to eat more veg. meals should come with at least two vegetable portions – our The initiative is co-ordinated by partner organisations in England, commitment to helping kids to eat more veg. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and aims to bring together The pledge has been made via a collaboration with the Soil businesses and brands from across the food system to secure Association and its Out to Lunch campaign. commitments to improving the availability, affordability and quality of the veg offered in pubs, supermarkets, shops, schools, fast-food Wetherspoon offers up to 18 children’s meals at all times, depending outlets and beyond. on the location of the pub. Oliver Addis, Wetherspoon’s food-development manager, said: These include tomato & mascarpone pasta, Whitby breaded scampi, “Wetherspoon is pleased to back this excellent project. freshly battered fish and Quorn vegan sausages. “It is important that children eat healthy meals – and the Peas Please We serve only sustainable MSC fish, always free-range British pledge highlights our commitment to serving a minimum of two eggs and our meals include British beef. In addition, none of the vegetable portions with every children’s meal.” children’s drinks contains any added sugars. Pub manager Toni Sadler (right) and shift leader Michael Chapman At The Moon on the Hill (Harrow), customers Chris Feymain (left) ● For more information, visit: www.foodfoundation.org.uk/peasplease showcase the festival ales at The New Cross Turnpike (Welling) and Jay Weeks enjoy a pint and check out the festival listing

28 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 29 All Hail the Ale AGE JUST A NUMBER FOR GLASGOW SEASIDE SUPERVISOR PAT SAMPLES FROM BROUGHTON Wetherspoon employee Pat Sewell celebrated a very special occasion LOOK TO HAVE CAUGHT ON at Moon and Starfish. A meet-the-brewer session, organised by shift manager Colleagues helped Pat to mark Josh Morrison (right), was her birthday as she celebrated enjoyed by customers at ‘80 years young’. The Sir John Moore (Glasgow). The early December birthday Biggar-based Broughton Ales director celebrations came hot on the heels David McGowan (left) hosted the of another milestone as Pat also evening, providing a presentation clocked up, in March 2019, and samples of several bottled ales. 20 years with the company. Customer Tom Begbie, from Pat works front of house at the pub Airdrie, is also pictured enjoying in Clacton-on-Sea, in a part-time floor one of the beers. supervisor role. Among the Broughton cask ales She said: “Everyone at the pub says being served on the night were that I am still going to be running Hoppopotamus (3.8% ABV), Proper IPA around at 90, with my Zimmer frame! (5.0% ABV), Borders’ Fire (4.0% ABV), I don’t want to give it all up and die Dark Dunter (4.8% ABV) and Wee Jock of boredom, now, do I? (4.6% ABV). “I am lucky that I have good health Josh said: “Broughton Ales is very and will continue as long as I can. popular at the pub; we have a good I love every minute of it.” relationship with the brewery – and Pub manager Billy Anscombe added: the evening proved to be a great “Congratulations to Pat on her special success. Here’s to the next one.” birthday. She is a joy to have on the Pat is pictured (right) with (left to right) pub manager Billy team and a true inspiration.” Anscombe and shift leaders Kieran Wooler and Natalie Milner LYMINGTON EDINBURGH RINGWOOD IN TUNE AS CUSTOMERS CAUGHT ON VOICES RING OUT AT OPERA HOUSE ITS ALES CHIME AT THE QUICK AFTER BROUGHTON SIX BELLS BROUGHT IN

A tap-takeover at The Six Bells offered a great selection of ales from a local brewery. The Lymington pub showcased a range of beers from Ringwood Brewery, based 15 miles away at Ringwood, in Hampshire. Shift manager Chris Allport is pictured (right) with John Hunt, co-owner and director at Broughton Brewery. Representatives from Ringwood (part of Marston’s) hosted a meet-the-brewer session – and customers had a choice of five cask Chris, who works at The Playfair (Edinburgh), organised a meet-the- ales from the brewery. brewer event to launch the Scottish Beer Festival, hosted by Biggar- based Broughton Ales in the Scottish Borders. As well as Marston’s Pedigree (4.5% ABV), the Ringwood beers being served were Old Thumper (5.1% ABV), Forty Niner (4.9% ABV), Its Broughton Proper IPA (5.0% ABV) was among the 14 Scottish ales Razor Back (3.8% ABV) and Boondoggle (4.2% ABV). featured in the festival, although customers at The Playfair were also able to enjoy its Wee Jock (4.6% ABV) as part of the tap takeover. Shift manager Chris Thurgood said: “We regularly serve Ringwood’s beers among our guest ale selection and they are always very Chris said: “We had the two cask ales on for a couple of popular; so, to have all of these available at one event created a lot days – and they sold out pretty quickly. Broughton’s beers are very Opera House (Tunbridge Wells) hosted a fabulous evening of music The pub’s manager, Ross Markwick, said: “Customers who attended of interest with our regulars.” popular – and the meet-the-brewer session went really well.” in the run-up to Christmas. the concert enjoyed a superb evening of wonderful music. Pictured on the evening are (left to right) Maurice Walton (head John offered free tasting samples of other Broughton ales on The Royal Tunbridge Wells Orpheus Male Voice Choir (pictured), led “The one-night-only performance, in the spectacular surroundings brewer at Ringwood Brewery), pub manager Beckie Graham, shift the night, from its bottled collection, including 6.2 IPA (6.2% by musical director Kent Lee, performed blues, rock, folk, spirituals, of our Opera House pub, proved a great success and was a fantastic manager Sam Leak and Philip Alderton (Ringwood Brewery sales ABV), Champion Double Ale (5.6% ABV), Old Jock (6.7% ABV), show, popular and classical music, with guests the Bennett Staff start to the festive season.” development executive). Hopopotamus (3.8% ABV) and Blonde Lager (4.5% ABV). Rock Band.

30 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 31 STEAK OPTIONS wetherspoonhotels 58 HOTELS – 1,239 ROOMS NATIONWIDE

England 4 6 STAKE OUT A LITTLE FOR A LOT OF STEAK 1 Aldershot 16 Dereham 31 Okehampton Our new simple and signature steaks are served with The Queen Hotel The Romany Rye The White Hart Hotel 7 GU11 1BH 22 NR19 1DL 23 EX20 1HD Stay your choice of accompaniments 01252 361770 01362 654160 01837 658533 2 Andover 17 Doncaster 32 Ripon resh from the grill, Wetherspoon’s steaks are an ever- Personal The John Russell Fox The Red Lion The Unicorn Hotel 1 with us 30 14 32 popular menu choice throughout the week, as well as Every steak option is cooked to your personal preference, just how SP10 1NY DN1 1NH HG4 1BP 01264 320920 01302 732123 01765 643410 part of our Tuesday Steak Club offer. you like it, from pink to well done… or somewhere in between. 5 on Sunday F 3 Aylesbury 18 Great Malvern 33 Rochester 2

All of our prime beef steaks come from Britain and Ireland, Steak is also included in our mixed grill (gammon, pork loin, rump, The Bell Hotel The Foley Arms Hotel The Golden Lion 3 from are matured for 21 days, then seasoned by us. lamb and sausage) and large mixed grill (gammon, pork loin, rump, 14 HP20 1TX 23 WR14 4QS 9 ME1 1EL * 01296 388080 01684 580350 01634 405402 Our simple steak selection offers a choice of either 8oz sirloin lamb, two sausages, egg and onion rings), both served with peas, 7 ◊ 4 Barrow-in-Furness 19 Great Yarmouth 34 Salisbury or 10oz rump steak , served with your choice of jacket potato with grilled half tomato and seasoned flat mushroom – and all grill dishes include a drink* as part of the price. The Furness Railway The Troll Cart The King’s Head Inn Lurpak spreadable, chips or rainbow quinoa side salad. 50 LA14 5UB 23 NR30 2AF 33 SP1 2ND £ 01229 824758 01493 332932 01722 438400 39 Choice ◊ INCLUDES A DRINK Our signature steak options (an 8oz sirloin or 10oz rump steak ) 5 Beccles 20 Grimsby 35 Shrewsbury * The Kings Head Hotel The Yarborough Hotel The Shrewsbury Hotel are also served with peas, grilled half tomato and seasoned flat 20 NR34 9HA 36 DN31 1JN 22 SY1 1PU mushroom, as well as your choice of either jacket potato with CHOOSE ANY DRINK (almost) FROM THE FOLLOWING DRINKS MENU CATEGORIES 01502 718730 01472 361924 01743 236203 43 Lurpak spreadable or chips, together with three onion rings and 40 CRAFT, REAL ALE, LAGER, SOFT DRINKS 6 Bedford 21 Harwich 36 Sittingbourne a sauce. BEER AND CIDER Draught 398ml glass • Bottle • Can The Pilgrim’s Progress The Bottle Kiln The Golden Hope 32 31 9 3 4 Draught available in half pint and pint measure †† MK40 1QB CO12 3JR ME10 1DR You can choose our creamy peppercorn sauce or our honey glaze • Bottle • Can COLDWATER CREEK Wine available in 125ml and 175ml measure 01234 344566 01255 245400 01795 476791 option, made with Jack Daniel’s® Tennessee Honey. LOW AND ALCOHOL FREE 2 25 GIN, VODKA, RUM, WHISKY 7 Bewdley 22 Henley-on-Thames 37 Southend-on-Sea ††† † Both sauces are available as an add-on, as well as a side order of TEA AND COFFEE AND BRANDY MIXER INCLUDED George Hotel The Catherine Wheel Hotel The Last Post 1 44 17 20 six onion rings, either together or separately, as extras for any of our FREE REFILLS For drinks’ allergen information, please see the drinks menu. 20 DY12 2AW 30 RG9 2AR 14 SS1 1AS grill choices. Excludes Prosecco, sparkling wine, wine by the bottle, cocktails, liqueurs, bombs, shots and any drink not listed on the drinks menu. 01299 406970 01491 848484 01702 337860 13 14 5 8 Biggleswade 23 Huntingdon 38 Tavistock ◊At participating free houses only. The Crown Hotel Sandford House The Queen’s Head Hotel 9 SG18 0JE 22 PE29 3BD 12 PL19 8AQ 35 24 16 01767 777299 01480 432402 01822 612455 19 15 27 9 Birmingham 24 King’s Lynn 39 Tewkesbury 7 9 5 The Briar Rose Globe Hotel The Royal Hop Pole 23 40 B2 5RE 37 PE30 1EZ 28 GL20 5RS 45 1 18 6 8 26 0121 634 8100 01553 668000 01684 274039 39 21 3 10 Bridport 25 Kingston Upon Hull 40 Thirsk 3 The Greyhound The Admiral of the Humber The Three Tuns 4 37 15 DT6 3LF 22 HU1 2NT 13 YO7 1LH 2 22 30 01308 421905 01482 381850 01845 524605 42 29 33 28 41 2 1 36 12 11 Camborne 26 Leighton Buzzard 41 Warminster The John Francis Basset The Swan Hotel The Bath Arms 34 37 TR14 8JZ 39 LU7 1EA 10 BA12 9AZ 01209 613230 01525 380170 01985 853920 31 10 38 Map not to scale. 12 Canterbury 27 March 42 Weston-super-Mare The Thomas Ingoldsby The Hippodrome Cabot Court Hotel 13 CT1 2HG 13 PE15 8AQ 21 BS23 2AH 11 01227 463339 01354 602980 01934 427930

13 Chester 28 Minehead 43 Whitby The Bull and Stirrup Hotel The Duke of Wellington The Angel Hotel 8oz sirloin signature steak 11 CH1 4EE 29 TA24 5NH 34 YO21 1DH Scotland 01244 250019 01643 701910 01947 824730 1 Broughty Ferry 3 Edinburgh 5 Glenrothes 7 Peebles 14 Chesterfield 29 Newbury 44 Wigan Jolly’s Hotel The White Lady The Golden Acorn The Cross Keys The Portland Hotel The Hatchet Inn The Brocket Arms 25 DD5 2BJ 30 EH12 8AT 26 KY7 5NA 7 EH45 8RS 22 16 28 S40 1AY RG14 5BD WN1 2DD 01382 734910 0131 314 0680 01592 751175 01721 723467 01246 293600 01635 277560 01942 823800 2 Dunfermline 4 Fraserburgh 6 Inverness 15 Corby 30 Northolt 45 Worcester The Guildhall & The Saltoun Inn The King’s Highway The Saxon Crown The Greenwood Hotel The Crown 19 Linen Exchange 11 AB43 9DA 27 IV1 1EN 12 NN17 1FN 12 UB5 4LA 18 WR1 3LL KY12 7DR 01346 519548 01463 251800 01536 203672 020 8423 6169 01905 617578 01383 724060 Wales Republic of Ireland 1 2 Key 1 Brecon 3 Monmouth 5 Ruthin Dublin Swords The George Hotel The Kings Head The Castle Hotel Keavan’s Port Hotel The Old Borough Number of 6 24 17 89 14 39 LD3 7LD NP25 3DY LL15 1AA Opening in 2020 72 Main Street bedrooms 01874 403231 01600 710500 01824 708950 +353 1 808 4103 2 Bridgend 4 Newport The Wyndham Arms Hotel The Queen’s Hotel 26 CF31 1JE 29 NP20 4AN 10oz rump simple steak 01656 673500 01633 844900

Subject to availability at participating hotels. See website for full terms and conditions. *Price shown is per room, per night, on a Sunday, and is subject to change. 32 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com Non-refundable advanced purchase rates, available to book direct via telephone and our website. jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 33 10,000 NEW JOBS ON THE FAB 25 EMBARK ON WAY IN NEXT FOUR YEARS Wetherspoon is to invest more than £200 million in its pub estate We will also be investing in major cities, including Birmingham, MAGICAL HISTORY TOUR over the next four years. Dublin, Edinburgh, Galway, Glasgow, Leeds and London. It will invest the money in developing new pubs and hotels, Wetherspoon’s founder and chairman, Tim Martin, said: “We are as well as in enlarging its existing pubs across the UK and the looking forward to opening many more new pubs, as well as Republic of Ireland. investing in existing pubs, over the next four years. The company anticipates that the investment will result in “We are especially pleased that a large proportion of the approximately 10,000 new jobs. investment will be in smaller towns and cities which have, The majority of the investment will be channelled into in recent years, seen a decline in investment. developments in small- and medium-sized towns, but will also “The fact that we will be creating approximately 10,000 jobs is include larger towns and cities. great news too.” These are set to include new pubs in Bourne, Diss, Ely, Felixstowe, Wetherspoon operates 874 pubs and 58 hotels across the UK and Hamilton, Newport Pagnell, Prestatyn and Waterford. the Republic of Ireland and employs more than 42,000 staff. ‘GRAN IN THE CAR’ HELPS TO To mark the company’s 40th anniversary (9 December 2019), a Two plaques (pictured below), one for Martin’s Free House STEER YOUNG DRIVERS RIGHT group of Wetherspoon supporters and super fans (pictured above) and one for J D Wetherspoon’s Free House, were both unveiled at embarked on a day-long birthday bus tour. The Furlong pub on the day. Organised by CAMRA member Derrill Carr, the special day began The majority of the group then went on throughout the day to visit with breakfast at The Lord Moon of the Mall (Whitehall). a further nine Tim Martin/Wetherspoon pubs in north London. Derrill said: “The group comprised 25 specially invited guests, 10 of Only one is still a Wetherspoon pub – The Rochester Castle (Stoke whom have visited more than 1,000 Wetherspoon pubs, as well as Newington) – which is currently the oldest trading Wetherspoon members from the Wetherspoon Appreciation Society and even a pub (37 years). guy who was at Nottingham University at the same time as Tim Martin. Greene King, which was also celebrating a 40-year association “Tim very kindly agreed to treat us all to a hearty Wetherspoon with Tim Martin and Wetherspoon on 9 December, donated 20 breakfast, before we set off on a visit of 10 Tim Martin/ specially engraved glass tankards, celebrating Tim Martin’s 40-year Wetherspoon pubs in north London, all of which were opened anniversary, which were used to toast the occasion. between 1980 and 1983.” The brewery also arranged for its special beer of Ruby Abbot Ale, The first on the route was The Furlong, in Colney Hatch Lane, Wetherspoon’s 40-year anniversary ale, to be available at The Lord Muswell Hill, north London (pictured below, top). Moon of the Mall and The Rochester Castle on the day. The Furlong pub was originally Tim Martin and Wetherspoon’s very Derrill concluded: “We were very well looked after by managers first pub, which opened on 9 December 1979. and staff at all of the pubs we visited and enjoyed our evening Derrill added: “Our visit was exactly 40 years, to the very day, meal at our final pub The Coronet, in Holloway.” since Tim first opened this pub as Martin’s Free House. Tim said: “Thank you to all for the time and effort which the group “This also became the first-ever named Wetherspoon pub, in went to to mark our special anniversary. January 1980.” “It was a real Wetherspoon pilgrimage, by some very dedicated fans, and we appreciate their continued support.”

Wetherspoon super fan Alan Hope is pictured (left), as JD Boss Hogg, with ‘Mr Wetherspoon’ Steve Lawson, a fun representation of Tim Martin’s geography teacher in New Zealand, who both gave their names to the company

Our pubs across Scotland helped to promote a national drink-&- “We hope that communicating such important messages will hit drug-driving-related initiative, encouraging specifically young male home with our customers, so that they don’t take any unnecessary drivers to ‘imagine gran is in the car’. risks, not just at Christmas time, but throughout the year.” The #DriveSmart campaign, launched by Police Scotland, the Road Safety Scotland says that young men change their driving Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland, ran adverts on behaviour, depending on who they have as a passenger and claim TV, at cinemas, online and across social media, as well as holding a to drive better when they are carrying ‘precious cargo’ like their series of interactive events. gran, hence the ‘Drive Like Gran’s in the Car’ campaign message. Kicking off in Glasgow, and officially launched at The Counting Michael McDonnell, director of Road Safety Scotland, said: “Young House and The Society Room, there was a visit from the straight- men are prone to overconfidence in their abilities, a misplaced talking, larger-than-life gran character from the ads, giving a few sense of control and a desire to push themselves and their cars to choice words to those thinking about drinking and driving. the limits. As part of the scheme, anyone showing car keys to bar staff, “This campaign will address, in a way that young men will take notice highlighting that they were the designated driver, was served a free of, some of the key contributing factors which lead to casualties on during December’s ‘Star in the Bar’ initiative. Scotland’s roads. The campaign, #DriveSmart the best approach is none, also included “Next time the drivers see themselves slipping into bad habits, they posters, beermats and table toppers on display at the pubs. should imagine that gran is in the car with them.” Helen Dumbreck, Wetherspoon’s regional manager, Glasgow, said: UK-wide data shows that young drivers (aged 17–24) make up just “We were delighted to back the drink-&-drug-driving enforcement seven per cent of all licence-holders, yet represent 20 per cent of all campaign and welcomed ‘gran’ to our pubs in Glasgow. drivers killed or seriously injured in a crash.

34 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 35 NEW LOOK Tamworth THE BOLE BRIDGE Pub manager Dave Hough is pictured at his new-look pub The Bole Bridge, with George Greenaway (left), chairman of Lichfield, Sutton & Tamworth CAMRA, pulling the first pint. The pub in Tamworth, having first opened in April 2001, has undergone a major refurbishment and expansion project costing £1.1 million. A new pub extension has increased the customer area by an additional 1,044 square feet. New external signage has also been installed. The new was also part of the redevelopment work, providing an additional 1,539 square feet of outdoor customer space. Inside the pub, which has been fully redecorated, there is a new open kitchen gantry. Behind the scenes, work has included a kitchen upgrade and new staff room facilities. Both the ladies and gents’ customer toilets have also been completely upgraded. Dave, who took over as pub manager in July 2019, having started at The Bole Bridge as a bar associate in 2005 in his home town, said: “The Bole Bridge has been established in Tamworth for more than 18 years, so it is very exciting to see all the changes. “My team and I, including all of our new recruits, are confident that customers will be impressed by the new-look pub and its new facilities.” 8 BOLEBRIDGE STREET, TAMWORTH, STAFFORDSHIRE, B79 7PA

Romford THE MOON AND STARS The Moon and Stars, in Romford, has reopened following an extensive refurbishment project costing £1.3 million. Pictured (left to right) at the official reopening are bar associate Caitlyn Ryan, duty manager Sansel Doganca, deputy mayor of Havering Cllr John Mylod and bar associates Katie O′Brien and Leah Meekings. As a result of the work, an additional 45 full- and part-time jobs have been created at the pub. The Moon and Stars, having first opened as a Wetherspoon in May 1994, is managed by Daniel Griffin and has undergone a complete refurbishment, as well as the creation of a brand- new roof garden. The new roof garden area is accessed via new stairs from the customer area in the pub. The garden provides a beautiful outdoor space with new free- standing garden furniture, as well as feature fixed seating. It is decorated with festoon lighting, as well as planters and shrubs. Inside the pub, which has been completely redecorated throughout, there is a new colour scheme and new carpets, as well as upgraded furniture, installed throughout. The ladies and gents’ toilets have also been fully refurbished. Behind the scenes, new staff facilities have been added. Pub manager Daniel Griffin said: “Wetherspoon has provided further substantial investment into the area, as well as creating new jobs for local people. “I am confident that customers will welcome the refurbishment and new-look pub, especially the fantastic new roof garden.” 99–103 SOUTH STREET, ROMFORD, GREATER LONDON, RM1 1NX

36 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 37 NEW LOOK Newcastle Scunthorpe THE FIVE SWANS THE BLUE BELL INN Shift manager Aston Bose is pictured at The Five The Blue Bell Inn has undergone a major redevelopment and Swans (Newcastle), which has undergone an extensive expansion project costing £2.1 million. refurbishment and expansion project, costing just over Pub manager Allan Starr is pictured (second right) with £1 million. (left to right) shift managers Calum Owen, Sarah Jamieson Forty new jobs have been created at the new-look pub – and Reece Simpson and shift leader Hannah Moverley. which first opened as a Wetherspoon in March 2011 and is The pub in Scunthorpe, having originally opened in August managed by Leanne Surtees. 1999, was closed for five months for the refurbishment and The existing first-floor area, previously disused, has been extension work to be completed. transformed to form an additional 1,900 square feet of A vacant former pub and restaurant building, as well as customer space. neighbouring retail units, has been transformed into the There is no bar on this floor, so customers’ food and drinks new-look Wetherspoon pub. orders here are available only via the Wetherspoon app. The new extension to the pub has increased the customer The existing ground-floor customer area has been area to almost double its original size, from 2,775 to 5,017 completely refurbished, including a new colour scheme, square feet. new carpets and polished timber floors, as well as The beer garden is also part of the redevelopment works. reupholstered furniture. It has been enlarged and redesigned, with additional tables Behind the scenes, the kitchen has been extended and booth seating. into the yard area, at the back of the pub, and the cellar In addition, the flat roof above the pub has been has also been increased in size. transformed into an accessible roof garden, with a lift Pub manager Leanne Surtees said: “Wetherspoon installed for customers with disabilities. has provided further substantial investment into Pub manager Allan Starr said: “The Blue Bell Inn is an the area, as well as creating new jobs for local people extremely popular pub which has been established in the – which is fantastic.” town for 20 years. 14 ST MARYS PLACE, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, “This investment highlights the company’s commitment to TYNE AND WEAR, NE1 7PG offering customers the best pub possible. “The redevelopment has also provided a further 40 jobs for local people, doubling the size of the original team.” 1–7 OSWALD ROAD, SCUNTHORPE, NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE, DN15 7PU

NEW WETHERSPOON IS OPENING

The Charles Henry Roe The Cross Inn Keavan's Port 39/41 Austhorpe Road, Cross Gates, High Street, Kingswinford, 1–5 Camden Street Upper & 49–51 Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS15 8BA West Midlands, DY6 8AA Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2 OPENING 7 APRIL 2020 OPENING 21 APRIL 2020 OPENING DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

38 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 39 OUR CHARITY RAZZLE AND DAZZLE IN NEWCASTLE AS TEAMS TAKE FLIGHTS AS THEY GEORDIES TOAST £18M MILESTONE EMBARK ON DARTS DING-DONG

taff from our pubs across the UK and the Republic Eight pubs from area manager Sarah Kyle-Playford’s area, of Ireland have been taking part, once again, in in Scotland, competed in their heat matches at Jolly’s Hotel S Wetherspoon’s annual charity darts tournament. (Broughty Ferry). More than 450 teams have been battling it out in area heats, in A total of 10 teams (pictured, above) from Perth, Dundee, 80 venues across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Blairgowrie, Kirkcaldy, Arbroath, Glenrothes and Dunfermline anagers and staff from pubs in and around Together, the region raised more than £350,000, contributing in a bid to win the highly coveted darts trophy for 2020. battled it out. Newcastle, together with regional and area hugely to this latest milestone, the £18 million which Wetherspoon Area heat winners progressed through to 12 regional finals, The Robert Nairn (Kirkcaldy) beat the home team from Jolly’s Hotel M managers, are pictured celebrating yet another has collected to date, during 17 fabulous fundraising years. including one in Ireland, with victors from those tournaments in the final. amazing fundraising milestone for CLIC Sargent. Alistair said: “I set myself a challenge in my 50th year to complete set to compete in the national final, during March, at Organised by pub manager Lee Thelwell, the event collected an Wetherspoon’s staff and customers have continued their incredible 12 fundraising challenges linked to the 12 families who hear the The Trent Bridge Inn (Nottingham). additional £343.50 on the night, with a raffle, tombola and bingo fundraising efforts in support of the charity to reach a fantastic devastating news that their child has cancer. A full round-up of the final tournament and details of the total 2020 cards, as well as £15 per team registration fee for the charity pot. £18 million for children and young people with cancer. “With a massive amount of support from the Wetherspoon family, fundraising tally will appear in our summer edition. Pictured at The Harry Clasper (Whickham) are (left to right) shift we have managed to raise an incredible amount. In the area heats, teams from our four pubs in Northern Ireland and manager Toni Fitzgerald (The Mile Castle, Newcastle), CLIC Sargent “Reaching £18 million is a fantastic achievement – and I hope it our seven pubs in the Republic of Ireland (raising funds for volunteer Alistair Watson, Wetherspoon’s regional manager Jane won’t be long before we hit the next milestone.” LauraLynn) came together (pictured, right) for a great night of darts Sexton, pub manager Tyler Hudson (The Harry Clasper), CLIC Sargent’s lead account manager, Liz Lowrey, added: “We are at The Tuesday Bell (Lisburn). Wetherspoon’s area manager John Hudson and team leaders delighted to be celebrating this incredible fundraising milestone Michelle Cuthbertson and Jo Cox (both The Harry Clasper). The event, organised by duty manager Derrick McCabe, saw with our long-standing partner Wetherspoon. The Forty Foot (Dún Laoghaire) beat The Old Borough (Swords) The pub was the chosen venue for the celebrations because it “The support and dedication of staff and their pub communities to go through to the next stage. raised more than £6,500, during 2019, as part of general manager continue to amaze us, year on year, and we are incredibly grateful to Alistair Broome’s ‘12 challenges in 12 months’ challenge. Derrick said: “For the last couple of years, the tournament has been Alistair and his region’s fantastic fundraising efforts over the past year. staged in Ireland, so we thought that we ought to bring it north of One of the highlights during last year, Alistair took on 12 fundraisers “The funds raised make a huge difference to what we can do to the border this time. in support of the 12 children and young people diagnosed with support children and young people with cancer – and their families. cancer each day; in doing so, he generated an incredible £25,000. “We closed off the upstairs bar at the pub and had three match “CLIC Sargent is there from diagnosis onwards to provide grants, as boards set up, as well as a separate board for competitions Throughout last year, Alistair also encouraged his region to well as help, such as social workers who give practical and (nine-dart challenge and bullseye), with prizes up for grabs. take part in fundraising events, including a region-wide bikeathon, emotional support, along with Homes from Home near hospitals, darts competition and the company’s annual five-a-side football “This generated extra fundraising cash, together with a rolling where parents can stay during their child’s treatment.” tournament – KICK for CLIC Sargent. tombola, adding 200 pounds/euros to the coffers, to be shared between CLIC Sargent and LauraLynn.”

40 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 41 Meet the brewer Wetherspoon is committed to serving the best range of beers in its pubs, including sourcing from microbreweries throughout the UK and Ireland annually. Here, we feature two brewers whose beers are enjoyed at our pubs. FULL CIRCLE AS JARED HARROGATE WATER PUTS RETURNS TO FULL HOUSE Former bar associate brings Tring’s ales back to pub where he honed A SPRING IN DALESIDE’S STEP his love of beer Yorkshire brewery has been in business since the 1980s, but the family filling the barrels has a brewing history stretching Brewery’s name: Tring Brewery Co, Tring, Hertfordshire back more than 600 years

Brewery’s name: Daleside Brewery, Harrogate, North Yorkshire

ared Ward has been at Tring Brewery Co for three Brand and a half years, responsible for communications Nationally, Tring was subsequently included on our quarterly and events – and he is no stranger to Wetherspoon. listing, taking its brand further afield, and it has also supplied ales aleside Brewery was founded in the mid 1980s by Secret J for half a dozen real-ale festival events, including its American a family with a brewing tradition stretching back Brewed to a secret recipe dating back 300 years, Daleside A former full-time bar associate (2014–15) at The Full House Ruby Mild (3.8% ABV), in autumn 2019. D more than 600 years. Morocco Ale (5.5% ABV), a strong, dark, spiced and mysterious (Hemel Hempstead), he recently returned to his local pub in a working capacity to host a meet-the-brewer night, showcasing Its red-amber-hued ale Moongazing (4.2% ABV) is one to look Based in the Victorian spa town of Harrogate, on the edge of the beer, was a great success. Tring’s ales. out for during April–June at your local Wetherspoon. stunning Yorkshire Dales National Park, the company, originally Since 2010, Daleside Brewery’s ales have featured every year for named The Big End Brewery, was founded by Bill Witty. us, either in our quarterly listing or as a festival pint. Jared (pictured) said: “Our beer is only as good as the pubs It has a well-rounded late bitterness, with grapefruit, mango and which serve it – and I know, at first hand, how stringent the peach hop characteristics. Following a 1992 site move to its current location, allowing for Eric Lucas, managing director, added: “The quality of our liquid is beer-line checks are and the importance of good, fresh beer expansion, it became Daleside Brewery. one reason why we have traded with Wetherspoon for so long. Jared continued: “We distribute across the home counties mostly, at Wetherspoon. as far north as Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire, along with some Bill’s son Craig has recently relinquished his head brewer title to “The other factor is our own Vincent Staunton (right) – developing Job venues in London. make way for a younger team member – Robert Millichamp (left). the business here since 2008.” “I first tasted Tring beer at The Full House, joined the brewery “However, it is our partnership with Wetherspoon which has flung However, Craig, part of the brewery’s fabric since 1992, is still Old Legover members’ club and subsequently applied for a job when it was us further afield. hands on in the brew house. New for April–June at our pubs across the UK is Daleside’s hugely recruiting, so have now worked on both sides in the industry.” “I remember returning from a holiday at the Edinburgh Festival Awarded popular Yorkshire session ale Old Legover (4.1% ABV)… look out The Tring Brewery was founded in 1992 by Richard Shardlow, and seeing Tring beer at the Spoons in Edinburgh airport, which Using best-quality malts, wholeleaf hops, Daleside’s own yeast and for it at your local Wetherspoon. an experienced brewer, having worked for Greene King, Ruddles was surreal. Harrogate water, Daleside produces a range of cask ales recognised Vincent concluded: “From our early dealings with Wetherspoon and Devenish. In 2000, he was joined by brewing and retail Great and awarded by SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) and up until the present day, our relationship with the company has expert Andrew Jackson, from Whitbread. Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) with numerous titles. been of great importance to us. “Supplying to Wetherspoon’s pubs is great for us. It certainly gets The pair still heads up the team at Tring, along with experienced our brand out there.” Vincent Staunton, Daleside’s business development manager, said: “We regard Wetherspoon as a major shop window and a great head brewer Barry Phipp, with more than 20 years’ service, Meanwhile, closer to home, the brewery supports a different “We originally began supplying Wetherspoon’s pubs near the marketing platform for our products. together with production manager Sam Reed, who assists in the local charity every year, raising awareness through 12 special brewery, dealing with local pub managers, in Harrogate and its “It is the number-one retailer of cask ale throughout the UK – and brewhouse and gets involved with experimental recipes and ideas. surrounding area. monthly ales. we are hugely indebted to our continued successful partnership.” Tring began supplying local Wetherspoon pubs with their ales Its dog-theme-named beers for 2020, including , “In 2008, that area expanded, with direct deliveries across the in 2002, including The Full House, The Crown (Berkhamsted), Red Rover and Hound Dog, are supporting Chilterns Dog whole of Yorkshire and the northeast, before we supplied our first The Bell Hotel and The White Hart (both Aylesbury), all on Rescue Society. UK-wide beer for the October 2009 Wetherspoon real-ale festival.” Tring’s geographical doorstep.

42 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 43 NEW LOW-ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOL-FREE ADDITIONS OUR PEOPLE

ON THE WAGON? FUEL YOUR RIDE THE WHIFFLER • NORWICH WITH LOW- OR NO-ALCOHOL BREWS MUM TANYA SHOWS SHE BrewDog and Stella Artois options added to our range night out at your local Wetherspoon pub, while Also available in our low and alcohol-free selection are on the wagon, doesn’t have to signal an evening Heineken 0.0 (0.05% ABV), Beck’s Blue (0.05% ABV), Aof soft drinks (although we do offer a great choice Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime (0.05% ABV) and Adnams of those too). Ghost Ship (0.5% ABV), together with soft drinks including Remedy coconut water kefir passion fruit, Remedy kombucha KNOWS HOW TO MANAGE For those opting to stay away from alcohol, whatever the reason, our low-alcohol and alcohol-free range has become even more raspberry lemonade, Remedy kombucha cherry plum, Lavazza interesting, with two new additions. iced cappuccino and J2O. BrewDog NEW The punk scene just got sensible, thanks to the innovative Scottish brewer BrewDog and its NEW Punk AF (0.5% ABV, 46 kcal), now available at Wetherspoon. BrewDog Punk IPA (5.4% ABV) was the beer which kick-started the craft beer revolution, with Punk AF being the next step in BrewDog’s desire to brew beer for every taste, for every occasion. Varieties Brewed with eight hop varieties from North America, New Zealand and Europe, Punk AF lives up to its billing… in every respect. Juicy tropical fruit mixes it up with grassy notes and a hit of resinous pine, all sitting on a solid foundation of four malts, while the bitter finish belies its ABV, providing the perfect retort to those who push alcohol-free beer devoid of character. NEW Hopped with Chinook, Simcoe, Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin and then dry-hopped with Ahtanum, Cascade, Chinook, Citra, Huell Melon and Simcoe, it is full flavour, low alcohol, all Punk. This is how you break free from the taste free.

Stella Artois Tanya Lewis joined Wetherspoon in June 2013 as a part-time kitchen Jamie (21) and Brooklyn (17) are both kitchen associates at The Joseph Conrad, Tanya’s niece Kellsi Finnigan is also on the staff NEW Stella Artois (0.00% ABV, 60 kcal) Brewmasters at Stella Artois have worked associate and is now pub manager at The Whiffler (Norwich). at the pub, as a floor associate, while Jordan (18) works as a bar is an alcohol-free alternative from the with specialists to skilfully remove alcohol, However, when she first went to her local job centre, looking for work, associate at The Whiffler. world-famous Belgian brewery in the city without altering the unique taste. Tanya was told that no one would give her a chance. Tanya, 38, took over at The Whiffler in June 2019, her first pub of Leuven. A beautifully balanced, full-flavoured The reason? She had a six-month-old baby and five other children. as manager. Sebastian Artois was admitted in premium lager, with a pronounced hoppy Tanya recalls: “I just wanted someone to give me a chance… and 1708 to the Leuven Brewer’s Guild as bitterness and a crisp, clean and refreshing Wetherspoon did. She said: “It has been difficult, coming from the kitchen to run a pub, a brew master. Only nine years later, finish, this is meant to be savoured. but I am getting there. “It wasn’t about proving people wrong; it was about proving to myself he purchased the Den Hoorn brewery, With only 60 kcal per bottle, Stella Artois what I could achieve. “Several of my team have been here for a long time – and I have had founded in Leuven. Den Hoorn laid the Alcohol Free is a perfect option for those brilliant support, especially from shift manager Katie Savage, who is “It has been difficult, but I have worked round it, the company has foundation for the quality taste and seeking a healthier alternative… or just my right arm! standards for which Stella Artois is known. been fantastic and my mum has helped along the way.” looking to moderate. “Getting to this stage of my career has been tough, yet we have managed Tanya also met her now husband Dave at The Joseph Conrad Original Did you know? It was a ‘Christmas gift’ to as a family, Dave taking some of the load – and I have got there. (Lowestoft), the pub where she first started out. He is now a shift Stella Artois Alcohol Free maintains the the people of Leuven from their beloved manager at The Whiffler. “I have also shown my kids the right way to be, through hard work high quality and exacting standards of the Artois Brewery, in the form of a special and determination.” original Stella Artois recipe, using all-natural batch, which first officially included ‘Stella’ Dave also added another family member to their clan, Tanya’s Tanya, pictured centre with (left to right) Katie, Jordan and Dave, ingredients – just without the alcohol. (meaning ‘star’ in Latin) in its name. stepson Mackenzie, making it seven. He joins Jamie, Jordan, Brooklyn, Rian, Tulisa and Rylee-Shay. concluded: “Wetherspoon is a good company to work for – with the opportunity to gain qualifications while working, as I completed my apprenticeship in the kitchen.”

44 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 45 THE GEORGE 17–21 George Street, Croydon, CR0 1LA The name of this pub recalls the centuries-old pub which stood on the corner of High Street and George Street. It takes its name from this old inn, referred to as early as 1497, when it was originally called The George and Dragon. Pub manager Louie Scott (pictured) took over in the summer of 2019, having had spells at The White House (Uxbridge) (now sold) and The Kentish Drovers (Peckham). Originally opened as a Wetherspoon pub in February 1993, our first in Croydon, The George has been a regular inclusion in the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA’s) Good Beer Guide, thanks to nominations by branch members of Croydon & Sutton CAMRA. The George boasts a huge choice of 17 real ales, across its two bars at the pub. Three permanent guest ales – Greene King Abbot Ale, Greene King IPA and Sharp’s Doom Bar – are regularly joined by Thornbridge Jaipur IPA and two from Burning Sky Brewery, A PUB AT EACH POINT OF Plateau and Aurora. A monthly tap-takeover showcases up to six ales from a featured brewery, while a map displayed in the pub highlights those breweries providing a host of different guest ales. The George is part of Croydon’s Town Centre BID (Business Improvement District) group, helping to bring local businesses CROYDON’S GOLDEN TRIANGLE together, as well as the local pubwatch initiative. In this south London borough, known for its trams and quirky attractions, Located just two miles from Park Stadium, The George is a popular destination for Crystal Palace Football Club fans on our three pubs are distinctive draws in their own right match days. There are plans for Palace memorabilia to be put on display at the pub. ituated in south London (a 15-minute train journey from London Victoria), with a population of About Croydon BID (Business Improvement District) 380,000, Croydon is a borough known for its trams, Working under the direction of the town centre business community and THE MILAN BAR S in partnership with Croydon Council, the Croydon Metropolitan Police Ground Floor, Grants Department Store, street art and quirky attractions, including a windmill! and other key agencies, Croydon BID focuses on making a difference. 14–32 High Street, Croydon, CR0 1YA London’s was Britain’s first major international Croydon – a vibrant place to be – is home to hundreds of well-known This pub, which first opened as a Lloyds No.1 in December 2002, airport – and Croydon was also the birthplace of model Kate Moss. businesses in the retail, office, leisure, hospitality and public sectors. occupies the ground floor of a development on the site of Grant’s Department Store. It’s home to Premier League football team Crystal Palace, two Representing the interests of around 570 local businesses, the BID’s major shopping centres (Centrale and Whitgift), pop-up aims are: investing in safety, delivering brighter streets, helping local The decorative lettering above the premises, now a shipping container complex Boxpark Croydon, Shirley Windmill businesses, creating a great impression of the area and bringing Wetherspoon pub, records that it was once London House, and Wandle Park, as well as three Wetherspoon pubs. businesses together. occupied by Grant Brothers – ‘General and Fancy Drapers’. The word ‘Millinery’, also recorded above the pub, derives from ‘Milanery’, meaning luxury goods from Milan, but later came to mean ‘women’s hats’. THE SKYLARK Richard and William Grant began trading in a small shop next 34–36 South End, Croydon, CR0 1DP to the Greyhound pub, High Street, in 1877. They expanded and grew into a thriving retail company, with, in its heyday, seven Reka Szigeti (pictured) has worked at The Skylark trading floors and more than 1,000 employees. for the past 11 years, taking over as pub manager in November 2014. Pub manager Rob Newman (pictured) has been at the helm since the summer of 2017 and is assisted by shift manager A regular inclusion in the Campaign for Real Ale’s Joel Mariano. Joel, a well-known face with regular customers, (CAMRA’s) Good Beer Guide, The Skylark first opened has worked at all three pubs in Croydon, during his 15 years’ as a Wetherspoon pub in July 1997. service with the company. The pub is named after one of the well-known and With a more modern and contemporary design than the other widely appreciated poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins – two Wetherspoon pubs in Croydon, The Milan Bar boasts a large The Sea and the Skylark. One of the most original poets basement dining area (open noon–11pm), with a bar and space of the Victorian era, Hopkins knew Croydon well, from for 200 seated customers downstairs. his visits to his grandparents’ house. The ground floor bar specialises in real ciders, serving eight The Skylark serves 12 real ales at all times, including draught and boxed ciders at all times. Choices include Gwynt Y Greene King Abbot Ale, Ruddles Best Bitter and Sharp’s Ddraig’s Black Dragon, Westons Old Rosie and a selection from Doom Bar, as well as Wainwright by Marston’s Brewery local and national producers. and ales from London-based Sambrook’s Brewery and Twickenham Fine Ales. Among the usual huge Wetherspoon choice of beers, wines and spirits, The Milan Bar serves 30 gin types in its gin palace selection. The pub hosts a regular meet-the-brewer event, with a tap-takeover showcasing up to six ales, as well as mini The Milan Bar is part of Croydon’s Town Centre BID (Business gin festivals (in addition to the bi-annual Wetherspoon Improvement District) group, working together with other local gin festival), when the gin palace selection of 25 regular businesses, positively promoting Croydon’s community. choices is increased to 40. The Skylark has two levels, with a bar on each, with the THE POSTAL ORDER first-floor area available for party and event bookings, to Other Wetherspoon pubs nearby: 32–33 Westow Street, Crystal Palace, London, SE19 3RW accommodate up to 200 guests. THE SIR JULIAN HUXLEY 152–154 Addington Road, , London, CR2 8LB The beer garden at the rear of the pub has recently New – coming soon been resurfaced with new paving, and additional garden THE FOXLEY HATCH THE ROYAL CRYSTAL PALACE dining furniture has increased its capacity to 50 covers. 8–9 Russell Hill Parade, Russell Hill Road, Purley, London, CR8 2LE Anerley Hill, Crystal Palace, London, SE19 2AA A well-established and popular weekly quiz night takes THE MOON UNDER WATER place every Monday evening, during 8–10pm. 1327 London Road, , London, SW16 4AU

46 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 47 Our pubs – design feature THE GREENWOOD HOTEL | NORTHOLT

FIND MORE PUB HISTORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS ONLINE www.jdwetherspoon.com/pub-histories

The butterfly plan allows plenty of light into the three original main bar areas which were retained and restored by Wetherspoon in 2016, including the original wall panelling. The pub features one bar, spanning three rooms. The main bar area has an octagonal coloured glass skylight, glazed partitions and a SPARKLING NEW LIFE FOR stylish mosaic-tiled fireplace. There is a second similar fireplace in the adjoining bar area. There is a main dining room, which includes the original stage (now a display area), as well as a separate room with feature scalloped booth seating, called The Green Room and available for private functions. Photographs and history artwork on display throughout the pub include A JEWEL OF THE SUBURBS details about the Northolt Park Racecourse and nearby RAF Northolt Subtlety and respect the watchwords for award-winning sensitive airbase, as well as posters advertising the London Underground. refurbishment of 1930s-built Greenwood Hotel Artwork Commissioned artwork by London-based artists includes a edeveloped at a cost of almost £3 million, The Greenwood Hotel, which retains its original name, was built to collection of prints entitled ‘Stepping Out’ by Paul Cleden, ‘Arrival’, The Greenwood Hotel occupies a grade II listed serve the rapidly expanding suburbs of Greenford and Northolt, ‘Night Train’ and ‘Regent Street Rain’ by John Duffin, ‘Fields of R building in Northolt, west London. developed after World War II, when the Central Line railway was Northolt’ by Jenny Ford and an illustration entitled ‘Notes from the The landmark premises had stood empty since its closure in June extended to connect these places to central London. Underground’ by Mychael Barratt. 2010, reopening as a Wetherspoon pub and hotel in July 2016. Establishments such as The Greenwood Hotel, as an ‘improved’ The hotel, set on the first floor above the pub, has 12 en suite Originally built in the late 1930s by Courage & Co, this two-storey, public house, aimed to encourage sensible drinking and to attract bedrooms, one family suite, four twin and seven double rooms. respectable customers, with tasteful décor, rejecting the flamboyant L-shaped building boasted a billiards room and an assembly hall, All rooms offer tea- and coffee-making facilities, flat-screen architecture, brilliant décor and small-bar layout of the late along with travellers’ accommodation, with many of the original televisions with Freeview TV, unlimited free Wi-Fi and digital Victorian ‘gin palaces’. stylish features still evident today. temperature control. The neo-Georgian exteriors and open-plan interiors, with large, clear The public house was built for Courage & Co just before the A beautiful 372-square-metre garden occupies the area at the front glass windows, often included a restaurant, billiards room or function outbreak of World War II, possibly by the brewery architect, and and side of the premises. There are three disabled parking bays in room, in order to encourage other activities to take place inside. the first licence is listed as Wilson Catering Co. the small car park, which also has three electric car-charging points, The building does not appear on the Ordnance Survey map of 1935, The architecture and facilities epitomised the restrained as well as bike racks. respectability of the suburbs, in their inter-war heyday. but must have been built before the 1939 wartime building restrictions. The Greenwood Hotel won a conservation award for ‘sensitive Original Smart refurbishment’, at the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) pub design An original cream-and-green-tiled Courage & Co Ltd historic sign The pub has smart red-brick elevations with pediments, dentil refurbishment awards 2017, in association with Historic England. cornice, Neo-Classical door cases and rows of leaded light windows survives intact, from the original development, and can be seen in The judges stated that the pub was “still as much of a hub for the on the ground floor, with sash windows above. the entrance. Stylish inter-war interior features, including fireplaces, local community as it was in 1939”. ceiling cornices, bar and panelling, also survive. The assembly hall, at the rear of the building, is the largest of the They also praised the “fine, sympathetic conservation work executed two original function rooms, complete with its original stage, Some of the original gas lights also survived and can be seen at the pub which shows how subtlety and respect can often achieve proscenium and a set of 1930s light fittings – an unusual feature and throughout the pub. Although no longer working, these serve as a more than big-budget transformation”. reminder of when the property was first erected. a rare survival. ● 674 Whitton Avenue West, Northolt, London, UB5 4LA

48 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 49 FIND MORE PUB HISTORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS ONLINE www.jdwetherspoon.com/pub-histories THE GREENWOOD HOTEL | NORTHOLT Our pub histories The West Kirk, Ayr ALE FANS’ AYR PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED AT THE WEST KIRK Former Free Church, originally built in 1845, was converted into a Wetherspoon pub in April 2000

ur online pub histories series continues to prove Known as The West Kirk, it closed in 1981, but its name lives on a hugely popular source of historical information in the pub. O since its launch at the end of 2016. Until 1929, the building was the Ayr Free Church (originally Ayr Initially showcasing just a handful of our pubs, in major UK city and Wallacetown); from then until its closure in 1981, it was known centres, including Glasgow, Cardiff, Manchester, , Leeds as Sandgate Church. and Sheffield, our website history catalogue has now grown to The exterior and entrance are virtually unchanged, with an encompass more than 750 of our premises. impressive stone façade, pointed-spire frontage and decoratively Wetherspoon takes immense pride in the restoration and carved arched doorway. refurbishment of some wonderful and, in several cases, unique Pulpit buildings, to create our pubs – and our pub histories series has Inside the pub, many of the original ecclesiastical features remain in uncovered some interesting discoveries. situ, including a raised wooden pulpit and first-floor balcony (once Artwork used for worshipper overspill) with wooden panelling and detail, as The online historical information, detailing the story of our pubs, well as the beautiful stained-glass windows. includes numerous images of the artwork on display and old A sculpture of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns is also on display. photographs, as well as photos of the interior, exterior and features Born on 25 January 1759 in the village of Alloway, just two miles of each building. south of Ayr, the Bard of Ayrshire is best loved and admired for In this pub histories spotlight, a now-regular Wetherspoon News writing hundreds of poems, verses and songs. feature, we focus on The West Kirk, in Ayr, South Ayrshire. Remembered worldwide with Burns’ Night celebrations, every Housed in the former Free Church, originally built in 1845, the pub 25 January, his work included ‘Tam O’Shanter’, ‘Address to a opened as a Wetherspoon in April 2000. Haggis’, ‘To a Mouse’ and ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Origin He died in 1796 in Dumfries, aged just 37. The building’s origin is to be found in the great Disruption of the Church of Scotland, when almost half of its clergy and laity left to 58A SANDGATE, AYR, form the Free Church. SOUTH AYRSHIRE, KA7 1BX

50 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 51 NEW CARBONARA PIZZA OUR SQUARE STILL FIRMLY WEDGED IN AFTER 25 YEARS The Square Peg (Birmingham) marked its 25th anniversary with a Pub manager Dale Edwards, who has run the pub for the past five three-day celebration of birthday events and activities. years, said: “It was great to celebrate our special birthday with our There was birthday cake and live music from team leader Calum Reid regular customers and some new ones, too, and to recognise and a photographic exhibition on display (showing Birmingham past 25 years’ trading at The Square Peg.” and present), together with fun factsheets and quiz questions for The Square Peg first opened on 20 January 1995, the company’s customers, all organised by shift leader Chloe Jones. first pub in Birmingham, occupying the ground-floor site of the A three-day LocAle beer festival showcased ales from a selection of imposing square building of the former Lewis’s department store. local breweries, including Backyard Brewhouse and AJ’s Ales, both The pub acquired its name when Wetherspoon’s chairman, based in Walsall, together with Shrewsbury’s Salopian Brewery. Tim Martin, looked at the plans of the proposed new pub site and remarked that it looked like a square peg in a round hole. ● For more pub birthday celebration stories, see pages 106–108

8" carbonara pizza

11" carbonara pizza YOU SAY TOMATO, WE SAY TOMA-NO New carbonara pizza lacks one traditional pizza ingredient – and so offers an intriguing new taste he food-development team at Wetherspoon is always Spicy searching for new and exciting dishes to extend and It is topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, Cheddar, red chillies, T enhance our menu choices. pulled chicken breast, Wiltshire ham and spicy pepperoni, then Kitchen manager Sarah Palmer and team leader Our pizzas are one particularly popular menu choice, where we finished with rocket. Bradley Brinton cut the cake have been looking to extend our already-excellent range. The vegan roasted vegetable pizza is a simple pizza, topped with We have now added a NEW carbonara pizza* to our selection, tomato sauce, roasted vegetables (red pepper, yellow pepper, available in both original 11" and small-plate 8" pizza sizes. courgette and red onion) and mushrooms, then finished with micro basil leaves. Flavour Shift manager Sylvia Wilson with pub manager Dale Edwards Providing an alternative choice to tomato, white-based pizzas are We also offer garlic pizza bread (8" and 11") with garlic & parsley growing in popularity – and our new white sauce-based pizza offers butter and fresh rosemary, on its own or topped with added a more current, mainstream and already-well-loved flavour profile. mozzarella cheese, as the perfect accompaniment to your pizza meal. The carbonara pizza is made with a white carbonara-style sauce Just select your favourite pizza, or combine your favourite toppings (made from ingredients including cream, butter, cheese and for a bespoke pizza, all available to eat in or take away. shallots), together with mozzarella cheese, sliced mushroom and maple-cured bacon, finished with rocket. This new option, together with our core range of pizzas, is freshly Why white? topped and cooked to order, in both original 11" and 8" pizza sizes, White pizza or pizza bianca is often defined by what is served within our service aim of 10 minutes. missing (tomato sauce), rather than what it includes. Dedicated However, despite the deliberate omission of the usual Our NEW sour dough pizza dough, for our thin-crust bases, bold, acidic sauce, on which most pizzas are built, the is proved and then pressed by us in the kitchen (not premade), simple white base allows the additional toppings to take centre stage, without being overpowered by tomato. then topped and baked in dedicated pizza ovens. In Rome, the pizza bianca has a dough brushed with The carbonara pizza is added to our current available range: olive oil, sprinkled with sea salt and finished with fresh Margherita; roasted vegetable; vegan roasted vegetable; Hawaiian; rosemary – simple and subtle – yet not lacking in flavour. ham and mushroom, pepperoni; BBQ chicken; spicy meat feast. The white pizza is often a showcase for premium The spicy meat feast pizza is a very popular choice in our pizza ingredients, including Italian cheeses and mushrooms, Team leader Calum Reid entertains customers Ewan Williamson, range and definitely one for the meat-lovers. offering an entirely different flavour profile. Bar associate Mary McCarthy serving customers Ash Warwick, Charlotte Cowling, Bruce Allen and Ro Woodhouse *At participating free houses only. Mathilda Rawlinson (left) and Hermione Scoones (left to right) with birthday songs

52 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 53 PUBWATCH HELPING BEN TO DRAW LINE AT THE HAIN LINE Ben Crosswaite took over as pub manager at The Hain Line only in September 2019; however, he is certainly best placed to know what makes a safe pub. A local to St Ives, Ben joined the team in 2013 as a bar associate, a year after the pub first opened, KEG BEER IS BACK, working his way up the career ladder to become pub manager last year. Neil Walker, A good team, which includes his wife, shift leader beer , Hannah Crosswaite (pictured), and hard work head of comms contribute to the pub’s success, as well as the & marketing, Society of Independent collaboration of fellow local businesses and licensees. Brewers BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT Ben said: “The majority of our pubs and bars, together with local shops and supermarkets selling alcohol, works together successfully as part of the St Ives New techniques have led to a reboot of keg beer, as small brewers add pubwatch group. extra fizz to the beer firmament, says Neil Walker “Venues are so much safer and better when there is a pubwatch scheme in the town. ver the last 10 years, In our National Independent craft breweries and judging over Timothy Taylor’s Landlord, “I have worked at other Wetherspoon pubs previously, we have seen many Beer Awards, taking place in 200 beers across a wide variety Fyne Ales Hurricane Jack or some with initiatives, others without, and St Ives is by O independent brewers March in Liverpool, we will see of styles. Great Oakley’s Gobble. far the best-run pubwatch scheme I have encountered.” which have traditionally more keg beers being judged It shows not only the huge The reason why these breweries A closed Facebook group, restricted to members only, always produced cask beer than ever before and, within that growth in brewer numbers in opted for cask, when it comes helps to share information and ideas. The voluntary (often referred to as ‘real ale’) competition, a record number of London, which had had just to their best bitters, is that the members meet once a month, together with the local police, for feedback and input. start to produce some really lagers in a variety of styles… from seven working breweries in 2006, format helps the beer to taste its interesting full-flavoured Czech-style Pilseners (full of but also the breadth of styles now absolute best (forgive the pun) Ben added: “We operate a good-behaviour contract; beers in kegs. caramel malt character and dry, being brewed. – with the live yeast in the cask if breached, people can be barred from one or all pubs, peppery Czech hops) to German- for varying timescales, depending on the severity of Often referred to as ‘craft keg’, On the flipside, we have seen doing its magic in the pub’s cellar style Helles (characterised by a the incident. keg beers from small independent relatively new and hugely and adding complexity to the lighter, slightly honeyed malt “We work together to exclude from all pubs in the craft brewers are served chilled influential breweries, such as flavour and aroma of the beer. flavour and a clean, dry, scheme any customer who is in any way violent or and carbonated, just like those Cloudwater in Manchester, Cask is also a fantastic format refreshing finish). threatening. This is a good deterrent, helping to keep from the global lager producers, famous for their hoppy pale ales for porters and stouts, other customers, as well as staff, safe.” but, importantly, the beers tend But keg beer isn’t just about lager. and IPAs, as well as Five Points in particularly when served through to be unfiltered, unpasteurised We’ll also be judging a huge London, return to tradition and a tight sparkler to give a tight, and brewed to be served variety of aromatic, big-flavoured launch best bitters designed to be creamy head. much fresher. TWO STARS ALIGN AT THE OBSERVATORY IPAs in a variety of strengths, as served on cask. Whether it’s a perfectly brewed In a word, they have more flavour. well as pale ales which use hops Czech-style lager, an American- from America or New Zealand to It’s not that one format (cask or hopped IPA served on keg or a create citrus and tropical fruit keg) is better than the other – it’s complex (yet drinkable) pint of flavours and aromas. that they present the beer in bitter or stout served on cask, the entirely different ways and should These beers often work best on In this year’s fact is that there are some be embraced as a serving keg, as the carbonation helps to awards, we amazing beers being produced by method, giving more freedom to throw the aromas of the hops out independent craft breweries in a produce exciting, flavoursome, of the glass and increase will see more variety of formats, so don’t be interesting beers. drinkability by reducing the keg beers being scared to try something new. perceived weight of the beer Growth when you drink it. judged than SIBA keeps track of what our members brew and, over the last Stronger ever before few years in particular, we have Particularly in stronger beers, seen a huge growth in the such as ‘imperial’ or ‘double IPAs’ number of brewers producing (sometimes referred to as DIPAs), where the strength can be keg beers. It’s a for which Britain anything from 7.0% to upwards of It’s no coincidence that, over the is rightly famous, but which 10% ABV, that added fizz and same period, you can see the has had something of an image When The Observatory (Ilkeston) marked its 20th birthday, Paul, 41, recalled: “I was looking for stop-gap employment, while lower serving temperature stops number of breweries producing problem of late. in December 2019, managers Paul Ellgood and Diane Humphries deciding what to do, and took a job at The Charlie Hall (Erdington). these huge beers from becoming lagers, India pale ales and also both celebrated two decades with Wetherspoon. too cloying or intense. Beauty “I was promoted to team leader there and then transferred to Belgian-style beers also rise – Kitchen manager Diane, pictured with Paul and shift manager The Spread Eagle (Acocks Green), before moving to Derby where When brewed well and served beer styles which really lend Such is the growth in craft keg Abbie Fletcher (right), joined the team at The Observatory, as a I lived and worked at The Standing Order for six years.” correctly, best bitters are a thing themselves to being served from beer that, recently, we held our kitchen associate, when the pub first opened in 1999. of beauty – try the By then, Paul was progressing in his management career with the a keg – a little cooler and with a first-ever keg-only beer Pub manager Paul moved to the Ilkeston pub in May 2013, a year company, covering and helping out at a handful of pubs, including aforementioned bests from slightly higher carbonation than competition and festival in before Diane was appointed kitchen manager. at Alfreton, Buxton, Ripley and Uttoxeter. Cloudwater or Five Points, along beers served on cask. London, bringing together 100 of with Harvey’s Sussex Best, He started out as a part-time bar associate at The Union Rooms He added: “I became the kitchen manager at The Old Swan London and the southeast’s best when it first opened in Plymouth. A student at University of (Uttoxeter) and then the newly opened Derby pub The Thomas Plymouth, Paul was studying social policy (sociology and politics); Leaper, before coming to The Observatory as pub manager.” What is the Society of Independent Brewers? This is the trade association for UK craft brewers and acts as the voice of British brewing, campaigning for a better then, when he finished at uni, he returned home to Birmingham. deal for beer and brewers, while representing over 835 brewers across the UK. To find out more about its ‘assured independent British craft brewer’ initiative: Paul concluded: “I didn’t expect to still be working for the company www.indiecraftbrewers.co.uk 20 years on, but I must enjoy it!”

54 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 55 NEW LOVE OF SPOONS FUELS NEW PAIR’S TWO-DAY PUB BLITZ Customers Bonnie McGill (right) and Elaine Woodhead embarked on a ‘Cornish Spoons tour’ for the love of CIDER FANS TRANSPORTED Wetherspoon pubs! Bonnie said: “We heard a rumour that the Bodmin pub was going to close* and thought that we should really go to visit before that happened. BY TASTE OF THE TROPICS “We then decided… why not go to all Wetherspoon pubs in Light Passionfruit cider added to our Cornwall? We even had ‘tour’ T-shirts printed.” Having previously visited a couple in the county already, the Kopparberg collection pair decided to cover the remaining venues in a two-day hit, staying overnight at The John Francis Basset (Camborne). e have added yet another Calories ever-popular Kopparberg This new flavour delivers maximum With only one rule, to have a drink or something to eat in each bottled cider to our range, refreshment, bringing together pub, the itinerary saw them have breakfast in Truro, lunch in W Falmouth, coffee in Penzance, dinner at St Ives and a nightcap to offer a choice of three terrific tastes Kopparberg’s world-famous apple cider at Camborne – on day one. and further extend our cider selection. with the popular tropical fruit – and the Day two included breakfast at Perranporth, lunch in Newquay, added bonus of fewer calories. NEW Kopparberg Light Passionfruit cider coffee at St Austell and dinner in Bodmin, before heading home (4.0% ABV) is now being served at your One of Kopparberg’s low-calorie range of to Polperro. local Wetherspoon pub, joining ciders, this is just 165 kcal for 500ml, Bonnie added: “It was a great excuse for the two of us to drive Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime cider and providing an appealing alternative for around Cornwall, enjoy the scenery, eat our favourite meals Kopparberg Mixed Fruit cider. those seeking a light (but equally tasty) and, most importantly, have hours to ourselves, just chatting Cider fans with a taste for the tropics can variant of fruit cider. and having fun. now satisfy their cravings, thanks to the Don’t forget that Kopparberg Strawberry & “People asked us why we were doing it and we said: ‘Because arrival at Wetherspoon’s pubs of Lime cider (4.0% ABV) is also available at we can!’ Kopparberg Light Passionfruit cider. Wetherspoon on draught, as well as an “We made many people smile, who were very amused by our little alcohol-free bottled version. Ask at the bar. adventure, and had our picture taken for posterity at each pub. “We had such a great time that we are now thinking of ‘doing Devon’ in 2020, although may have to split up the journey, as there are quite a few more pubs than in Cornwall.” *Chapel an Gansblydhen (Bodmin), which had been up for sale NEW in March 2019, has since been taken off the market. LAST ORDERS PUSHED BACK AFTER PLEAS FROM THE PEWS DISCOVER A FRUITY Five Wetherspoon pubs in east, north and northeast London have Wetherspoon’s chief executive, John Hutson, said: “All five pubs extended their opening hours – thanks to customer demand. are extremely popular – and customers have been asking us to The pubs are The Angel and The White Swan (both in extend these pubs’ hours. Islington), Baxter’s Court (Hackney), The Coronet (Holloway) “We have taken on board their request and are pleased that each and The Rochester Castle (Stoke Newington). of the five pubs is now open longer throughout the week.” WAY TO MAKE YOUR Their new hours are 8am–midnight (Sunday–Wednesday inclusive), Food will be served from opening time until 10pm at The Angel, 8am–12.30am (Thursday) and 8am–1am (Friday and Saturday). 10.30pm at The Rochester Castle and 11pm at Baxter’s Court, RUM YUM The Coronet and The White Swan. New raspberry mojito is premixed and ready to serve from the can nother fruity addition to our Produced right here in the UK, this stylish drinks menu is our NEW drink is premixed and ready to serve from A raspberry mojito (4.0% ABV, the can, over ice, for a fabulously fun and 145 kcal) cocktail in a can. fruity cocktail. Capturing the sophisticated tastes of Why not get together with your friends the classic cocktail, this silky-smooth or family for a great-value evening out mojito combines juicy raspberries with lime, at Wetherspoon? mint and white rum – for a cool, sweet and Enjoy sharing a selection of ‘mix and match’ fruity hit. drinks, including our NEW raspberry mojito.

56 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 57 NEW COCKTAIL PITCHERS Hawaiian Kopparberg Pipeline DRINKS Strawberry Punch Delight

Rhubarb Moscow Spritz Mule Cranberry Mighty Breeze Booch

COCKTAIL CRAZY – Delight NEW Mighty Booch (129 kcal*) combines Smirnoff vodka, Available as a pitcher only, our NEW Kopparberg Strawberry Remedy kombucha raspberry lemonade, soda and lime for this Delight marries Kopparberg Strawberry & Lime cider with mightily different cocktail recipe. Kopparberg Premium Gin Strawberry & Lime, together with A more classic concoction mixes Old Jamaica ginger beer, lemonade and lime. lemonade and lime, with Smirnoff vodka – for our NEW Moscow SIX NEW ADDITIONS Wetherspoon’s customers have been enjoying Sweden’s Mule (170 kcal*). Kopparberg cider since it launched in 2005 in our pubs. With our six brand-new cocktail flavours, offering a selection The Kopparberg premium cider, with strawberry and lime, of fruity, punchy, spicy and mighty recipes, there is something is a firm favourite, served on draught and in bottles at our pubs. for everyone. During autumn 2019, we added Kopparberg Premium Gin Strawberry & Lime to our gin palace pink gin collection – and it WAITING FOR YOU has proven a hit. Botanicals Four Smirnoff vodka concoctions now available in our cocktail Kopparberg Premium Gin is a London dry-style gin which has been double distilled, then infused with the same strawberry and Smirnoff vodka is made from the finest grains, with a lounge, along with fruit-flavoured gin and a rum stunner lime flavour as the cider, yet also features juniper, lemon zest and triple-distillation and proprietary filtration process which has made Smirnoff the world’s number-one premium coriander botanicals. e have six superb new cocktails on the menu, in Flavours vodka brand. our cocktail lounge collection, for you to savour The company ‘Monsterised’ the perfect combination of the best We have now combined both tipples into a top-notch NEW cocktail, With annual worldwide sales of more than adding lemonade and lime, for an all-year-round summer taste. 25 million cases, the brand has come a long way since W and share. flavours which Hawaii has to offer – passion fruit, orange and Pyotr Smirnov built his Moscow distillery in 1864. Our range of Smirnoff vodka cocktails has been extended with Our selection of cocktails has been extended to include guava – by adding its energy blend. Thanks to his pioneering use of charcoal filtration, a delightful combination of Kopparberg’s cider and gin, creating We have taken this drink and added Captain Morgan Original four NEW drinks. his spirit was purer than most and soon dominated our NEW Kopparberg Strawberry Delight (available as a pitcher Spiced Gold and Captain Morgan Tiki, together with lemonade The four brand-new Smirnoff cocktail recipes, available by the the Russian vodka market until 1917, when the Bolsheviks arrived. only, 375 kcal), while a blend of rums with ‘a punch’ produces our and lime, to produce our NEW Hawaiian Pipeline Punch, available glass (50ml spirit), the pitcher (100ml spirit) and the large pitcher heady Hawaiian Pipeline Punch (208 kcal, in a glass with 50ml spirit). by the pitcher (100ml spirit) and the large pitcher (150ml spirit). (150ml spirit), include NEW Cranberry Breeze (119 kcal*) which Fleeing the revolution, Pyotr’s son, Vladimir, left Russia with his father’s recipe, opened a small distillery in Banzai Pipeline, the world’s most famous wave, on Oahu’s fabled The warm spices and vanilla notes of Captain Morgan Original mixes Smirnoff vodka, cranberry juice, lemonade and lime. Europe and started to bring the highest-quality Russian North Shore comes alive for just a few brief months every winter. Spiced Gold are blended with the rum, mixed with Blended vodka to the masses. In honour of this epic force of nature, Monster created pineapple and mango, of our NEW Captain Morgan Tiki and Smirnoff vodka is blended with Dalston’s Fizzy Rhubarb, lemonade its Pipeline Punch. brought together with the fruity Pipeline Punch. and lime to make the NEW Rhubarb Spritz (203 kcal*).

*Calories listed in the cocktail lounge refer to a glass with 50ml spirit, unless otherwise stated.

58 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 59 TIM MARTIN THE EU DEBATE J D Wetherspoon’s chairman Tim says: “I sent individual replies to the 25 who’d issued the press Wetherspoon News aims to present both sides of the argument release on the opposite page. No one wants to fall out with the clergy, who are clearly well intentioned, in respect of the EU. In the following pages, we present articles but they have fallen for the partisan and erroneous claptrap on the effects of leaving the EU without a deal – which their personal replies to me indicated they do not understand.” which support Brexit and which support Remain. Dear x reducing shop prices, which is of particular The truth is that the Brussels regime has Democracy is built on a foundation of ideas and debate. Many people who voted ‘leave’ in the benefit to those on low incomes. removed substantial democratic power referendum will agree with your open letter The UK will also regain control of fishing from voters throughout the EU - and has (28/08/19) on the need for truth, waters and will benefit from increased caused great economic hardship, especially reconciliation and the defence of the poor. democratic accountability - both these in southern Europe. However, in saying that “exiting the EU factors, many of us believe, will lead to an The great anxiety for many many people is OPEN LETTER FROM CHURCH OF ENGLAND BISHOPS without an agreement is likely to have a improved economic outcome. that those in elite positions in society have massive effect on all our people” and that You also say that “fear, uncertainty and been complicit in the loss of democracy and you have “particular concerns” about the marginalisation...lies behind the vote for appear oblivious to the obvious dangers. “Twenty-five Church of England bishops got involved last August in the Brexit debate by costs of a “No Deal Brexit” you are echoing Brexit.” Surveys consistently show that this Thank you for your attention. Tim says: the views expressed by ’Project Fear view, widely held by “Oxbridge Remainers”, Yours sincerely, issuing a press release (‘open letter’) calling for reconciliation, with which everyone agrees, but then Remainers’, which many people, perhaps a who dominate much of the media and lambasting ‘no deal’ – because of its alleged effect on the less-well-off. The bishops are old enough to majority, feel are discredited. politics, is completely wrong. remember that joining the protectionist EU caused massive food price RISES in the 1970s, so leaving and Your assumption of a “massive cost” is unlikely The main reason for the Leave vote was, in Tim Martin ending protectionism will cause falls. Oxbridge Derangement Syndrome isn’t confined to the laity. to be correct since No Deal avoids the legal reality, a desire to regain democratic control obligation to pay £39 billion to the EU, as from the increasingly undemocratic EU, PS: I’ve explored some of the myths about See the reply (on the next page) which I sent to all of those bishops.” with its five unelected presidents, it’s MEPs confirmed by the in 2017. no deal Brexit, and how they’ve come about, It also means that the UK can end who cannot initiate legislation and its court to the impact of political decisions on those Churches serve communities of every shape, in the enclosed article in Wetherspoon News protectionist import taxes (tariffs) on rice, which is not answerable to any elected OPEN LETTER most vulnerable. size and complexion. We continue to serve, (read by about two million people), should bananas, oranges, children’s clothes and government. A group of Church of England regardless of political persuasion. We invite We hold different views about Brexit and over 12,000 other non-EU products - you get time to read it. bishops has issued an open letter how our country should proceed from here. politicians to pay attention with us to the on the prospect of a 'no-deal' Brexit However, although we agree that respecting concerns we register above and encourage and the need for national a public vote is essential, democracy and a recovery of civil debate and reconciliation. reconciliation, notwithstanding the committed debate do not end after the potential prorogation of Parliament. counting of votes. Our concern for the ROD LIDDLE The full text can be found below: common good leads us to express concern By The Rt Revd , Bishop of The Spectator associate editor The has about a number of matters. Our conviction is Leeds The Rt Revd Donald Allister, Bishop conditionally agreed to chair a Citizens that good governance can only ever be of The Rt Revd Robert Forum in Coventry and, without prejudice based on the confidence of the governed, Atwell, Bishop of Exeter The Rt Revd Paul for any particular outcome, we support this and that includes minorities whose voice is Bayes, The Rt Revd Tim says: “Rod Liddle defines Derangement Syndrome more widely than I do – I say move to have all voices in the current Brexit not as loud as others. , The Rt it’s mainly Oxbridge… but Rod went there, so he probably knows more…” debate heard. Seeing the evidence of division in every part Revd , Bishop of However, we also have particular concerns of England, we are deeply concerned about: Southwark The Rt Revd Dr Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry The Rt about the potential cost of a No Deal Brexit Political polarisation and language that Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of to those least resilient to economic shocks. appears to sanction hate crime: the reframing Chelmsford The Rt Revd Tim Dakin, As bishops with pastoral responsibilities in of the language of political discourse is Bishop of The Rt Revd communities across urban and rural urgent, especially given the abuse and Vivienne Faull, Bishop of Bristol The Rt HOW IT ALL WENT RIGHT: THE GREAT England, we respond to the call by Jesus to threats levelled at MPs doing their job. Revd Christopher Foster, Bishop of tell the truth and defend the poor. We also The ease with which lies can be told and Portsmouth The Rt Revd Richard Frith, recognise that our obligations go beyond misrepresentation encouraged: leaders must Bishop of Hereford The Rt Revd Christine England and impact on relations with the be honest about the costs of political choices, Hardman, Bishop of Newcastle The Rt wider UK and our neighbours in the EU. especially for those most vulnerable. Revd Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of BREXIT WOUND HAS ALMOST HEALED Exiting the EU without an agreement is likely The levels of fear, uncertainty and Salisbury The Rt Revd Dr John Inge, It didn’t take a generation – it took about two weeks to have a massive impact on all our people marginalisation in society, much of which The Rt Revd Dr and the Government is rightly preparing for lies behind the vote for Brexit, but will not be , Bishop of Lichfield They are getting themselves terribly June 2016, said: ‘I am never using or suddenly appeared on our £10 notes, given this outcome. The Government believes addressed by Brexit: poor people, EU The Rt Revd , Bishop of worked up about that new 50 pence coin accepting this coin.’ The writer for the misery I endured in school reading Pride that leaving the EU on 31 October is essential citizens in the UK and UK citizens in Europe Rochester The Rt Revd Philip commemorating our departure from the middle-class kiddies, Philip Pullman, our and Prejudice. But I have managed to to restoring trust and confidence. It is must be listened to and respected. Mounstephen, Bishop of Truro The Rt European Union. By ‘they’ I mean those own pound shop C.S. Lewis, urged survive, and use those notes, without unlikely, however, that leaving without an The Irish border is not a mere political totem Revd and Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally people in the Brexit Derangement ‘literate’ people to boycott the coin throwing the toys out of my pram, or agreement, regardless of consequences, will and peace in Ireland is not a ball to be kicked DBE, The Rt Revd Dr Syndrome intensive care ward, wired up because the inscription was missing an weeping, or tearing my hair out. lead to reconciliation or peace in a fractured Alan Gregory Clayton Smith, Bishop of St by the English: respect for the concerns on to saline drips, attended to day and night, Oxford comma. A nod, there, to the Such epic petulance, such surly bigotry and country. "Getting Brexit done" will not Albans The Rt Revd Martyn Snow, Bishop both sides of the border is essential. occasionally afforded a few thousand central tenet of the Remoaner fringe these spite. The repeated stamping of a tiny foot in happen on exit day, and we have to be of Leicester The Rt Revd Graham Usher, volts of ECT when things get really bad, past four years that those who wanted a vast and empty auditorium. The little transparent about the years of work ahead The sovereignty of Parliament is not just an Bishop of Norwich The Rt Revd Dr David but still foaming, still beside themselves Brexit were all thick. The thing about an tranche of Remoaners — now morphing of us in bringing the country together for a empty term, it is based on institutions to be Walker, The Rt with apoplexy. Alastair Campbell has Oxford comma, Phil, is that it is not imperceptibly into Rejoiners — insisting that better future. We also need to be frank honoured and respected: our democracy is Revd Andrew Watson, Bishop of announced that he will not accept the needed. It is optional — go on, look it up. they will acquire Irish passports or saying about the potential costs. endangered by cavalier disregard for these. Guildford The Rt Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, coin if given it in change. Lord Adonis, All this over a 50p piece. Hell, I wasn’t they might leave the country altogether. Our main social and political priority must Attention must be paid not only to the Union, Bishop of Sheffield who was perhaps already in the but also to the meaning of Englishness. wholly delighted when Jane Austen be to leave well, paying particular attention 28 August 2019 antechamber of derangement even before Continued

60 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 61 ROD LIDDLE PHILIP COLLINS The Spectator associate editor The Times writer

Tim says: “Philip Collins is the archetype of Oxford Derangement Syndrome – former chief speechwriter to arch-Remainer Tony Blair and Visiting Fellow at London School of Economics. This last little coterie may or may not include uncertainty about whether we were going succeed, much as you might expect. They He accuses leading Brexiteers of ‘rank stupidity’ and says that Brexit is ‘not rational’. Philip, after the journalist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, who to leave or not, which was solely a may wish we were not leaving, but they do two European elections, two general elections and a referendum, in recent years, all supporting Brexit, seemed to say she would leave the country consequence of that rump of the defeated not wish us to fail as a consequence. who are you accusing of irrationality and stupidity? ” if Boris Johnson became British prime side not accepting the decision of the people We have the EU to deal with, of course, and minister. Whether she actually said this or and using every possible recourse to prevent the usual saber-rattling from the likes of not is moot. Either way, between us we must it. A paralyzed parliament and a concomitant Michel Barnier; an indication, I think, of the be able to think up a policy which would lack of direction was far more damaging to sheer terror within the 27 that Brexit actually really persuade her to go. I’ll pay her taxi to our country than a timely withdrawal from a may make us better off after all, and what the airport and give her some money for a bureaucratic institution riven by internal effect that might have on the disaffected BREXIT ‘LIBERATION DAY’ IS snack on the way. A chicken wrap or division and economically floundering countries still within. And oily Leo Varadkar something. would have been. has announced, with spite, that the UK must And yet these people are a tiny, if voluble, For three years, the provisional wing of the get used to being a ‘small country’. Not as minority. The remarkable thing is that since Remain movement used every possible small, literally or metaphorically, as yours, December 13 the great national divide over recourse to thwart Brexit. This included, but mate. Meanwhile we get on with it, stable SELF-SERVING FANTASY Brexit seems to have mended almost was not confined to, the House of Lords, the and thriving, hugely grateful that we trusted Leavers know they can’t be proved wrong if the measure of success is freedom completely. One of the most frequently law courts and the undermining of not in the establishment, but in democracy. from the yoke rather than economic gain expressed opinions these past three years of parliamentary protocol. They had on their commentators from both sides — although side the judiciary, the BBC, our academics, ...... Much the worst thing about the of growth? A better performance than the an almost inevitably fatal collision. It is not, especially from the Remainer side — is that the City of London and the CBI, the politicians and pundits who led the charge average of the European economies? in diplomatic terms, Suez, which was seen the UK was sickeningly split into two warring International Monetary Fund and of course for Brexit is how susceptible they are to rank Regional growth led by inventive regulation as a humiliation by almost everyone at once. tribes and that this would take a generation the European Union. At every possible stupidity. I am not saying there are no that would have been stifled by the EU? It And it is not, in material terms, Black to repair. I never quite bought into this juncture we were informed that calamity reasons at all to wish to the leave the will be none of these things because Brexit Wednesday or the 2008 financial crash. argument. There seemed to me to be a awaited us. We were told that calamity European Union; I am merely saying that was never an economic project for the Brexit will be more like Hemingway’s furious rump of Remoaners unable to would occur even if we simply voted for the desire to be free is not one of them. The Goves and Johnsons and Farages. It was, at description from The Sun Also Rises of how accept a democratic decision and — well, Brexit — never mind us actually going implication, that Britain has been in the risk of emptying the term of meaning, a you go bust: “Two ways. Gradually, then the rest of us. The vast majority of those who through with it. servitude since 1973, would be offensive to philosophical project. It was a liberation suddenly”. The Remain arguments all voted Remain have long since accustomed And even when the calamities predicted in those who have endured genuine suffering movement and there lies the secret of its implied that Brexit was singular and exciting. themselves to us leaving — a point never Osborne’s Treasury Report in the spring of if it were not so manifestly absurd. Brexit is a success. Brexit is proof of what Aristotle In fact Brexit contains dreary multitudes. It is really reflected in the mainstream media, 2016 notably failed to occur, there was not petty local dispute by comparison. It does pointed out in The Art of Rhetoric, that an plural and boring. which of course prefers dissent to accord the slightest admission that Remain had got not warrant this pathetic borrowed grandeur. appeal to the emotions trumps an appeal to And it is set to go on being both. After a day and still thought the whole thing was up for it terribly wrong — it was simply a case of Yet, as the prominent Brexit cheerleaders the mind. of liberation everything changes. People debate. calamity prorogued for a while. Meanwhile, unfurl their flags and banners for their ode The description of Brexit as a liberation from notice the absence of an unwelcome force. As it happened, that cleft did not take a David Cameron suggested that the jihadi to joy at our departure, this is the rhetorical the European yoke is also a proof against In the course of their everyday lives most generation to heal — it took about two maniacs of Isis were avidly pro-Leave and idiocy of the time. failure. If Brexit is defined by detaching people are not going to notice Brexit either weeks. Since Boris Johnson’s remarkable that we would be more likely to have an The ascent into melodramatic rhetoric is British law from Europe then success is way. They will have a blue passport and a victory, the fugue of complaint has been unpleasant war with someone — he didn’t always a tip-off that the speaker has nothing guaranteed merely by enacting departure. coin and Brexit will retreat back to the list of effectively silenced — except for on that say who — if we voted to leave the EU. to say. The reason that Brexit has to be At 11pm this evening success will arrive. questions to which the British public pay little lunatic wing. There is even a certain gung- All of this petulant, alarmist gibberish — far described as freedom from oppression is Yesterday we were in bondage; today we are attention even though, as the trade talks ho optimism at large, and not simply from more egregious than an erroneous slogan that it is hard to know what else it is, if it is free and freedom is its own reward. Brexit, unfold, there is a lot more Brexit to come. Brexiteers. Not a single one of those written on the side of a bus — accompanied not that. A notable feature of the sorry Brexit conceived in this way, cannot fail which Meanwhile, in public there will be a verdict to egregious Project Fear predictions has come us for three long years, from June 23, 2016 saga has been the vastly diminished makes it obvious the argument is rigged. be settled on whether the decision was the true, not one. Inward investment stock in to December 13, 2019. A shrill screech of expectations of even those pressing for This is obvious self-serving rubbish which correct one and this too is destined never to the UK was more in 2018 than in France idiotic fury from people who did not like departure. Whereas, in a lost and more Messrs Gove and Johnson are bright enough happen. There are no agreed terms on which and Germany combined, at almost £1.5 being gainsaid and thought they knew innocent age in late 2016, Daniel Hannan to understand. The honest thing for them to this verdict can be reached. The reasons of trillion ($1.95 million) — no. 1 in Europe. better than the rest of us. Because of course could write his comic masterpiece, What do would to be set themselves some targets the material Remainers and the emotional The UK’s economic growth is predicted to — pace Pullman — we were all thick. Those Next, in which he looked forward to the day for what Brexit will achieve. How do they Brexiteers are incommensurate. Even if outperform the entire eurozone, with false jeremiads were far more damaging to that Britain would emerge blinking into the think they will be proved right, in the fullness Britain suffers a recession there will be a Germany — only recently sidestepping an our country than simply leaving the EU. And light of a new dawn, to the sound of a of time? Brexit allows us to diverge from slowdown in Chinese and Indian economic official recession — heading towards now, for the most part, they have gone silent. nearby gurgling brook. After Mrs May’s Europe but to what end and to what activity to blame it on, or protectionism from stagnation. Unemployment is the lowest it There is still barking from the sidelines, of downbeat tenure and Mr Johnson’s bluster beneficial consequence we still, remarkably, Donald Trump, or some other exogenous has been for 45 years and the unemployment course. The provo Remainers now insist that the tone had changed completely. For a have no idea. factor. This is not an argument that anyone is rate just a little more than half of that for the calamity will come one day. That we will not long while now the argument has been no A calm disposition has been wanting going to win, except by the sheer force of eurozone as a whole. Wages are at last rising. be able to strike a trade deal with anyone more elevated than we have started so we throughout the whole process of Brexit and having more numbers in a referendum and The pound is comparatively buoyant. Then without losing our soul. That we will not had better finish. For all Mr Johnson’s fabled this applies in equal measure to the Remain more people in parliament. there is this. Will Brexit render your home achieve a deal with the EU in time and that optimism it is hard, from what he says, to side. Sir Ivan Rogers wisely advised that worthless, as the then-chancellor George Brexit has been a pathetic spectacle which if we do it will be deleterious to our economy. glean why we are doing this at all. Brexit was a process rather than an event, Osborne kindly advised in 2016? Nope, has encouraged and stoked the worst in They yearn, these people, for Britain’s failure, The reason for the silence where the good, yet the Remain side has throughout argued quite the reverse. Since Brexit was assured British politics. It will be a pleasure to see the the more abject the better. In their recitals of persuasive reasons should be is that Brexit is as if Brexit were not only an event but an by that general election victory in December, back of it. That much, at least, is a trivial kind foreboding, each one as baseless as the one not a rational project. I do not mean it is obviously and instantly catastrophic one. British house prices have risen at their fastest of liberation. before, they seem to be the kind of people therefore irrational. I mean that before it is Every day that the catastrophe failed to rate since 2002, according to the property who might have their cake, eat it, regurgitate rational and mathematical it is psychological arrive the credibility of the witnesses was website Rightmove. it on to a plate, suck it up through a straw and emotional. By what measure will Brexit eroded a little further. The metaphor of the If anything had dampened the property and then spit it out via Twitter. Most By Rod Liddle be judged a success or a failure, in the course “cliff-edge” of Brexit was hopelessly ill- By Philip Collins market prior to the election, it was an Remainers are optimistic that we will The Spectator / 1 February 2020 of time, by its advocates? A higher trend rate conceived. Brexit is not a rapid descent to The Times / 30 January 2020

62 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 63 CHARLES MOORE CHARLES MOORE The Daily Telegraph columnist The Daily Telegraph columnist

“For those interested in democracy, or students of the constitution or law, this article by Tim says: was even more an attempt to assert who’s Now legislative action should result. When their website, The Supremes boast that their the great Charles Moore is a must-read. The ancient House of Lords was our top court – in a feeble boss. It was certainly driven forward by Tony the Government abolishes, as promised, the new location (the Law Lords never had a attempt at PR and ‘modernisation’, former PM Tony Blair changed its name to ‘Supreme Court’. Blair’s creation of the Supreme Court to Fixed-term Parliaments Act, it should find a separate building) “is highly symbolic of the replace what used to be known as the Law way of restoring the non-justiciable United Kingdom’s separation of powers, However, in the UK, the Supreme Court is not supreme – parliament is. That may have given the Lords. The very title implies ultimate judicial prerogative right of prorogation in its repeal. It balancing judiciary and legislature across the Supreme Court ideas above its station…” power of a sort that refashions our should look again at the “independent” panel open space of Parliament Square”. Such a constitution along continental or American for appointing judges which gives the current formal separation of powers never existed lines incompatible with our own belief in the establishment almost untrammelled power to before in this country. It was better thus. supremacy of the voters’ elected replicate its own. representatives. The first, best rebuttal of the It should also abolish the title of Supreme FIXING THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD BE BORIS court’s pretensions was the thumping result Court and rename it the Upper Court of By Charles Moore of the December general election. JOHNSON'S CONSTITUTIONAL PRIORITY Appeal. It might even move its premises. On The Daily Telegraph / 7 February 2020 If we are to get the future after Brexit right, Government to set the business of the House. The Supremes, as if this was self-evident. It we must restore and develop a strong From the 19th century, this was never was actually hotly disputed. British constitution. To do this, we must questioned – until Mr Bercow. To frustrate Many millions of the public felt worried, but TOM PECK first win a battle for history. The wrong Brexit, he decided that he would let Remainer we are people unversed in the law. So it is The Independent political sketch writer and columnist history of Brexit will see it as a contest MPs take control of the order paper. helpful to have our worries learnedly justified between ruthless “populists” and righteous The same Remainers could agree only on by Professor John Finnis of Oxford, arguably persons determined to resist anything what they didn’t want, not on what they did. the most distinguished academic lawyer of Tim says: “I was one of the ‘knuckledraggers’ in Parliament Square to whom Oxbridge-educated which could have “an extreme effect upon They were too scared to permit the logical our time. In a forthcoming pamphlet for the Tom Peck refers below. I made a speech saying that Europeans were our friends and allies and that the fundamentals of our democracy”. result of deadlock, a general election. The think-tank Policy Exchange (The Law of the Those persons – righteous in their own result was angry stasis, with government Constitution before the Court), Professor Leavers welcomed the efforts of hardworking immigrants who had moved to the UK. Not many people estimation – were, first, the then Speaker, unable to govern. So, to break this Finnis identifies the problem with the Miller 2 could object, but Tom Peck managed to… ” John Bercow (plus a clutch of Remainer MPs), unconstitutional logjam, Boris Johnson asked judgment. He says it runs deeper than and second, the 11 judges of the Supreme the Queen to prorogue. carelessness or haste. Court who, on 24 September 2019, declared It was this Bercow-created situation which led In his view, the Supreme Court judgment that Boris Johnson’s attempt to prorogue to “Miller 2”, the Supreme Court case. goes against our history and our law, and Parliament for a few weeks was “null, void Obviously, the judges of the Supreme Court produces “a constitutional unsettlement”[itals and of no effect”. are very different characters from Mr Bercow. on ‘un’]. Ignoring the arguments which the PARLIAMENT SQUARE WAS This week, there is reason to write about By training and inclination, impartiality is their Divisional Court had already made the other both. As Mr Bercow struggles – comically watchword and understatement is their way, it tramples over a central feature of our clinging to the conventions which, in other manner. When they pronounced in Miller 2, Bill of Rights of 1689, which protects political spheres, he joyfully ditched – to get a peerage, many naturally supposed they had deliberated liberty by insisting that no “proceeding of his record is being assessed. It has at last most carefully, blind – as justice is supposed to Parliament” should be “impeached’ in a court. stated unambiguously in public that he may A KNUCKLE-DRAGGING CARNIVAL be – to the bright lights of political drama and The Supremes danced round this problem by not have been the perfect boss – self- media celebrity. asserting that prorogation is not a proceeding aggrandising, shouting, allegedly bullying, I feared at the time that this was not wholly of Parliament. As Professor Finnis sets out, this and generally stamping his little foot. These the case. They were becoming a band, had never been successfully argued in any are powerfully expressed accusations, but working-title: The Supremes. I was suspicious court in any Westminster-style constitution (ie one should, in fairness, point out that they the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia etc). OF IRREDEEMABLE STUPIDITY of the judges’ rare unanimity (in the English have not yet been tested. law tradition, there are often important It is rejected by Erskine May and all the great What makes Britain’s independence day different from those that have gone Mr Bercow has also revealed sensitive private dissenting judgments), of their haste, and of experts on the constitution. There is “no before it that its prize is a freedom nobody else wants conversations with colleagues and officials, their President, Lady Hale, with her spider authority, no case law, no textbook” for last without their permission, in his hurried, well- September’s judgment, says Finnis. brooch, her air of ill-suppressed excitement There they were, all gathered in one Were they here, bright eyes fixed on the Strongbow Dark Fruit. No long walk to paid memoirs. Such complaints are true and and her propensity for sounding off out of Like other acts of the Crown prerogative place. Not quite midnight’s children but horizon of history, listening to the same old freedom is complete without a quick dash to damaging. He has been rebuked by the court. I noted their unusually rhetorical way which involve what the law calls “high politics” 11 o’clock’s toddlers. Here, at the long- wearied drivel from the Wetherspoons guy? Tesco Metro. parliamentary authorities. of talking. That phrase about the “extreme (as opposed to individual rights), it is, says awaited end of dry January, was a once- Did they actually turn up to this, the Night of What on earth would those men have made But the key reason why Mr Bercow deserves effect upon the fundamentals of our Finnis, “a well-established legal rule that proud nation coming together to wet its a Thousand Swans and Angels? Did they see of the occasion? Actual Great Britain, the no advancement is different. It is that, as democracy” comes from Miller 2. It is the sort prorogation by the sovereign…is non- little trousers. The Dawn of the Moon Under Water? cradle of empire once, roaring its pissy Speaker, he broke the parliamentary of thing that politicians, not judges, usually say. justiciable”. So The Supremes strutted in Do the ghosts of revolutions past haunt the (Historians take note: other potential breath into the night air in phoney equivalent of the Hippocratic oath. He where all previous judges had feared to tread. I also noticed that their tone of angry hallowed days of now? Could you hear the sobriquets can be found on the “Pub celebration of regaining an independence it abandoned the impartiality which is the most If they feel free to forbid the prorogation of dismissal led them to contradict themselves. hooves of Simon Bolivar’s horse galloping Locator” tab of jdwetherspoon.com.) had never lost? basic principle of his job. And he undermined At one point, they declared they could not Parliament, they could equally destroy up Whitehall? Mahatma Gandhi really was here, as was Of course, now is the time that we must the vital convention of the British system, know what reasons the Prime Minister had another Crown prerogative – the right to Was that the sound of the workers singing Nelson Mandela, albeit both cast in bronze come together as a nation. We must start the which is that we govern, as the stock phrase given to the Queen, who was sitting in decide whether to dissolve it: they could the “Marseillaise” as Lenin’s sealed train and standing as ever on the perimeter of healing. The grievances of yesteryear must puts it, “through the House of Commons”. council at Balmoral, for seeking prorogation; prevent a general election. That really would rolled into the District and Circle line Parliament Square. be set aside. But there is also, somewhere in The British convention is that Parliament has yet they also said that the advice he gave her have an “extreme effect upon the platform at Westminster station? Could that One man – topless of course – even injured the recesses of my mind, some half- ultimate authority because the Government was “unlawful” because it was “a nullity”. If fundamentals of our democracy”. have been Haile Selassie, raising the his elbow on Madiba’s outstretched hand as remembered obligation for a writer to have cannot continue without its confidence, but they did not know what he had said, how So the Miller 2 judgment was the most standard of the Lion of Judah over the exit he rose with carefree haste to exalt the the courage to tell the truth. So it is with a that it otherwise has a duty to let the could they judge it? Did Mr Johnson’s political act by our judges in modern history. door of Caffe Nero? soaring oratory of The Apprentice’s Michelle genuine sense of sorrow that I must report Government govern. This means, prorogation frustrate the constitutional role It may have been, in part, motivated by Dewberry. About the builder of the rainbow procedurally, that it must allow the of Parliament? “Of course it did,” chorused group-think against Boris and Brexit, but it nation’s feet were three discarded cans of Continued

64 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 65 TOM PECK The Independent political sketch writer and columnist

that on Friday 31 January, between the Who exactly? Absolutely everyone. It restored: national identity, national cohesion. hours of 9pm and 11pm, Westminster’s doesn’t matter. Just f****** do one. Put that, There is none at all. There are just two huge JOSEPH VISITS A–Z OF OUR Parliament Square played host to a static, as they say, on the side of the bus. tribes set against each other, and the mutual knuckle dragging carnival of the Of course, what makes Britain’s loathing is as fierce as ever. LONDON PUBS, 123 IN A YEAR Customer and enthusiast Joseph Keay completed a irredeemably stupid. independence day different from most, There simply isn’t any middle ground. The personal year-long challenge just before the end of Shirtless men clambered over the statue of though not all, that have gone before it is gulf is as wide as it has ever been: one side last year. Churchill. For some bizarre reason, part of that its prize is a freedom nobody else wants. revels in regaining its imagined Joseph’s Wetherspoon mission – which he chose to accept the warm-up act involved playing parts of When a Tunisian fruit and vegetable independence, while the other mourns the – was to have a pint in every one of our pubs in London, an old Michael Cockerell documentary on stallholder set himself on fire in December terrible loss of having been part of something during 2019. Britain’s history with the EU. “F*** off John 2010, he lit a blaze of hope that ripped big, something ambitious, with its eyes fixed He said: “I embarked on the challenge to visit and drink Major, you c***!” shouted one man when through the Middle East and north Africa. on the future and not drunk on the imagined in all Wetherspoon pubs within the M25 and found there the former prime minister appeared on When Britain set itself on fire three and a glories of the past. to be 123 venues. screen. “He should be hanging by his f****** half years ago, the very best that can be We simply do not have more in common “I completed the challenge on Saturday evening neck!” the same man shouted at Tony Blair. hoped for is that someone, somewhere than that which divides us. It is an (28 December) at The Lord Moon of the Mall, in Whitehall.” (Later, they cheered arch Leave campaigner made £250 sending the footage to You’ve irreconcilable, fundamental rift that goes to Joseph enjoyed a pint of Guinness that evening, having Tony Benn, then booed Jeremy Corbyn. That Been Framed. the core of everything everyone on either downed the same drink when he started out on 9 January will have cut Magic Grandpa to the bone.) We have become the first country to throw side believes. There will be no moving on. at The Metropolitan Bar (Baker Street underground). They absolutely revelled in it. It wasn’t merely off the yoke of an oppressor whom nobody For 10 years or more, all the nation’s His travels, from Acton in the west to Wanstead in the east, that a singalong to “Rule Britannia”, with the else considers themselves oppressed by. We fortunes will be tied back to this event. included the City of London and all of the suburbs and words appearing on a giant screen, was have won our freedom from our own What happens, say, when another huge saw him record every pub name and address, date visited, infinitely beyond them. (“The azure what? imagined nightmares. We have liberated financial crisis hits, lives and livelihoods which beer he drank and his mark (out of 10) for the pub. Az-u main? What’s this? I don’t know thi – ourselves from the terrors of the monster damaged? Half the country will blame the The Coronation Hall (Surbiton), where he enjoyed a pint RULE BRITANNIA! BRITANNIA RULES THE under the bed that was never there. We are other half for the vast economic growth of Doom Bar on his visit in February, was Joseph’s favourite, WAVES!” Entirely verbatim quote, that one). the children that never grew up. squandered to Brexit. We won’t move on. with a nine-out-of-10 personal rating. At one point, when they tried to get the crowd It is a great pity that of the many thousands We can’t. Joseph concluded: “It was really enjoyable visiting all of the pubs – thank you for a great year!” to join in with “Land of Hope and Glory”, the of bells that were present, only one should The prime minister urges healing – but he is three on-stage singers were so poor that the have had its noise-making capacity removed. the disease, not the cure. What do we do crowd refused to join in in protest. Between them, Brexiteers raised more than next? Are we to accept defeat, make peace, Nigel Farage was there, obviously, calling £100,000 in a fruitless quest to have Big all the while knowing that, were the shoe on it “the greatest moment in our nation’s Ben’s clapper temporarily restored to bong the other foot, Farage and company would THE GLASS BLOWER SAYS modern history.” us out into the cold. How much might be doing absolutely nothing of the sort? remainers have paid to silence Farage for Well if it was the greatest moment in our Are we really expected to get on board with CHEERS TO CHRISTMAS CHEER the night, if not for all eternity? this farce? To look upon this absurd, imagined A Christmas fair at nation’s modern history, it is a matter of The Glass Blower Too late now. His supporters went wild for liberation and try to see the good in it when public record that the best Farage could find (Castleford) provided to help him usher it in was a very strange him, naturally. “Nigel! Nigel! Nigel! Nigel!” there is simply nothing good there? entertainment and a man called Dominic Frisby, singing a very It’s an unlikely name for a hero. With his final words, as well, Farage hinted gift-buying opportunity, strange song called “17 Million F*** Offs.” Before him there’d been Ann Widdecombe, at the next chapter of the story. Urging other as well as raising funds for various causes. The list of people “the British told to f*** off” fresh from marching out of the EU countries to follow Britain’s example, to was long indeed. parliament two nights ago, saying it was leave the EU, to become “free nation states, Organised by shift “like storming up the beaches again”. She’s trading, co-operating”. Go back to the old manager Katy Walker “The IMF, the treasury, Tony Blair, John never stormed up any beaches. She’s only days, in other words, and try to ignore that and bar associate Major, Femi Weirdo, Jess Philips, George 72. Which is young enough, it turns out, to the old days are absolutely drenched in Jenny Finan, the event Osborne.” It went on and on and on. By the collected £200 for CLIC stand on a stage in Parliament Square and blood. That preventing the old days ever time it got to the end, the 17 million f*** offs Sargent and £201.37 ululate away about “the glorious future that coming back is the precise reason the EU may even have found themselves for community projects, awaits us” – the one she has forced on the came into being. outnumbered. Whether, in fact the IMF, the including Castleford nation’s young entirely against their wishes. Treasury, Tony Blair and absolutely These people really do think it’s 1989, or the Street Kitchen and the school choir. everybody else will, in the end, turn out to There was Tim Martin of Wetherspoons, Arab Spring, that Frisby is their Vaclav Havel. have been right, and this lot wrong, is as saying in all seriousness that “our victory is They think the blue touchpaper has been lit, Pupils from Castleford close to a certainty as anything in politics not a victory against the people of Europe. except for the fact that our neighbours are Park Junior Academy (pictured) entertained can possibly be. They are our friends. It is a victory over the not rising up but glancing up to look upon institutions of the European Union”. us with embarrassed pity at our own customers with festive But for now, we must go through the motions. Tim Martin, for the record, banned all crushing stupidity. songs, as well as Dance the dance. By the time the final collecting funds for European-produced drinks from his pubs. countdown came you could scarcely get on There is simply no way anyone of good their school, while So there’s that. to Whitehall. There were thousands there. conscience can make peace with being so local businesses set up Not many thousands, but thousands certainly. “At 11pm tonight, there is no such thing as very clearly on the wrong side of history. market stalls in the leavers and remainers,” Dewberry told the pub’s beer garden. I’ve listened back now to the sound on my Come together? Sorry, but no thanks. crowd. “We are all leavers now.” I think the Funds were also raised dictaphone that records Britain’s moment of The long walk back to sanity starts now. reply to that one comes in the form of a song by volunteers for the liberation and it goes exactly like this: “Ten! Who knows, it might even be a surprisingly you might call "16.8 Million F*** Offs." local Street Kitchen. Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! short one. Dressed in festive Two! One! FREEDOM!!!! YEAAAASSSS!!!! What next then? Come together? Move on. You can close your eyes and hope for it, but knitwear for the F****** FREEDOM!!!! WE F****** DID occasion are (left to you’ll not find any evidence that it can IT!!! F****** FREEDOM!!! F****** DO right) shift leader Gareth ONE!! F****** DO ONE!!!!” actually be done. Brookes, bar associate It seems as worthy a catch phrase of the Brexit’s ultimate tragedy is that it has broken By Tom Peck Chelsea Mathery, Katy, moment as anything else. F****** do one! the very thing it imagines itself to have Jenny and shift leader The Independent / 1 February 2020 Jacob Bucktrout.

66 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 67 OUR PEOPLE

THE FAIR O’BLAIR • BLAIRGOWRIE MADE LOCAL AFTER 23 YEARS ON THE IS BACK GO, JO SLIGHTLY SLOWS

Last year, the Black Horse in Northfield, Birmingham, had a winning nomination. Thanks to the Made Local Fund, Ley Hill Park now has a restored boardwalk for the local community to use.

Shift manager Jo Thomson has spent half her life as a Wetherspoon Pub manager roles followed at The Capitol (Dundee) – now sold MADE LOCAL FUND employee, in a career which has shaped both her professional and – and The Capital Asset (Perth), before she took a step back. personal life. Jo reports: “I had two young children by then, Euan (now aged Born in Manchester, Jo grew up in Cumbria and completed 10) and Naomi (now seven), so decided to step back to assistant a degree in sport and leisure, at Coventry University, before manager, to balance work and family. IN ASSOCIATION WITH joining the company as a trainee manager at The Lord Moon “I spent five years on the management team at Jolly’s Hotel (Broughty of the Mall (Whitehall). Ferry) before moving to The Fair O’Blair (Blairgowrie) in October 2019 She spent five years in London, with spells at Victoria and Holborn, to help pub manager Michelle Milne and the team. before moving to Scotland in November 2000. “I am currently happy supporting pub managers; however, now that Jo, 47, recalls: “An opportunity to step up to deputy manager arose my kids are older and more independent, my own pub might be at The Standing Order, in Edinburgh, so I moved to Scotland. something I would look at again.” Do you have a worthy project in your local “I spent two years there and met my husband-to-be Steven, who was Jo concluded: “One reason I have stayed with Wetherspoon for a kitchen supervisor.” 23 years is that it is very supportive, a great company to work for community in need of funding? and the way it looks after its staff is second to none. Steven has since left the company and now works for the Post Office. Look out for your chance to nominate in April. An 18-month secondment at The Rochester Castle (Stoke Newington) “I just love working for the company.” saw Jo return briefly to London, until she headed north again, to Steven’s native Scotland, to take up a deputy manager position at The Society Room (Glasgow). Nominations will be available for submission online at carling.com 68 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 69

2740-1 CAR Made Local Fund 2020 Wetherspoons A4 Ad.indd 1 13/02/2020 14:53 OUR PEOPLE

THE NEW FAIRLOP OAK • BARKINGSIDE

1890 Manila. Spain’s CRAIG’S 20-YEAR CONTRIBUTION colonial capital, and the home of the first brewery REWARDED AT NEW FAIRLOP OAK in Southeast Asia.

1903 Hong Kong. Continuing our journey, we brought the finest beer we could to Hong Kong. 1933 New York. With Prohibition lifed, it’s time for a San Miguel.

1957 Spain. Time to return home, opening our factory in Lleida.

Craig Flindall celebrated 20 years’ service with Wetherspoon, during Craig was presented by the company with a certificate, for his 2019, and his family is understandably proud of his achievement. 20 years’ service, which is framed and takes pride of place in his 1965 Africa. Discovering Craig, an associate at The New Fairlop Oak (Barkingside), has bedroom at home, as well as a badge. learning difficulties, although that hasn’t stopped him from being an Chris added: “He brings the certificate out to show to any relative or new worlds and refreshing integral part of the team for two decades. friend who visits us and is very proud of it. He won’t wear his badge, more people. We reach Africa. His mum, Chris, said: “Craig is very keen to go to work each day – for fear of losing it!” 1967 London. Love, and this is because of the atmosphere which pub manager Karen has Unable to attend the company’s official annual awards dinner, Craig created over the years. and his family enjoyed a celebration meal together, courtesy of the rock and the fight for “She has always dealt with any issues promptly and ensures that all company. The family also travelled to New Zealand, their own way of social rights. We can celebrating his 20 years with Wetherspoon. say “we were there”. staff treat Craig with respect. 2020 Nearly 130 “He will only ever be able to work at the pub during the daytime, Pub manager Karen Burdett concluded: “Congratulations to Craig and does very few hours, but I am truly grateful for those few on a remarkable achievement of 20 years’ service. years through our hours each week. “When he first arrived at the pub, he was nervous of the customers story, it’s a journey “I have seen my son grow in confidence and speak to more people, and could do only a few jobs which didn’t involve meeting the public. that is still far from without fear, than I ever thought possible.” “He has changed so much over the years, grown in confidence and its end. experience and is a truly valued team member.”

70 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 71 NEW OPENINGS IN IRELAND NEWCASTLE & WHICKHAM OUR PUBS IN THE NORTHEAST COMMUNITY MAKE THEIR PRESENTS FELT Three Wetherspoon pubs in and around Newcastle joined forces, in the run-up to Christmas, to bring a little festive cheer to some young hospital patients. Staff and customers at The Mile Castle and The Five Swans (both Newcastle), plus The Harry Clasper (Whickham), together with local businesses, donated toys (or cash to buy toys), chocolates and gifts in time for Christmas Day. Organised by shift manager Toni Fitzgerald (The Mile Castle) and pub manager Tyler Hudson (The Harry Clasper), together with team leader Michelle Cuthbertson (The Harry Clasper), the gifts – including hampers and vouchers – were delivered to more than 100 children and their families on the children’s cancer ward and out-patients at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary. Toni said: “A huge thankyou to our generous customers and local businesses which helped with a very successful collection. “A hospital visit is not pleasant for anyone, at any time of year, but especially for youngsters at Christmas.

Keavan’s Port, Dublin Artist’s impression “We hope that our gifts and treats brought a little happiness at a difficult time.” Pictured ( left to right) are Tyler, Toni and Michelle JUST THE JOB FOR IRELAND – FOUR NEW PUBS AND A HOTEL RICHMOND etherspoon is continuing to enjoy huge success Until the 1940s, the property was the convent of the Little Sisters of in the Republic of Ireland, with our pubs and the Assumption, established in the 1890s. Its former chapel forms FITZ CRACKERS SPREAD CHEER W hotel in Swords already being experienced by part of the site. locals and visitors alike. The pub’s name refers to the fact that Camden Street Upper and TO SICK CHILDREN We are also investing an additional 30 million euros in a further Lower are part of an ancient highway into the city of Dublin. A collection of around 200 selection boxes, at The Ralph four pubs and a hotel, to create 300 new jobs, with sites in Galway, The two streets were previously known as St Kevin’s Port and, in a Fitz Randal (Richmond) in North Waterford and two more in Dublin. series of old maps and records, the name is shown as Keavan’s Port. Yorkshire, brought festive cheer to We currently have seven pubs across Ireland. During 2019, in July Our Waterford pub is opening in Broad Street and Arundel Square. youngsters at a local hospital. and December, respectively, The Three Tun (Blackrock) and It will be built on the site of two former shops and a bank, which Organised by duty manager Martyn The Forty Foot (Dún Laoghaire) both celebrated five years of trading. Swannell, pictured (right) with pub had lain empty for several years. This year, The Great Wood (Blanchardstown) in June, The Old manager Adam Davies and shift The new pub will be set over two floors (ground and first) and will Borough (Swords) in July and The Linen Weaver (Cork) in leader Sarah-Jane Hodgson, the also feature a roof terrace. gifts were all individually wrapped September will also each mark their five-year milestones. Garden and delivered to the children’s ward Last year, The Tullow Gate (Carlow) launched in May, while at Darlington Memorial Hospital. We have also purchased a former nightclub in Eglinton Street, The Silver Penny, our first pub in Dublin, opened its doors Galway, and are aiming to build a new pub, with a first-floor garden. Martyn said: “A huge thankyou to during June. all of the staff, family, friends, pub Wetherspoon’s founder and chairman, Tim Martin, said: “Our seven Dublin customers and local businesses, pubs in the Republic of Ireland continue to go from strength to strength. Our second pub in Dublin, The South Strand, will open in the former including the local fire brigade, HQ Bar and Restaurant, in Hanover Quay, Grand Central Square. “We are delighted that we will be opening an additional four pubs, which helped with the collecting, as well as our biggest hotel yet, and are confident that the new pubs which also included some toys. This pub will be set over two floors (ground and lower ground) and hotel will prove popular with a wide variety of people. “It was a real team effort and a great with outside seating also. ‘ Christmas mission’ with which to “We are looking at further sites across the Republic of Ireland. Wetherspoon will also be opening Keavan’s Port, in Camden Street be involved.” Upper/Lower, in Dublin’s city centre. “Hopefully, our investment will act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in the respective areas where we are opening.” Buildings H AW I C K Restoration and building work are well under way on the pub and 89-bedroom hotel, being created on the site of disused buildings. All opening dates are subject to planning and licensing conditions. HAWICK BOXERS PUNCH ABOVE THEIR WEIGHT Always keen to support local community events, pub manager Richard Conway and his team at The Bourtree were at it again, in time for Christmas. The pub in Hawick, in the Scottish Borders, took part in a collection by staff and the local community, amassing 400 selection boxes, in the run-up to the festive season. Richard said: “The selection boxes, for the Hawick Community Council, were for Santa to hand out to the local youngsters, at the town’s Christmas lights switch-on. “We collected enough for an amazing 400 selection boxes, in the space of two weeks, which was a fantastic achievement. “Thank you to everyone for supporting the community event.” Pictured with some of the selection boxes are shift manager Terri Conway and team leader Reece Chalmers. Keavan’s Port, Dublin Artist’s impression The Arundel Gate, Waterford Artist’s impression

72 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 73

THE ARUNDEL GATE, WATERFORD PROPOSED PUB INTERIOR COMMUNITY The StHelenspubwas amongthesafe andfriendlyvenues added The Running Horseswas selectedby localresidents tobeincludedin 74 ON TO ST HELENSCARE MAP RUNNING HORSESCANTERS ST HELENS showing specialandwelcoming spaces. a specialartwork project. a pop-upvenue inaformer Argos store in thetown. responsible for thefestival, said:“We talked tovarious groups and recognising depictedonalarge issues, health mental mapby to a‘care map’, organised by The Take Care StHelensProject and the watercolour paintedartwork was ondisplay for everyone tosee at Lucie Davies, from organisation StHelensarts ofGlass, Heart Part ofamonth-longfestival (theMadlove Take Over St Helensevent), Liverpool-based Hwa artist Young Jung. local peopleasking themtoputforward for their ideas thecare map, Rhyannon producer) Lacey Glass, Caitlin andSt.Helens students Parry Of College (Heart andKeeno Marrett Pictured withtheartwork Hwa toright)are map(left artist Young DeclanBarrow Jung, leader shift Running (The Horses), Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com “We feel thatwe are oftheSt Helenscommunity–anditis abigpart were“These watercolour thenplottedoutanddepictedona beautiful pubs,restaurants,“It includes churches, organisations arts charities, and even anywhere parkbenches, where peoplefeel safe, warm and Colin Hughes, pubmanageratTheRunningColin Hughes, Horses,added: “We are practical toolandsouvenir ofthefestival.” map, reproduced anddistributedtoStHelensresidents, asa wonderful tohave beenrecognised assuchin thisproject.” welcome here. welcome ofsanctuary. –theirplaces thrilled thatsomany localpeoplehighlightedthefact thatourpub is afriendlyandwarm community spaceandthatthey feel safe and “Other pubsintheregion alsohadfoodbank collection FERRY BOAT FOLKFERRY FOODONSHORE RUNCORN Jones andregularJones customerPaul Lucas. The Schiehallion Appeal GlasgowThe SchiehallionAppeal Children’s Charity Hospital The Great Glen(Fort William). The boxes, tins,cereal, containing biscuitsandother The Navigator (Stoneycroft, Liverpool).” Aileen McConnell(pictured communitymanagerat left), of family, friends andourcustomers, for which charities cancer andblooddisorders. cash amongseveral causes. of theUK’s BenNevis, mountain, andsplitthecharity highest of herteam. MOUNTAIN CLIMBERSENDUPINHOSPITAL WILLIAM &FORT GREENOCK GLASGOW, customers atthepubwanted toshow theirsupport supported bysupported TheTrussell Trust, working tocombat a collectionoffood atthepub. struggling tocopeorprovide basicneeds. Children’s Charity.” Hospital Glasgow Children’s gratefully Hospital, receives adonation mean somethingdifferentmean toallofus,including Glasgow raised afantastic amountofmoney, thanks tothegenerosity received £650 tohelp towards cancer bringingthelatest more than£2,600, in2019, inasponsored climb mountain manager LisaMcDaid(right),presented achequetothe poverty andhungeracross theUK. nutritionally balancedemergency food andsupport (Glasgow), aswell Watt asTheJames (Greenock) and (Runcorn) fortunate helpedlocalpeopleless with treatments for tothehospital, children beingtreated for It is part ofthenationwideIt ispart network offoodbanks, from pubmanagerDonnaWalker (second andmembers left) to localpeoplewhoare referred toitincrisis. food, were delivered toRuncorn &DistrictFoodbank, for thosepeopleandfamilies inourown community, Donna said:“We adventure hadanamazingmountain and Donna and her teams (pastandpresent)Donna andherteams collectively raised andshift HannahDoherty leader Donna, togetherwithshift Members andcustomers ofstaff atThe Boat Ferry Pub managerChristianGreenlee and said:“Theteam Runcorn &DistrictFoodbank provides three days’ in the run-up to Christmas, by shift manager Gemma in therun-uptoChristmas,by managerGemma shift hospital onbehalfofthefundraisershospital atTheSirJohnMoore boxes, includingTheWatch Maker (Prescot) and Jon Cook,from ALittleBitofStone, The campaign is raising funds to fit The campaignisraising fundstofit Also pictured are Lauren Walker and Andrew said:“Thanks toeveryone who A LittleBitofStone–toraise fundsfor the Andrew (far right),whoisalsoa local came along to support theevent.came alongtosupport Itwas compered by quizmasterCollinTaylor. out anew communitytheatre –thefirst councillor inStone, Staffordshire, hosted organise acommunitycharityquiznight CHEQUE ISIN THEPOSTE AFTERTHEATRE FUNDRAISER STONE quiz night,enjoyed by 19 ofsixand teams a great andraised success £400 towards at ThePoste ofStone(Stone). Crown Theatre Wharf Project. Shift managerAndrewShift helpedto Best together withthetown’s mayor Councillor the new theatre appeal.” the canal. the event for communitynews website Mark Green. Local donatedprizes for businesses the in Stone–anew town buildingby

Gemma ispictured (centre) Lauren withbarassociate MitchellandcustomerMarlon Rule jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 75

COMMUNITY WESTON-SUPER-MARE CABOT COURT HELPS TO FUEL COMMUNITY BRIAN’S 7,000-MILE WALK

Hotel staff at Cabot Court Hotel (Weston-super-Mare) were only When they were based at Cabot Court Hotel, Brian had already too happy to offer Brian and Cheryl Burnie a warm Wetherspoon completed 4,700 miles, including Scotland, Ireland and Wales, welcome during a recent stay. and had crossed back into England to continue his epic journey. Brian (pictured) is walking 7,000 miles around the UK and Ireland Daft as a Brush Cancer Patient Care (www.DaftasaBrush.org.uk), coastline, raising funds and awareness for Daft as a Brush Cancer a charity founded by Brian, transports northeast patients to and Patient Care. from hospital. TALKING MENU PROVES The challenge is set to take three years, with the aim of creating It transports around 45,000 patients each year, with a team of one million free cancer patient journeys in the UK and Ireland. more than 350 volunteers and a fleet of 30 ambulances. Emma Moffat, hotel manager, said: “We offered Brian and his wife His charity walk also includes visits to encourage other NHS trusts, a discounted room and free breakfast while they were staying with across the UK and Ireland, to adopt the transport service. us for a week. Brian said: “It’s clear that there is a need for the service all “It was our way to thank them for what they are doing, as cancer over the country. affects all of us, which we know only too well from supporting “So many patients have the same issues getting to and from A SOUND INVESTMENT CLIC Sargent all these years.” hospital daily. Mobile app for blind and visually impaired customers In March 2018, Brian set off from his Newcastle home in an “Many live on their own… I would hate to know how many patients has had a great first year anti-clockwise direction. His wife Cheryl fetches him at the end of decline treatment because of the stress, anxiety and difficulties each day, dropping him off at the same point the following day – which they experience.” ur partnership with Good Food Talks is now Aloud to resume his walk. ● one year old – and the mobile app is proving Most smartphones, tablets and computers come with a host of You can follow Brian’s walk and find at more here: Walking up to 20 miles each day, five days a week, is a punishing www.BluebellBus.org.uk O a popular and useful tool for our blind and customisable accessibility features, including a built-in screen-reader schedule for 75-year-old Brian, who isn’t giving in to his Parkinson’s visually impaired customers. which will speak the written word aloud. disease and is hoping to be home in the northeast for Christmas 2020. Good Food Talks (goodfoodtalks.com) was founded in 2013, For those with limited vision, you can also enlarge the print, the brainchild of Matt Wadsworth and Kate Bennett Wadsworth. highlight buttons and even invert all of the colours. MORPETH It is a revolution for the blind and visually impaired when dining out, Every time you upgrade your phone, or operating system, there are CHILDREN’S CHOIR BRINGS A SURGE TO ELECTRICAL WIZARD as well as for those with other reading difficulties, allowing browsing more options. Staff and customers at The Electrical Wizard (Morpeth) were treated to and listening to the menu through a fully accessible website and iOS Matt (pictured) said: “Optimising a menu for all of these features at mobile app. some festive cheer, thanks to local once has proven a huge challenge and great commitment – as has school children. Browse making sure that the menus on our system are always up to date. Pupils from the Newminster and Wetherspoon teamed up with Good Food Talks in early 2019 “It’s definitely a challenge, but I have been known to get a bit Chantry Middle School choir (pictured) to make it easier for our blind and visually impaired customers of a kick out of challenges. performed Christmas songs and carols to browse through the menu at their local. Improving at the pub, managed by Siobhan Hodge (back, right), to help to raise funds for Our menu was already available in Braille format in every “We never rest and are always developing, learning, innovating and the mayor’s charity. Wetherspoon pub; however, only one per cent of blind people in the improving the system.” UK read Braille, leaving almost two million who don’t. Shift leader Vikki Peverley is pictured (front Matt’s app – to which we have linked our menus – harnesses mobile left) with the mayor of Morpeth Councillor In the past, blind and visually impaired people had to rely on help technology, already in everyone’s pocket, and makes it work to their Alison Byard, collecting donations for from either a sighted dining companion or an extremely patient staff advantage, allowing customers to let their phones tell them what is Northumbria Blood Bikes – a registered member… or attempt a slow and frustrating trawl through a Braille on offer in our food and drinks menu. local charity (supported by the mayor) menu, for those able to read it. whose aim is to provide a life-saving Matt concluded: “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with and money-saving service to the NHS in Thanks to Matt and Kate, along with digital technology, their Wetherspoon to make all of the company’s pub menus accessible to brainchild and invention – Good Food Talks – is now a recognised northeast England, delivering blood and the millions of people in the UK who have print-reading difficulties.” other urgent medical supplies, overnight accessible menu. and at weekends, to healthcare sites.

76 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 77 KRISTIN MOVED BY THE POLICE AND WELSH PUBS SPIRIT AT CHRISTMAS PROMPT SOBERING THOUGHT

Bar associate Kristin Scott has raised £540 in a sponsored walk “Half of the funds raised was thanks to the generosity of to help homeless armed forces personnel. customers at The Spirit Merchant. Kristin, who works at The Spirit Merchant (Newtownards), took “A huge thankyou to them and to colleagues, friends and family part in the ‘Walking Home for Christmas Campaign’, supporting who supported my challenge.” the charity ‘Walking with The Wounded’. Established in 2010, Walking with The Wounded supports a She walked 30 miles from her home in Newtownards, near to the pathway for vulnerable veterans to reintegrate into society and pub, to just outside Lisburn and back. sustain their independence, offering assistance through its The walk took her 11 hours and four minutes and 73,201 steps. programmes to those who have been physically, mentally or socially disadvantaged by their service. She said: “I don’t drive, so walk everywhere. ● For more information about the charity, supporting those Pictured (left to right) are duty manager Mike Mather, area manager Alan Kay and duty manager Geraint Wynne “I wanted to raise funds for this charity, after seeing the number who served, visit: walkingwiththewounded.org.uk of homeless ex-service personnel. Wetherspoon joined forces with North Wales Police to promote a Alan Kay, Wetherspoon’s area manager for north Wales, said: “We “This money will go directly to them. drink-awareness initiative, in pubs across north Wales, during the were pleased to play our part in getting this important message holiday season. over to the public and welcome these efforts to keep people safe. A poster campaign, ‘Would a sober you’, aimed to remind drinkers “Our pubs displayed the posters prominently, to highlight the TOLL GATE’S TROUPE PARTIES LIKE IT’S 1988 to take simple steps to ensure that they stay safe on a night out. campaign to our customers, because, while we encourage everybody Regular customers at The Toll Gate toast the pub’s 31st anniversary The participating Wetherspoon pubs were Pen Cob (Pwllheli), Tafarn to enjoy themselves, it is important to remember these simple with pints of Greene King Abbot Ale. Y Porth (Caernarfon), The Black Bull Inn (Bangor), The Palladium messages to help to keep yourselves and others out of danger.” The pub, in Turnpike Lane, north London, is the fifth-oldest (Llandudno), The Picture House (Colwyn Bay), The Sussex (Rhyl), Temporary Chief Inspector Dave Cust of the Roads Policing Unit Wetherspoon pub, by just a fortnight – behind J.J. Moon’s The Castle Hotel (Ruthin), The Market Cross (Holywell), The Central said: “Alcohol is a powerful drug which can put people at risk of (Kingsbury), which also opened in December 1988. Hotel (Shotton), The Gold Cape (Mold), The Elihu Yale and The North being killed or seriously injured, arrested or of becoming a victim The Rochester Castle (Stoke Newington) is the oldest Wetherspoon & South Wales Bank (both in Wrexham). of crime. pub still in operation, having opened in 1983, The Drum (Leyton) The posters on noticeboards and in toilets formed part of the “Sadly, alcohol is also a feature in many of our incidents, such as opened in 1986 and The Moon Under Water (Enfield) in September 1988. Force’s #ChooseWisely campaign to ensure that everybody had a pedestrians being struck by cars on dark, unlit roads. Rob Churly, pictured (back right), took over as pub manager at safe and enjoyable Christmas. “We understand that people want to go out and enjoy themselves; The Toll Gate in February 2019. The campaign asked people whether they would go somewhere however, it is so important that people make sure that they don’t The pub takes its name from the toll gate erected in 1765, where without planning their journey home or put themselves in danger leave themselves vulnerable by drinking too much, staggering High Road meets Green Lanes, close to the pub. This gate was by walking home in an unfit state. home alone or getting behind the wheel, while under the influence. dismantled soon after the system of turnpikes (private roads) was They also contained advice – important at any time of year, not “An enjoyable night means a safe night – not one which ends up in abolished in 1872. just at Christmas time – such as ensuring that mobile phones are hospital or in one of our cells. ● Read about other Wetherspoon pubs’ birthdays charged, having enough money to get home, telling someone “We would like to express our thanks to Wetherspoon for supporting on pages 106–108 where you are and that you look after your friends. our campaign.”

78 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 79 NEW FAIRTRADE SUGAR CLIC CHARITY CHAMPION NEW FAIRTRADE DEBORAH CANNOT SIT STILL SUGAR SET TO CAUSE A STIR Wetherspoon launches Fairtrade sugar to celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight

etherspoon is now serving only Fairtrade sugar in all of our pubs, across the UK and W the Republic of Ireland. Served in individual ‘stick’ packets, our sugar is now supplied by Tate & Lyle Sugars – which has been working with Fairtrade since 2008. Use it to sweeten your coffee or tea choices… with a sweeter deal, also, for the farmers who grow it. Since 2008, Tate & Lyle Sugars has generated almost US$60 million in Fairtrade Premium – an extra amount of money which farmers receive on top of the market price they’re paid for their hard work. Education The farmers choose what they spend their Fairtrade Premium on, whether that’s clean water, education or business training, for What is Fairtrade? example (see panel, right). Fairtrade is a simple way to make a difference to the lives of Paula is just one Fairtrade farmer with a story to tell. She lives in those who grow the things we love, by making trade fair. Belize and owns a sugar cane field. Only with Fairtrade can farmers and workers have fair pay, With the Fairtrade Premium which it earned, Paula’s community protect the environment by following the Fairtrade Standards Bar associate Deborah Fisher is certainly living up to her role A Christmas-themed quiz and raffle, as well as lunch with Santa for up and invest the Fairtrade Premium in projects of their choice. invested in training to support her in improving her crop and as CLIC Sargent charity champion. to 60 youngsters, also added to the charity coffers to the tune of £470. More than 1.66 million farmers and workers worldwide, Deborah, who works at The Barker’s Brewery (Huyton, in Liverpool), Deborah said: “I am proud to be the CLIC champion for Huyton and earning more money. In turn, this means that she can better afford growing and producing products from bananas and cotton to the school bus and lunches for her children. took part in the Arriva Scouse 5K 2019 charity run, as well as organising already have plans for a summer 2020 family fun-day, in addition to fresh flowers and cocoa, are part of Fairtrade. a family fun-day during the summer, raising a total of £1,631.31. seasonal charity fundraising raffles throughout the year. Tate & Lyle Sugars has been producing at the same refinery in Fairtrade is 50 per cent owned by farmers and workers, She has continued the fundraising activities with various raffles and “Our fundraising is a real team effort, especially the fun day, with the London, on the banks of London’s , since 1878, when meaning that they have a say in how decisions are made at ‘ super’ raffles at the pub, with some amazing prizes up for grabs, whole team helping to make it a success.” it was opened by Henry Tate. the highest level. Farmers and workers decide for themselves including signed Liverpool FC photos and an afternoon tea for two. Excellent how best to spend the additional Fairtrade Premium in their communities. Water, education and healthcare are top of the The new Fairtrade sugar sticks can be found at our self-service list of favourite projects. coffee stations, where we offer our excellent range of Lavazza HOPE HELPS PROPEL PAIR ON THEIR 702-MILE WALK coffees, together with Tetley tea, as well as free unlimited refills*. Fairtrade works with businesses, consumers and campaigners to connect farmers and workers with those who Pub manager Jayne Boulter was only too happy to help two Wetherspoon’s head of food, Jameson Robinson, said: “We have buy their products. charity fundraisers with a complimentary room for the night at her hotel. worked with the Rainforest Alliance since 2008, and 100 per cent Every year, Fairtrade Fortnight sees thousands of individuals, of the tea and Lavazza coffee served in our pubs comes from companies and groups across the UK come together to share Jayne, who runs The Golden Hope (Sittingbourne), hosted Rainforest Alliance-certified farms. the stories of the people who grow our food and drinks, the Mark and Lucas (pictured) on their ‘BIG walk!’ in aid of BBC Children in Need. “The decision to now offer Fairtrade sugar for those drinks cotton in our clothes – the people who are often exploited Jayne said: “They were funding all the stays themselves, underlines our continued commitment to supporting farmers, and underpaid. Fairtrade Fortnight 2020 (24 February – 8 March) during their fundraising walk, and I was happy to help out, producers and workers, here in the UK and overseas, who supply as it was all for charity and a great cause.” the products which we use and sell.” https://tinyurl.com/wol62wp Mark and Lucas (www.MarkandLucas.com) walked 702 miles *See main menus for refill explanation. in 55 days, from Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to the gates of Buckingham Palace, London, from September to November, raising almost £4,000 for BBC Children in Need.

80 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 81 COMMUNITY OUR PEOPLE

FA LM O UTH THE GOLDEN ACORN • GLENROTHES PACKET’S PACK WHIRLS INTO ACTION TO HELP HELICOPTER GOLDEN GENERATION KEEPS APPEAL TO LIFT OFF Floor associate Jacob McGoughan and team leader Iza Tamborska ACORN ROLLING ONWARDS

Staff and customers at The Packet Station are supporting a local “By sponsoring the new Cornwall air ambulance, the name of the pub, charity with fundraising events. The Packet Station, will be proudly displayed on the new helicopter.” Pub manager Ryan Wilce and his pub in Falmouth are doing their bit A weekly cash-prize bingo night at the pub (every Monday at 8pm) towards the Cornwall Air Ambulance new heli appeal. is also contributing to the fundraising amount. An initial gift card raffle raised £100, required to sponsor the air Cornwall Air Ambulance flies more than 800 life-saving missions ambulance, and the team is continuing its fundraising efforts to each year throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. As a charity, achieve a £1,000 target. it relies on donations to fund this vital work. Ryan said: “When I spoke to my team members about the campaign, The Packet Station’s ‘heli-heroes’ are helping to fund the ongoing they were as passionate as I was about helping to raise money for it. missions and to bring a next-generation air ambulance helicopter The Golden Acorn (Glenrothes) celebrated its 21st birthday just She recalled: “I came in to see the kitchen and the pub manager by April 2020. before Christmas – and a trio of kitchen staff have all worked at the asked me: ‘How soon can you start?’ I worked my week-long notice pub for much of that period. at the pub around the corner and then joined Wetherspoon.” KILMARNOCK In October 2019, team leader Fiona Smith (pictured) quietly Fiona added: “When the hotel is full, our busiest times are breakfast celebrated 20 years at the Fife pub and 26-bedroom hotel. and evening meals, but one day is never the same as the next.” SCOTT AND MR SPROTT Other long-serving staff at The Golden Acorn include kitchen Previously as kitchen manager, Fiona was also involved in associates David Gray (18 years) and Dave Hemsley (15 years), staff recruitment and is proud of the achievements of employees CANNOT BE STOPPED helping to run the successful kitchen. she interviewed, who have gone on to enjoy successful careers Two regular customers at The Wheatsheaf Inn (Kilmarnock) took with Wetherspoon. part in a ‘Sober October’ challenge, to raise funds for a local charity. Fiona started as a kitchen associate and spent 14 years as kitchen manager, before taking a step back, five years ago. She continued: “Four staff members, all of whom joined as a bar Wullie Sprott (October T-shirt) and Scott Colquhoun (sober T-shirt) Fiona, 53, said: “I have always worked in the kitchen, although, as or kitchen associate, are now in management positions across the collected £1,425 during their month-long abstention, in aid of company. They have all done really well.” Ayrshire Cancer Support. a manager, had to work in all of the departments for three months each, including the bar, as well as housekeeping in the hotel. They are pub manager Mark Daw (The Saltoun Inn, Fraserburgh) and Shift manager Fiona Campbell said: “We think that Wullie and Scott’s “The hardest job in the company is definitely housekeeping.” shift managers Michele Park (The Robert Nairn, Kirkcaldy) and Craig efforts are pretty amazing and wanted to let people know about it. Muir (The Golden Acorn), as well as training co-ordinator Mark Bell. “They collected sponsorship from fellow customers at Fiona is one of a dozen kitchen team members and now works four days per week, helping kitchen manager Emma McLaughlin, Another pub manager of whom Fiona is especially and The Wheatsheaf Inn, as well as a couple of other local pubs understandably proud is her daughter, Melissa Smith, who which they both frequent, together with online donations.” who arrived as a shift manager five years ago, from The Robert Nairn (Kirkcaldy), and has been kitchen manager for three years. has been with the company for 11 years and is currently at The charity helped to support Wullie through his own treatment, The Justice Mill (Aberdeen). Fiona has worked in the catering industry since the age of 15, having assisting him with transport to and from appointments. Scott took Fiona concluded: “I am definitely so proud of Melissa – she has part to support Wullie. gained a City & Guilds catering qualification at college, and was working in a local pub when The Golden Acorn was looking for staff. worked very hard and is doing well in Aberdeen.”

82 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 83 NEW GIN ALDERSHOT LINK BRINGS AUTHOR JAY TO THE QUEEN HOTEL Author Jay Morgan Hyrons is pictured at The Queen Hotel with copies of her new book – And She Danced. The pub, in Aldershot, which is mentioned in the book, HOW A LONDON provided the perfect venue for a book-signing and meet-the-author session. Jay said: “Many years ago, I lived with my husband in nearby North Camp – and we often played pool at The Queens (before it became a Wetherspoon pub). “Sadly, he was killed in action in the Falklands War, in 1982, but, as a paratrooper, there was a long history GIN PUT WORLD and connection to Aldershot. “It was great to have a book-signing at the pub and to be supported at the event by some of the Maroon Berets.” Jay’s biographical fiction book is the first of a powerful and deeply moving trilogy, based on her extraordinary life. It takes the reader on a journey, from humble beginnings, through a traumatic childhood full of betrayal, to the war which claimed the life of her IN A SPIN ‘knight in desert boots’. When Alexander Gordon started his She concluded: “As far as I know, this is the first book distillery in 1769, he couldn’t have known written from the perspective of a war widow from the Falklands War.” how far his spirit would fly ● And She Danced (A Little Girl’s Journey), round 250 years ago, A Mediterranean twist on an published in paperback, is available from Alexander Gordon started original recipe from Alexander amazon.co.uk, priced £11.99. A his distillery, in London, and Gordon, this is made with the highest- set about creating the recipe for a quality ingredients and uses only natural brilliant-tasting gin. Gordon’s flavourings and colourings. KAREN MOST EXCITED AS PUB PARTIES LIKE IT’S 1999 high-quality, distinctive juniper Sicilian flavour has come to define the taste It is perfectly crafted to balance the of the classic G&T. juniper notes and refreshing taste of Today, Gordon’s is the world’s number- Gordon’s with the finest juicy Sicilian one best-selling gin. Awarded four royal lemons – for an outstandingly refreshing warrants and an impressive selection of and zesty-tasting gin. international gin prizes, Gordon’s London This new gin flavour completes a trio of dry gin is among Wetherspoon’s gin Wetherspoon offerings from Gordon’s, palace choices. with Gordon’s Pink Gin also being served Made with only the finest botanicals, in our gin palace collection. including the top 10 per cent of juniper Pink berries worldwide, all carefully distilled Inspired by an original Gordon’s recipe to create its distinctively refreshing taste. from the 1880s, Gordon’s Pink is It is bold and juniper led, with perfectly crafted to balance the a super-smooth texture. refreshing taste of Gordon’s with the You can also now enjoy the NEW natural sweetness of raspberries and Gordon’s Sicilian Lemon at Wetherspoon. strawberries, with the tang of redcurrant served up in a unique blushing tone. Made from its London dry gin, with Sicilian lemons, the new flavour from It is made using only natural fruit the Scottish gin distillery is ‘summertime flavours to guarantee the highest-quality in the Med’… in a glass. real berry taste.

HISTORY OF GORDON’S Alexander Gordon’s passion for business began to take shape in 1769. He built a distillery in Southwark, London, which was well known for its excellent, clean water supply. He then mastered the art of distilling a gin of high standards which could be trusted and enjoyed by all. The Salt Cot (Saltcoats) marked its 20th anniversary at the end Karen and her colleagues enjoyed a night out at a local restaurant, Gordon believed that the success of his gin lay in its perfect combination of pure of October. Oscar’s, to mark the occasion, which also included their annual staff distilled grain spirit and rich botanicals. The exacting standards which he set are Pub manager Cheryl McSorley (left), who has been back at the pub awards night ceremony. maintained to this day. in North Ayrshire, Scotland, for the past two years, is pictured with Cheryl added: “Karen won the ‘most excited to be at work’ award Did you know? On the lid of any bottle of Gordon’s gin, you will find a boar’s head. her longest-serving member of staff, Karen Hamilton. – she loves her job and we love having her on the team.” Legend has it that, while out hunting, a Gordon clan member saved the Floor associate Karen, who also helps out with cleaning, celebrated The pub’s birthday celebrations also included a week of various a double decade herself, having started work at the pub when it first fundraising activities, which collected £200 for CLIC Sargent. Scottish king from a wild boar. Ever since, the ancestors of Alexander Gordon opened in 1999. have sported a boar’s head on their coat of arms. Among the events were a 1999 quiz, a charity raffle, a gin- and Cheryl said: “Everyone knows Karen – she is part of the building! pizza-tasting and a bingo night. The new bingo session, organised Even though I am the pub manager, it will always be Karen’s pub.” by Karen, will become a regular quarterly event at the pub.

84 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 85 OUR CHARITY

Well Done Folks! BUCKETSFUL OF MONEY PROMPT £47,000FOR CLIC SARGENT VOLUNTEERS GET BOSSES TO ROLL UP THEIR SLEEVES SAM’S HOUSE SHIPSHAPE AND BRISTOL FASHION

Steve Edge working at Yr Ieuan Ap Iago (Aberdare)

Alistair Broome at The Cherry Tree (Huddersfield)

Staff at Wetherspoon pubs across the UK battled it out in a Ged Murphy behind the bar at The Wheatsheaf Inn (Kilmarnock), fundraising challenge to win a coveted prize. Alistair Broome joining the team at The Cherry Tree (Huddersfield) The top fundraisers from five separate regions won a six-hour shift and Yr Ieuan Ap Iago (Aberdare) welcoming Steve Edge to its staff. Wetherspoon staff from pubs in and around Bristol visited each, all on one day in December, with their respective general General manager and organiser Alistair Broome said: “Our staff and one of CLIC Sargent’s Homes from Home in the run-up to the manager – in the week-long GM Challenge event. managers work hard with their efforts fundraising throughout the festive season. The pub with the highest increase in charity donations, against its year; however, this challenge certainly brings out a competitive edge Team members from The Jolly Sailor (Hanham), The Bear year-to-date weekly average, won the challenge. in everyone. (Melksham), The Van Dyck Forum and V-Shed (both Bristol) Not only did the fundraising initiative see five Wetherspoon general “It also presents a great opportunity for all of the general managers to all volunteered at Sam’s House. managers roll up their sleeves to work in the victorious pubs, but it work alongside members of their teams to further appreciate what The group, led by Wetherspoon’s area manager Gill Roberts, also raised an incredible £47,000 for CLIC Sargent. goes into making a pub run successfully, from a front-line perspective. together with her daughter Abbie, decorated the home in The winning pubs welcoming their respective general managers “The shift is always hard work, but fun, and completed in the preparation for families staying over the Christmas period. saw Miles Slade working at The Moon Under Water (Colindale), knowledge that all of the money raised, through the GM Challenge, The festive volunteers, along with Gill and Abbie, were Tom Ball putting in a shift at Sandford House (Huntingdon), helps CLIC Sargent to stop cancer from destroying young lives.” Gemma Picken (The Jolly Sailor), Sami Hughes-Smith (The Bear), Emma Silcox (The Van Dyck Forum), Sam Thomas, Ashleigh Conlon, Gemma Urskell and Alana Young (all V-Shed). CLIC Sargent currently has 10 Homes from Home located close to eight principal treatment centres – these ‘homes’ are havens for families when their child is going through cancer treatment. They are free and help families to avoid the extra financial burdens of travel, accommodation and food costs. CLIC Sargent’s Homes from Home also allow young cancer patients to be close to their loved-ones, keeping the family together at a difficult time. Gill (pictured back row, third left) said: “Once again, our incredible staff and fabulous customers show considerable dedication and generosity with their time and money throughout the year. Tom Ball on housekeeping duty at Sandford House (Huntingdon) “These special annual visits give us the opportunity to see the fantastic work and facilities towards which the donations help Ged Murphy working at The Wheatsheaf Inn (Kilmarnock) Miles Slade in the cellar at The Moon Under Water (Colindale) to contribute.”

86 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 87 OUR CHARITY

The Glass Blower, Castleford The Bath Arms, Warminster Yr Ieuan Ap Iago, Aberdare Well Done Folks! The Brocket Arms, Wigan Well Done Folks! £728 FOR CLIC SARGENT £359 FOR CLIC SARGENT

Well Done Folks!

£1,032FOR CLIC SARGENT Members of staff at The Brocket Arms took part in a 12-hour charity running Well Done Folks! In the run-up to Christmas, bar associate and CLIC challenge, ‘How far can we go?’, at the pub and hotel in Wigan. Champion Louise Jones single-handedly collected £1,032 Organised by bar associate Andy Ferguson (far right), the team took it in £200 in a festive hamper raffle. FOR CLIC SARGENT turn to run half-hour shifts, on a treadmill, between 8am and 8pm, clocking up 46 miles in total. A staff pool tournament, organised by shift leader Jade McManus, Louise has worked at Yr Ieuan Ap Iago (Aberdare) for the past potted a fabulous £728 for charity. A Christmas gift market and raffle at The Bath Arms nine and a half years, taking on the role of charity champion The fundraiser, which included a charity cake sale, raised £359.03. three years ago, helping to raise cash and awareness. Jade was working at The Glass Blower (Castleford) at the time, collected £200 in charity funds. Also pictured (left to right) are bar associate Krista Redcliffe, shift manager although has since moved to The Broken Bridge (Pontefract). Organised by team leader and CLIC champion Lotti Louise (pictured) said: “I have been at the pub for a long Robin Draper, team leader Andrew Cooper (taking his turn on the treadmill) time, so everyone knows me, and most are more than The local Castleford Cue Club donated eight tables for the competition Waghorn, the annual festive fundraiser saw 10 local and team leader Nathan Green. businesses and sellers set up their stalls inside the pub happy to participate in our regular fundraising activities night, which was contested by teams from pubs in area manager Dave throughout the year. The Leyland Lion, Leyland Ritchie’s region. at Warminster. “My mum died from lung cancer – and I just love to help Well Done Folks! Handmade gifts, including hand-painted lanterns, The participating teams, all pictured, were from The Glass Blower, out with good causes, especially CLIC Sargent which does The Broken Bridge, The Old Market Hall (Mexborough), The Silkstone Inn jewellery, candles, ceramics and cards, were available to such great work in helping youngsters with cancer.” and The Joseph Bramah (both Barnsley), The Briggate (Garforth) and buy, as well as bath products (pictured). £200 FOR CLIC SARGENT The Blue Bell (Hemsworth). Shift leader Perrie Harris (back) is pictured with stall- S. Fowler & Co., Ryde Each pub raised £50 to enter, with every player donating £2, along holders and customers (left to right) Liz and Marly Gordon, Well Done Folks! with rugby and football cards adding to the fundraising total. with Sophi Nastaya. The singles tournament was won by The Joseph Bramah, while £902 The Old Market Hall team won the doubles competition. The Greyhound, Bromley FOR CLIC SARGENT Well Done Folks! Well Done Folks! The Imperial , Exeter £193 FOR CLIC SARGENT £2,300FOR CLIC SARGENT

Customer Dougie Crocker (pictured) used his month-long health kick to raise funds generously for a great cause. A regular at The Leyland Lion (Leyland), Dougie took part in the ‘Stoptober’ campaign, quitting alcohol during the month of October, collecting £200 Bar associate Barbara Onions (pictured, right) single- for charity. handedly generated £902 in a charity Christmas raffle. Pub manager Mark Batty said: “All of the money he saved from not drinking Barbara, who has worked at S. Fowler & Co. (Ryde) for the alcohol, Dougie donated to CLIC Sargent. past six years, organised the festive prize draw, thanks “He still came into the pub for breakfast and a cuppa, as well as soft drinks, A ‘Brave the Shave’ at The Greyhound (Bromley) proved to kind prize donations from various local shops and and we thank him for his efforts and support for our charity.” to be great fun for everyone who supported the event, as businesses around the Isle of Wight. well as a great fundraiser, collecting £193 for charity. The Hedgeford Lodge, Hednesford Pub manager Sharon Longley (pictured, left) said: “Barbara Organised by shift leader Chloe McLaren, the event saw managed to organise the entire raffle by herself and it is Fun and festivities at two members of staff lose their hair. important that her hard work be recognised. The Hedgeford Lodge Pictured (before and after) are team leader Thomas Naylor “Thank you to everyone who bought tickets and supported (Hednesford) raised fabulous and bar associate Ellis Antoniou-Huggins, who had their the raffle, helping to raise funds for a great charity.” funds for charity, in the head and beard (respectively) shaved for the cause. run-up to Christmas. The Moon Under Water, Boston Youngsters enjoyed arts and crafts, making decorations A Harry Potter-themed quiz event and Well Done Folks! and face-painting, as well tombola at The Moon Under Water as a meet-and-greet with (Boston) raised a spellbinding £537.66. £537 Santa himself. FOR CLIC SARGENT Organised by shift leader Lewis Emery, A magical Christmas experience at The Imperial (Exeter) was enjoyed by Pub manager Kat Prince the fancy-dress event also had prizes up youngsters, as well as big kids, raising an incredible £2,300. (back, second right), is for grabs for the best-dressed. Pub manager Emma Gibson (pictured, front centre, with her niece Olivia) pictured with team members hosted the festive fun-day which included real reindeer, from Enchantment- Congratulations to quiz winners Roksana Hajnas and (back row, left to right) Nat Cornwall, and a visit from Santa and Mrs Claus. Alex Smith, who won four tickets to the Harry Potter Clay, organiser Clare Reece studios in London. Well Done Folks! There was a charity bake sale, festive treats, sweets, face-painting and and Tara Wilson, as well as games for the youngsters. First prize for best-dressed went to Kelly Dobinson, Santa (aka Tom Wythcherley) Charlotte Clarke, Cheryl Greeves and Natalie Clarke, with and young customers. £580 Also pictured are deputy manager and elf Craig Wilson-Hole, along with shift FOR CLIC SARGENT Charlie, Amelia, Peter and Bryony Walters finishing as The festive fundraiser leaders Denise Hodge, Jane Bird and Teresa Pardoe, together with customers runners-up. and the reindeer handlers. collected £580.

88 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 89 OUR CHARITY

The Hatter’s Inn, Bognor Regis The Cross Keys, Peebles Well Done Folks! Well Done Folks! £300 £163 FOR CLIC SARGENT FOR CLIC SARGENT CHOICE BIGGER THAN EVER FOR GENERATIONS OF PUB-GOERS CUTTING

Elaine Hindal, Customers at The Hatter’s Inn are pictured enjoying a charity bingo event at Drinkaware chief executive the pub in Bognor Regis, managed by Charlee Blanchard. A Christmas quiz night at The Cross Keys (Peebles) generated further funds for charity coffers, as teams of customers BACK ON ALCOHOL Organised and hosted by bar/kitchen associate Kathy Simmonds, pictured tested their knowledge and got into the festive spirit. (back), there were plenty of fun prizes on offer – with the evening raising £163. New research reveals that low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks are growing Organised by shift leader and quiz master Shane McLeod The Capitol, Forest Hill (pictured), the fundraising event – together with a similar in popularity, according to Drinkaware’s chief executive Elaine Hindal Halloween quiz event at the pub in the Scottish Borders – collectively raised more than £300. he low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks market has The key is to make alcohol-free days part of your routine, however been growing. Alongside this, younger people are you do it. The Joseph Bramah, Barnsley T drinking alcohol less frequently. The effects of cutting back So, you might be forgiven for thinking that the UK’s millennials and By having more alcohol-free days, you’ll quickly start to see positive generation Zs are fuelling the growth of the ‘low and no’ category changes. You might notice that you’re sleeping better, feeling less of drinks. sluggish and have more energy. As we enter a new decade, however, Drinkaware’s own It can also be a great time to take up a new activity. Sport can help research shows that older men and women are also very willing to you to stick to your alcohol-free goals. try low- and no-alcohol alternatives. Walking football is a great option which has been growing in

Well Done Folks! Almost two-thirds of drinkers we surveyed (aged 45–64) said that popularity – and it’s exactly what it sounds like! You play football, they felt positively about lower-strength alcoholic drinks, with over but without the running or sliding tackles. £873 half feeling positive about alcohol-free alternatives. Dave, 64, from Derby, has taken up walking football as a way to FOR CLIC SARGENT It’s great to see a significant increase in positive attitudes towards help him to reduce his drinking. A fabulous fun-day in Forest Hill collected a fantastic fundraising total of £873.36. lower-alcohol or alcohol-free drinks across this age group. He said: “It’s all about incentive. I know that a lot of the lads who Well Done Folks! Staff and customers at The Capitol are pictured enjoying the hook-a-duck People in their 40–60s are most at risk of alcohol-related health play football with me are now not drinking in the week at all. game, one of the fundraising events on the day. £379 harm, as they tend to drink more regularly and above the The incentive to play a good standard is giving them the push they Other activities included a chocolate tombola, toy tombola, arts and crafts, a FOR CLIC SARGENT recommended guidelines. need.” Dave’s wife also plays… walking netball. lucky dip, games, cake sale and face-painting by bar associate Aishat Sanusi. However, one of the easiest ways to reduce health risks relating to It’s never too late to change Organised by CLIC champions shift leader Chelsey Pitchley, who also Staff and customers marked World Cancer Day (4 February) alcohol is to increase the number of drink-free days you build Having a few drinks on most days of the week can soon add up. provided glitter tattoos, together with shift manager Michelle Molloy, the at The Joseph Bramah (Barnsley) by collecting £379.73 for the into your week. The reality is that the more you drink, the greater the risk to your charity day was a real team effort. charity coffers. Drink-free days health. If you’re thinking about changing your drinking habits, Bar associates Stephanie Paige, Leanne Harvey and Leian Jackman, along A soft-toy raffle and other activities, including ‘open the safe’, With low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks now widely available a good first step is to record how much you’re drinking. with Chelsey’s niece Georgina, Stephanie’s sister Holly, Aishat’s sister Iqmat higher or lower card games, a tombola and football cards, as in most pubs, it means a drink-free day doesn’t have to be a and regular customer Ted, also helped out. well as sweets and goodies for sale, raised the charity cash. The DrinkCompare calculator – www.drinkaware.co.uk/ pub-free day. This simple switch is an easy way to start moderating Pictured (left to right) are kitchen associate Kirk Brooke, drinkfreedays your drinking. cleaners Wendy Rowley and Ann David, shift manager and The good news is that it’s never too late to change your drinking event organiser Brogan Turner, cleaner Rosie Powers, shift This is important for anyone who wants to adopt a healthier habits. By making a commitment today to have more alcohol-free TODAY, 12 CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WILL HEAR THE manager Tom Winstanley and bar associate Katie Davis. lifestyle, without compromising on the social benefits from the days, you could soon be feeling like a happier, healthier you. DEVASTATING NEWS THAT THEY HAVE CANCER. CLIC SARGENT pub environment. The Joseph Conrad, Lowestoft If you’re worried about your drinking (or someone else’s) and want PROVIDES THE EMOTIONAL, PRACTICAL AND FINANCIAL The chief medical officers recommend that, as well as not going to talk to someone confidentially, Drinkaware can help. Shift manager Dan Bullion, from Well Done Folks! over the recommended 14 units, we build in at least three drink-free Drinkchat is a confidential online web chat service, available SUPPORT WHICH STOPS CANCER DESTROYING THEIR LIVES The William Adams (Gorleston-on-Sea), days into our week. organised the third annual customer darts weekdays 9am–2pm. £210 As well as opting for alcohol-free drinks, there are lots of other ways competition in aid of CLIC Sargent, held at FOR CLIC SARGENT Alternatively, you can call Drinkline confidentially (0300 123 1100) WANT TO DONATE? The Joseph Conrad (Lowestoft). to go alcohol free too. on weekdays 9am–8pm and on weekends 11am–4pm. Five teams (six players per team) took part in a league Think about situations for you which usually involve alcohol… then Give with your phone ● For more information: drinkaware.co.uk format contest, playing one another in 1x trebles (801), plan what you will do instead of drinking. 1x doubles (701) and 1x singles (501 best of three) matches. by scanning this code. That could include, for example, building in more time to listen The top two contested the final in the same format. Thank you. to music or going for a walk or swim. And making home an There is a new name on the winner’s shield for 2020, since alcohol-free environment is a simple way to avoid temptation. The Home Guard won for the first time, donating its £50 winner’s cash prize to the fundraising total of £210.

90 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 91 The afternoon of singing, mulled ofsinging,mulled The afternoon A communityChristmascarol collecting fundsfor theirlocalchurch. generated plentyof festive cheerand atTheFiveconcert (Peterlee) Quarter CHOIR GIVESIT125% AT THEFIVEQUARTER PETERLEE audience participation, wasaudience participation, organised songs attheCountyDurhampub, and like toholdevents whichwill pictured (backcentre) withvicar performed carols andChristmas wine and mince pies, with sing-along withsing-along wine andmincepies, Sara said:“We are acommunitypub fundraising for goodcauses.” fundraising cash. Elaine Jones. Members ofStCuthbert’s Choir by managerSara shift Malcolm, but alsoenableus todoourbitby be popularwith people inthearea, COMMUNITY The tinnedanddriedfood isalldonated Todd, atGalashiels staff Foodbank and A bigselection-box collectionalso Alexander, pubmanagerStephLundy At TheHighMain(Byker), intherun-up collected more than100selectionboxes collection continuedintothenew year, customers was amazing–andthe 92 – KINDPATRONS GIVEFREELY THE TROLLEYANDIVY &BYKER GALASHIELS as they were keen tokeep giving.” and shift leader Kelly leader and shift Crisp. are Michael leader toright)team (left and southoftheborder have shown parcels tothoseincrisis. andsupport provides three-day emergency food Wetherspoon’s customers north pictured withJohnTucker andPhil (left) perishable food donations. with more than200 food items,inthe were given tothelocalchurch for the (Galashiels) alsofilledatrolley atthepub Staff andcustomers Staff atHunters Hall Steph said:“Theresponse from our from StPeter’s Church. for thelocalyoungsters. three weeks before Christmas. the donationsfrom hispubintheScottish In support of nearby St Silas Church, ofnearbyIn support StSilasChurch, foodbank service. foodbank service. to Christmas,ashoppingtrolley inthe their generosity oftheir insupport Founded in2012, GalashielsFoodbank Borders town. Pub manager Matt Blackburn (right) is Pub managerMattBlackburn(right)is Pictured withsomeofthefood gifts by thelocalcommunityanddistributed helping local people in crisis, the donations helping localpeopleincrisis,thedonations bar was filledtooverflowing withnon- local communities. Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com

Jay has,for afew years, been following theannual andsupporting Jay decidedtomake thepubwhere sheworks thecollectionpoint Jay said:“We collectedfor onlyoneweek andIsentoutanappeal Jay was abletofill90shoeboxes sharing andessentials, withgifts A heartfelt produced Christmasappeal heart-warming results, thanks Among theunderprivilegedlocalpeopleacross Merseyside benefiting JAY HELPSCUSTOMERS TO SHOETHAT THEYCARE LIVERPOOL overwhelmed withtheresponse.” donations for theappeal. a food bankandeven Care for thePaw, dogslivingrough supporting with homeless owners.with homeless was unabletocollectdonationsfor 2019, through illhealth. (for adults)andtoys (for children) camefloodingin. Shoebox Full ofLove andknew Appeal thatalocalorganiser Homeless to theefforts ofbarassociateJay Hampton. from thegenerosity ofthecommunitywere amother& thehomeless, Items suchasgloves, socks, hats,selectionboxes andsnacks, toiletries through aLiverpool Facebook hospitality group –andwe were for localpeople, soTheRichard JohnBlackler(Liverpool) accepted baby unit,achurch Christmaslunchevent, children livinginpoverty, local community. love for andkindness Christmas,thanks tothegenerosity ofthe The event, organised by pub manager They start withavisittoBodmin’sThey start mayor andcorporation atthe They announcetheirpresence withasonganddrinkfrom the ALL THENICEGIRLS At evening atable-top festive fair atthe A Christmasmarket brought plenty of seasonal fun to The Queens Hotel funtoTheQueensHotel of seasonal THE QUEENSHOTEL BRASS ISBLOWN AND CHANGESHANDS AT BY LT A M goodwill for thecomingyear. Visits to local shops, businesses and public houses in the inthe Visits andpublichouses tolocalshops,businesses donations for CLICSargent. everyone partakestobecarried ofaglass,togetherwithmessage and carols for theoccasion. and shopowners. as far as1624. again, whichperformed thelocalannualcustom–traceableback stall holders)stall collected £167 incash Chapel anGansblydhen (Bodmin)played hosttothegroup, once Cornwall, togetherwiththetraditional Bodminwassailers. musical backdrop ofChristmassongs products, beingsoldby localbusinesses pub, customersto hadtheopportunity mayoral parlour, where thewassail bowl isfilledwithwine, and (Maltby) intherun-uptoChristmas. for more than100years, provided a for alittlefood, drinkormoney. traverse thetown, singing theiruniquewassail songs,inexchange town follow, aswell astovarious houses. Band, alocalbrass bandinexistence Members oftheMaltby Miners’ Welfare Beginning atnoonon‘old ChristmasDay’dressed (6 January), Pub managerBobby Plattispictured (centre) outsidehispubin Brown (bothpictured, front centre, with managerRicky Beth Burnsandshift in traditional tophats,bow thewassailers andtailcoats, ties buy gifts andtreats, buy gifts mostlyhandmade by thewassailers, from themayor tothetownsfolk and ofpeace bowl, before moving ontothenext resident. BODMIN LOVE AWASSAILER

“Long may thewassailers continuetobringjoy andgoodwill,aswell Traditionally, themoney collectedwould beshared amongthe as charityfundraising, tothepeopleofBodmin.” wassailers, but,today, localcharities. itisdonatedtodeserving unique custom,theonlyoneofitstypestillenacted. Bobby said:“We are happy of, tobeapart sucha andsupport, jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 93

PHOTO CREDIT : JOCELYN MURGATROYD

COMMUNITY RUMNEW RUM DRINKS FOR YOUR LIFE Our rum shack is stacked with choices for spirit animals, after the addition of two special concoctions

NEW NEW INCLUDES A MIXER†

wo NEW drinks have been added to our rum shack The new rum derives its name from the Aberdeen-born orange peel, Szechuan peppercorns, cardamom and lavender, Discovered selection: BrewDog Five Hundred Cuts Botanical Blackwell’s book ‘A Curious Herbal’, a comprehensive document before being brought together with a little muscovado sugar. Captain Morgan Tiki is inspired by the South Pacific island TRum (40% ABV) and Captain Morgan Tiki (25% ABV). recording a ground-breaking 500 plant engravings (or ‘cuts’), Full of spice and zest, Five Hundred Cuts Botanical Rum pays adventures of the captain and his crew… and the deliciously These join Bacardi Carta Blanca and The Kraken Black Spiced some of which are included in the recipe and are displayed tribute to Blackwell’s unbreakable spirit. tropical tastes they discovered. on the bottle’s label. Rum, as well as Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold and The addition of NEW Captain Morgan Tiki completes a trio of It’s made from mixing the classic tiki combination of pineapple Captain Morgan White, in our collection of rums, all served Blackwell was the first woman to publish a ‘herbal’ and the first Captain Morgan rum choices available at Wetherspoon’s pubs. and juicy mango with the captain’s finest rum – for a delicious with a mixer† included. to compile one with so many plants, so accurately drawn. tiki experience. Launched in 1982, Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum shipped Known for its bold and uncompromising craft beer, Scottish Five Hundred Cuts – like its beers – is a BrewDog innovation, a a million cases during the following 10 years, making it one of the Captain Morgan Tiki makes up a trio of rum choices from producer BrewDog is also a distiller. botanical rum with no artificial ingredients, which took six months most popular rum brands in the world. Captain Morgan, alongside Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold and 35 recipes to complete. and Captain Morgan White, now being served at Wetherspoon. It has revolutionised the beer industry, since launching in 2007, Pineapple and is using the same refreshing ethos in its ever-expanding Distilled from sugar cane molasses, using the world’s first triple-pot Captain Morgan has continued to grow in the years since, with But who is Captain Morgan? distilling operation. still, the liquid is fermented for seven days with red wine yeast and a range of new variants, including the NEW Captain Morgan Tiki This is Sir Henry Morgan – the 17th-century buccaneer and legendary We have added its NEW spirit, Five Hundred Cuts Botanical Rum, rum yeast. – a mix of Caribbean rum with pineapple and mango. party-starter who became a captain at the age of 27. to our selection. Tropical The secret of how the captain’s tipple is made is, of course, known by Morgan was later made Governor of Jamaica – at the time regarded The resulting spirit is then double-pot distilled to create a rum with Heroine only the captain himself and a close bunch of his trusted lieutenants. as one of the world’s great party capitals. rich tropical flavours, burnt sugar and hints of dark berries. It is a handmade spiced rum, inspired by the life of the trail-blazing While the brand is all about fun, the liquid is as credible and high Today, his spirit lives on through the world’s sixth-largest premium 18th-century botanical illustrator Elizabeth Blackwell – ‘a heroine of Inspired by gin distillation, some of the liquid is then steeped in quality as any – carefully distilled white rums, from the Caribbean, for spirit brand, selling more than 400,000 bottles daily. Aberdeenshire back in the 1730s’. 11 botanicals, including tonka beans, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, a crisp, clean and deliciously refreshing taste. mace and allspice, with the remainder being pot distilled with †Mixer excludes Big Tom, Fentimans, J2O, Lavazza iced cappuccino, Remedy and other canned soft drinks.

94 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 95 RAISING A GLASS TO 25 YEARS TRIAL OF DRINKS MATS TARGETS IN WATFORD AND COLCHESTER 'KNOW MY BEAT' GENERATION

Two Wetherspoon pubs marked their 25th anniversary in “Within six months, we were running our own pub (The College December 2019, having both first opened just three days apart. Arms (Walthamstow), since sold) and also had spells at Colindale, Wetherspoon’s pubs across Staffordshire have been taking part in a The Know My Beat app and animation details how to check your And, between them, their pub managers have more than 50 Haringey, Hampstead and Archway, before the new opening at drinks mat trial, in conjunction with the National Health Service (NHS). pulse, the risks around AF and the next steps you should take. Goldengrove (Stratford). years’ combined service with Wetherspoon. The 15 trial pubs each received Your Beat on Tap drinks mats, Michelle Morris, Wetherspoon’s quality assurance manager, said: The Playhouse (Colchester) opened on 18 December 1994, housed “We stayed there for a couple of years before jumping at the promoting and directing customers to the Know My Beat app, “We have been working with Dr Ruth Chambers OBE in Staffordshire in a red-brick theatre building, dating from the interwar years. chance to go to The Playhouse.” showing them how to check their own pulse. pubs, the area where they have developed the drinks mat, to teach people how to check for an irregular heartbeat. First opened in 1929 and designed by John Fairweather, Kwame Tefe (pictured) has been pub manager at The Moon Under The participating pubs were The Reginald Mitchell (Hanley), The Playhouse originally staged live shows before becoming Water, since June 2009, having originally joined the company as The Lord Burton (Burton upon Trent), The Acorn Inn (Lichfield), “If the app helps to identify even one person with AF, who gets a cinema, from 1930 until 1981, and later a bingo hall. a part-time cleaner at Hamilton Hall (Liverpool Street, London), The Plaza (Rugeley), The Wheatsheaf (Stoke-on-Trent) The Linford checked out and treated, then it will have been successful. when it first opened in November 1991. Arms (Cannock), The Bole Bridge (Tamworth), The Bradley Green The Moon Under Water (Watford) launched in a former furniture ”There has been a lot of interest in the app, which is available from (Biddulph), The Arnold Machin (Newcastle-under-Lyme), The Poste of store on 21 December 1994. Originally from Ghana, Kwame arrived in the UK in 1991 to Google Play and the App Store.” compete as a marathon runner for his university at the World Stone (Stone), The Old Swan (Uttoxeter), The Wheatsheaf (Cheadle), The building in High Street was also previously Sedgwicks – a The Butler’s Bell (Stafford), The Green Dragon (Leek) and Dr Ruth Chambers, Staffordshire Sustainability and Transformation Student Games. He decided to stay and work, applying for a visa Partnership’s clinical lead for technology-enabled care services leading local Victorian lawyer – the Empress Winter Gardens (1917) and getting a job at Wetherspoon, more than 28 years ago. The Hedgeford Lodge (Hednesford). and the Bohemian Cinema. programme, said: “AF increases, sixfold, the risk of someone having He had spells at our pubs at Heathrow, Barking and Southgate – The NHS initiative aims to encourage people to simply feel their a stroke. Pub manager Jackie Dungay (pictured) has run The Playhouse his first as pub manager – working his way up the career ladder pulse on their wrist to assess whether it is irregular or not. since 1995, six months after it had first opened. “The reason it matters so much that AF be diagnosed is that if to area manager, before returning to a pub manager position. An uneven pulse could indicate atrial fibrillation (AF), the most someone does have a stroke, it’s likely to be a serious one from which Born in nearby Chelmsford, she joined Wetherspoon in 1990, Stints at Cheshunt and Palmers Green followed before The Moon common heart rhythm disturbance in the world. they may remain disabled for the rest of their life or die early.” aged just 19, as one of the youngest-ever managers, along with Under Water. People aged 40 have a one in four risk of developing AF in their her husband Paul. Dr Ruth Chambers OBE is pictured (right) with shift manager Kwame said: “This is the longest I have been at any one pub – and lifetime. AF affects around 10 per cent of the over-75s – which is one Josie Onions at The Arnold Machin (Newcastle-under-Lyme) Jackie said: “Paul, who was 21 at the time, and I were taken on as a I am very involved in the town, including three years (2016–19) as in 10 people. management couple – after attending an open-day which we had BID (Business Improvement District) vice-chairman and two years seen advertised. as chairman, which makes the job more interesting and enjoyable.” YOUSPOON – PETER PUTS QUEST ONLINE Self-confessed Wetherspoon fan Peter Dobson has embarked on an ambitious challenge, achieved by MS PARKIN SPARKING A GREAT DAY FOR NPA only a known handful of die-hard enthusiasts. Kitchen associate Alex Parkin had her long locks cut off on New Year’s Day 2020 to raise money He is attempting the ‘Wetherspoon Challenge’ – to visit for the National Portage Association (NPA). every Wetherspoon pub in the UK. Alex, who works at The Yarborough Hotel Peter said: “I believe that others have already done this, (Grimsby), is pictured after the charity but, apart from being a challenge, I love the concept of head-shave, which raised a fantastic £1,330 Wetherspoon, the staff, the prices and the history.” for the charity. He continued: “Initially, I wasn’t sure how to record my NPA has supported Alex’s two-year-old nephew, visits, but have chosen to set up a YouTube channel – who has never spoken. As well as collecting ‘Visiting Every Wetherspoon’ (https://tinyurl.com/vd2mwjn) funds, her aim was to raise awareness for her “While it is still early days, and the videos are not nephew’s condition and the charity which professional (assembled from photographs taken during supports him. the visits), I already have more than 100 subscribers and NPA is a national charity, established in the around 1.4k views, which I don’t think is too bad!” UK since 1976, supporting Portage services. Starting at #001 with The Eight Bells (Dover) in October Portage is a home-visiting educational service 2019, Peter had, at the turn of the new year, already for those preschool children with additional collected his first 100 venues, from across London and support needs and their families. the southeast.

96 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 97 OUR PEOPLE MANAGERTHE RED LION & PINEAPPLE • ACTON RYAN FOLLOWS OUR PUBS COME ALIVE TO MARK VE DAY 75 IN MOTHER’S FOOTSTEPS Hope & Glory to flow freely as our customers are invited to raise a glass in tribute to war heroes

his year, the early May Bank Holiday will be moved Bagpipers to Friday 8 May to coincide with Victory in Elsewhere, at the top of the four highest peaks in the UK T Europe Day (VE Day), marking the 75th anniversary – Ben Nevis (Scotland), Scafell Pike (England), Mount Snowdon of the formal end in Europe of World War II, in 1945. (Wales) and Slieve Donard (Northern Ireland), bagpipers will play It will be the first day of a three-day weekend featuring numerous the traditional tune of Battle’s O’er, while bells in churches and commemorative events, being held across Britain. cathedrals across the kingdom are set to join forces in a special ‘Ringing Out for Peace’. As part of the 2020 75th anniversary commemorations, Wetherspoon’s pubs across the UK will be marking the event with Wetherspoon’s pubs will be supporting The Royal British Legion their own special celebrations, including extended opening hours by collecting donations and selling its commemorative VE75 pins. Significant Funds raised will help the Legion to support service men and Customers will be able to pay tribute to those who served in one of women and their families. the most significant events in our country’s history, as well as show VE DAY 1945 their support and thanks to those who continue to serve in the UK On 8 May 1945, Prime Minister Winston Churchill made an Armed Forces… and their families. announcement on the radio, at 3pm, that the war in Europe had Commemorations will include the Nation’s Toast to the Heroes of come to an end, following Germany’s surrender the day before. World War II, at 3pm on Bank Holiday Friday 8 May, in conjunction Churchill said: “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, with the British Beer and Pub Association. but let us not forget for a moment the toil and efforts which lie ahead.” It will be a chance for customers at more than 20,000 UK pubs, Huge crowds, with many people dressed in red, white and blue, including Wetherspoon pubs, to raise a glass and remember the gathered outside Buckingham Palace, in London. sacrifice of those who died or were wounded. They cheered as King George VI and his family, including Princess Special Elizabeth, the current queen, came out onto the balcony to greet To mark the occasion, a special guest ale is being brewed exclusively the crowd. for Wetherspoon. Many people also attended church services to thank God for the Rooster’s Hope & Glory (4.3% ABV) is a vegan-friendly, modern victory, with London’s St Paul’s Cathedral holding 10 services, English bitter, from Rooster’s Brewing Co, in Yorkshire, which will attended by thousands of people. be available at all UK Wetherspoon pubs (excluding some airport pubs) on Friday 8 May. VE Day was cause for celebration, but also a moment of great sadness, thinking about the millions of people who had lost their life The Harrogate-based brewery, which started in 1993, is producing in the conflict. this amber-coloured beer exclusively for us. It has a subtle spiciness on the nose, leading to a refreshing, light and fruity flavour, with a long, The date marked victory for Europe over Germany, not the hoppy finish. end of the war, as many continued to fight in further battles across When pub manager Ryan Nagle was a young boy, he lived above “I already had another job, at a restaurant in central London, so the the world, while others were still prisoners of war. the pub his mum used to run – The White Lion, in Acton. part-time bar associate role was perfect. I had no plans whatsoever These days, former licensee Norma Davenport is a cleaner in her son to be a pub manager!” Wetherspoon’s pubs’ names design was the Spitfire. Flight trials began France, during 23 March 1918. It was his Ryan’s pub – The Red Lion & Pineapple (Acton). Within a couple of months, Ryan had been promoted to team leader, which remember people with in 1936, with production the following year, enormous bravery, during the ‘Kaisers Battle’ By strange coincidence, it just happens to be located opposite the was enjoying his work and took up a full-time position. wartime connections: during which time Mitchell died of cancer. at Montagne Canal Bridge, near Jussy, France, site of that pub and former family home in west London. He said: “As soon as I started to enjoy the work at the pub, everything The John Wallace Linton (Newport) The Aneurin Bevan (Cardiff) which earned him one of the 627 Victoria Ryan, now 30, said: “I lived above that pub from the age of six until followed really. I had a good pub manager and great support from A World War II naval hero, John Wallace A Welsh labour party politician during Crosses awarded during World War I. 11 years old, just before high school. Mum ran it mainly on her own, my area manager and the company. Linton, known as ‘Tubby’, was born in World War II, Aneurin Bevan was one of The Wilfred Wood (Hazel Grove, Stockport) although my dad, Terry, helped out sometimes, but had his own “I didn’t think I would become a pub manager this quickly, but things Newport and posthumously awarded the the main leaders of the left, in the House Private Wilfred Wood survived World War I carpet-cleaning company, so was busy himself.” are going really well. Victoria Cross for sustained bravery during of Commons, opposing the wartime and was awarded the Victoria Cross ‘for Our pub opened in December 1993, taking its name from two older “We have a great management team, a close-knit, solid group; nearly four years of wartime command coalition government. His most famous conspicuous gallantry’. During an enemy pubs in the area. if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to do the job.” aboard HMS Turbulent. accomplishment (post war), as Minister of engagement near Casa Vana, on 28 October Ryan, who hails from nearby Chiswick, continued: “By then, I lived Ryan, who took over as pub manager in April 2019, concluded: The Reginald Mitchell (Hanley) Health, was the establishment of the NHS. 1918, Private Wood performed an act of bravery, killing a hidden machine-gun crew around the corner from The Red Lion & Pineapple. It was my local “Mum is pretty quiet and reserved, but I think she is proud of my Reginald Mitchell was an aircraft designer The Alfred Herring and I was a regular customer. achievement, and my dad is thrilled for me.” and inventor. In 1931, the British Air Ministry (Palmers Green, London) and securing the surrender of a further three announced the specifications for a new fighter Second Lieutenant Herring was awarded officers and 160 infantry. “One day, during 2013, I asked whether there was any part-time work Ryan’s team at The Red Lion & Pineapple also includes his niece, to replace the Bristol Bulldog – and Mitchell’s the Victoria Cross for his heroic actions in available; I was offered an interview and then got a job. bar associate Leanne Rodden.

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TheHOST latest play written by Ed Waugh M (Hadawayc HarryCRORY’S STORY and The Great Joe Wilson), called Carrying David, will be at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal on 9–10 April 2020. Staring Micky Cochrane, directed by Russell Floyd and based on former boxing world champion Glenn McCrory’s autobiography, the full-length one-man play is inspired by his brother David. Carrying David is a funny and heart-breaking true-life account of two brothers: one fighting for world glory and the other fighting for his life. Glenn, also a former Sky TV pundit, was 24 when he won the world Cruiserweight title in June 1989. The play’s creator, Ed, pictured (right) with Glenn (left) and bar associate Bryan Copeland, at The Job Bulman (Gosforth), promoting the play, said: “Carrying David is the dramatic and inspirational story of how Glenn’s terminally ill brother David inspired him to become the WHY WE’VE HAD OUR very first world champion boxer from the northeast. “We had huge success when we toured the play in the region, in June 2019; now, Carrying David will transfer to the 1200-seat Newcastle Theatre Royal – the most prestigious in the region.” One of many great reviews, the Belfast Telegraph wrote: “Inspirational … McCrory’s story transcends boxing … dripped with emotion to the final drop … FILL OF LANDFILL the standing ovation came as no surprise.” At our pubs and head office, we work hard to recycle anything Carrying David is also showing at London’s Canal Café Theatre, Little Venice, on 3–5 April 2020. and everything we can etherspoon is looking continually at new ways Wetherspoon: of improving and ensuring that we follow the • has a monthly environment group meeting to discuss and W best practices possible to reduce our impact on implement ideas, helping to further improve sustainability. FEELINGS STIRRED BY ODE TO SPOONS the environment. Wetherspoon customer and part-time poet • has changed its straws from plastic to recyclable paper straws. Helen Shenton writes and performs the Among the hot topics faced in the hospitality sector are spoken word as a hobby. waste management and ways to improve it, by recycling and • is currently working to eliminate cling film from the business. One of her latest pieces, Wednesday Night at reducing landfill. • recycles everything from aluminium cans to broken furniture Wetherspoons, is based on an evening with her Wednesday Night No Wetherspoon waste is sent to landfill. and broken microwaves. friend Natasha, at her local Wetherspoon pub, at Wetherspoons Diverted The Spinning Mule, in her home town of Bolton. The faithful, the solitary, Our pubs and head office segregate waste into a minimum of seven Helen said: “I’ve been performing for just the gathering of relaxed Wetherspoon has worked for more than 10 years over a year and this piece has captured retired regulars areas: glass, tins/cans, cooking oil, paper and cardboard, plastic, with Fresh Direct, the largest fresh produce business imaginations locally. Someone said that it’s Reminiscing of days gone by lightbulbs and general waste. All of our card, plastic, cans, cardboard in the UK. It supplies our pubs with fruit, vegetables the British answer to Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Mostly men. I wonder why and oil are sent back to our distribution centre at Daventry. and dairy. as it’s about connecting. A younger huddle arrive in Through our work with our waste-management partner, Veolia, Our partnership is forged on a great “I’m not sure about that, but I tried to a bustle of beer, pizza and ideas in 2019 alone, 57,466.51 tonnes of Wetherspoon waste were diverted working relationship, including our joint focus on reducing capture the relaxed, easy, midweek and soon disappear from landfill. our environmental impact. Wetherspoon atmosphere.” But we still remain, you and I In addition, food waste is also separated and sent for Flat mushrooms, one of the Wetherspoon cooked breakfast ingredients (among other menu options) are packed into plastic Helen, 58, whose day job is teaching early We need time and wine anaerobic digestion, while cooking oil is converted to biodiesel years deaf children, attends a local monthly crates for delivery to Wetherspoon, across the UK, from Fresh Direct. to unwind for agricultural use. open mic session, Write Out Loud, where she Plastic reads her poetry. From surface niggles A scheme to recycle textiles is being developed, while the remaining and gripes and pains Plastic crates are used, rather than cardboard, to protect the She added: “My writing is mainly about people, until warming the mind non-recyclable general waste is sent to waste-to-energy power plants quality of the mushrooms and prevent the packaging from lots of observational stuff, human interaction we unwind (Energy Recovery), so reducing CO2 and the use of fossil fuels. absorbing their moisture. and behaviour – and the pub is one of the best Find a common ground where Electricity These mushroom crates had previously been of single-use plastic, places to experience that. we can laugh and sigh In 2019, Veolia sent 54,466 tonnes of Wetherspoon’s waste to crushed after just one use. “At the weekend, people are more purposeful No need now to prove we Energy Recovery, exporting over 10,472,520 kWh of electricity, In December 2019, Wetherspoon and Fresh Direct implemented – it seems to be the time to impress, whereas are altogether fine powering 2,658 homes in the UK. a new process to collect the trays after use, wash them and reuse during midweek, the pub is more relaxed and We remind each other of them, with any surplus granulated into plastic pellets, which are you see the real characters. what’s gone behind Wetherspoon’s contractor performance manager, David Willis, said: then recycled into new hard plastic products. “Waste reduction and recycling are the first priority, with every effort “When I wrote this, Natasha and I had had a Wednesday night This new process will prevent 67 tonnes of plastic from few glasses of wine, I got a taxi home and the is wonderful made to extract recyclates from our pubs. being produced and crushed each year – that’s approximately evening experience was in my head, so I had at Wetherspoons. “With landfill fast becoming a thing of the past, our strategy 147,000 pints of beer in weight! to write it down.” is about understanding the composition of our resources, then Helen concluded: “Perhaps, one day, when positioning them in the most efficient facilities to achieve the I retire, I could write full time and publish my best environmental and financial returns.” poems… I would really love that.”

100 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 101 DRINKS INDIE ROCKERS WIND DOWN AT THE SIRHOWY DECK IS FULL OF ACES, SO DEAL YOURSELF IN Choice of drinks in our meal-deal and club-deal offers just got even wider he Wetherspoon meal-deal and club-deal offers INCLUDES A DRINK just got even better! * T Every meal deal on our everyday menu, together CHOOSE ANY DRINK (almost) with our various club-deal offers (available on certain days FROM THE FOLLOWING DRINKS MENU CATEGORIES of the week), now includes ANY drink* as part of the price. CRAFT, REAL ALE, LAGER, SOFT DRINKS BEER AND CIDER Draught 398ml glass • Bottle • Can Our ‘includes a drink’ option had previously been restricted Draught available in half pint and pint measure †† • Bottle • Can COLDWATER CREEK WINE to a specific range of drinks, although extensive, from which Wine available in 125ml and 175ml measure to select – to accompany your meal. LOW AND ALCOHOL FREE GIN, VODKA, RUM, WHISKY AND BRANDY ††† MIXER INCLUDED† Menu TEA AND COFFEE FREE REFILLS For drinks’ allergen information, please see the drinks menu. You can now choose ANY drink* (almost) from the following Excludes Prosecco, sparkling wine, wine by the bottle, cocktails, liqueurs, bombs, shots and any drink not listed on the drinks menu. drinks menu categories: craft; real ale; lager; beer and cider (draught available in half pint and pint measure); bottles; cans. Also available are low alcohol, alcohol free, tea and coffee (including free refills**), along with soft drinks, including draught 398ml glasses, bottles and cans. Mixer Coldwater Creek wine is available (125ml and 175ml), as well as a single measure of gin, vodka, rum, whisky and brandy, each with a mixer included. The Sirhowy is haunt for a Blackwood-based For fans of ​Biffy Clyro, Stereophonics, Foo Fighters and Manic indie rock band. Street Preachers, Super Marine’s music incorporates gutsy guitar- This ‘includes a drink’ option is available with our deli deals, pizzas, burgers, pastas and salads, as well as our ‘fresh from the Our pub in Blackwood, Gwent, run by pub manager Sarah Davidson, driven melody lines, infused with classic vocal hooks. is one of the regular watering holes for Super Marine (pictured). They released their début single, Decadent Flowers, in October grill’ menu choices. Band manager Ryan Davies said: “The Sirhowy is the band’s local 2019, described on their website as ‘a super-charged power You can also choose any drink to accompany your and, when not gigging, they spend their Saturday nights here. pop-rock anthem, laced with glistening riffs, sing-along refrains, club-deal meal. energetic percussion and arms-aloft choruses’. “They have a great relationship with Sarah, the manager, and Extended several of the staff members.” During 2019, which was a fantastic year for the group, Super Whether our Tuesday Steak Club, Wednesday Chicken Club, Marine sold out headline gigs around south Wales and enjoyed Thursday Curry Club, Friday Fish Club or Sunday Brunch Club, Sarah added: “They are a great bunch of guys. We enjoy having a successful début single launch – which has gained support the choice of drinks (included in the meal price) has been them at The Sirhowy and wish them every success with their and regular airplay from BBC radio. music in 2020… and beyond.” extended here also. The band also enjoyed success as part of the 2019 Forté Project A four-piece from Blackwood, south Wales, Super Marine (an artist development scheme supporting new music from south Enjoy great value and great choice at your local Wetherspoon. comprises members Rhys Davis (vocals, guitar), Matt Davies Wales) and has already been back in the studio recording new ** Please refer to the main menu for refill explanation. (guitar), Dan Barrell (bass) and Jay Price (drums). music ready for release in 2020. Their name is a reference to the Supermarine Spitfire ● Follow Super Marine on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram fighter aircraft. @supermarineband and find them on Spotify, iTunes and all other major platforms. NORMAN WISDOM TEAM MEMBERS SHOW THEY’RE THE REAL DEAL Staff and customers at The Sir Norman Wisdom (Deal) have once again supported the annual Clifftop Challenge, helping to raise £37,500 for Breast Cancer Now. Bar associate Richard Everest took part in the local community event, in Kent, competing in one of the running challenges. He has persuaded pub manager Daniel Sutton to get in training for the 2020 event. Mike Griggs, event organiser, said: “It was a brilliant effort from The Sir Norman Wisdom, with a huge thankyou to everyone for their continued support.” Pictured (left to right) are bar associate Richard Everest, Mike Griggs (Clifftop Challenge event organiser), pub manager Daniel Sutton, duty manager Peter Rowe and shift leader Millie Siddall. ● To take part in the 2020 event (Saturday 20 June), visit: www.clifftopchallenge.com

102 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 103 HAIR-RAISING NIGHT AT ROUND-UP THE HIGHLAND LADDIE

In Glasgow, regular customer Gary Moore toasts the festival’s launch at The Crystal Palace A CELEBRATION OF CALEDONIAN CASKS 10-day beer festival, featuring 14 Scottish brewers, Also available were: Skye Black (4.5% ABV) from Isle of Skye took place at our pubs across Scotland. Brewery, Isle of Skye; Cairngorm White Lady (4.7% ABV) from AThe Scottish beer festival, at the end of January and Cairngorm Brewery, Highlands; Falkirk-based Hybrid Brewery’s beginning of February, showcased the country’s breweries and Magic Porridge (4.7% ABV); Perthshire-based Inveralmond their brews. Brewery’s Lia Fail (4.7% ABV); Broughton Ales’ Proper IPA (5.0% ABV) from the Scottish Borders; Windswept APA (5.0% ABV) from Customers and real-ale-lovers were able to enjoy the celebration Windswept Brewery, Moray; Angus-based Redcastle Brewery’s of home-produced cask ales at all 65 Scottish Wetherspoon pubs. Monster Hop (6.0% ABV). The beers and breweries were: Loch Lomond Bonnie & Blonde Wetherspoon’s general manager, Scotland, Ged Murphy, said: (4.0% ABV) from Loch Lomond Brewery, West Dunbartonshire; “The Scottish real-ale festival is a wonderful celebration of Scottish Swannay Seafire (4.0% ABV) from Swannay Brewery on Orkney; brewers and their beers. Stewart Columbus Calling (4.1% ABV) by Stewart Brewing, Midlothian; Wooha Rouge Smash (4.1% ABV) from Wooha “It is a fantastic opportunity for customers to sample, all in one Brewery, Moray; West Lothian-based Edinbrew Brewery’s place, some of the varied ales which our great Scottish brewers Commred (4.2% ABV); South Lancarkshire’s Strathaven Brewery’s have to offer.” Old Mortality (4.2% ABV); Orkney Gold (4.5% ABV) from Orkney Brewery, Orkney.

A ‘brave the shave’ event at The Highland Laddie (Norton) collected £863.17 for CLIC Sargent, as well as supporting Little Princess Trust. Organised by shift leader and CLIC champion Adam Groves, the charity cash was raised through generous donations and sponsorship. Also donating their time and haircutting skills were Natalie McInerney and Samantha Dawes from local barber’s Twins Studio. Having their hair cut for the cause, Customers Sandy Innes and Peter Love (left) enjoy a festival pint which was donated to Little Princess Trust, together, served by shift leader Imogen Dunstan-Smith at David Whyte enjoys a festival pint at The Carrick Stone (Cumbernauld) were shift leader Adam Groves, team The Gordon Highlander (Inverurie) leader Stacey Warcup and bar associate Adam Reed, together with brothers Keanan and Charlie, whose mum Helen Robson is a cleaner at the pub. Bar associate Matthew Stringer (not pictured) also took part in the head shave and fundraising. Adam Groves said: “A huge thankyou to all who took part and everyone for their kind donations.” Little Princess Trust provides free real-hair wigs to children and young people, up to 24 years old, who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment Regular customer Gus Robertson toasts the festival at The White Lady At The Guildhall & Linen Exchange (Dunfermline), bar associate AJ Amhaz or other conditions. (Corstorphine) as bar associate Rae Stewart looks on serves a pint to local regular customer Gordon Watson

104 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 105 n b n b y i y i p p i r y p p i r y H a p n t H d a H a p n t H d a y Saffron Walden y Shirley y Ilkeston y Barkingside THE TEMERAIRE THE PUMP HOUSE THE OBSERVATORY Duty manager Sarah-Jane Smith (centre) is Pub manager Nikki Rumney and her team at There were cakes for everyone to celebrate the 20th THE NEW FAIRLOP OAK pictured with customers Penny Whitney and The Pump House decked their pub in balloons for Pub manager Karen Burdett is pictured with regular anniversary of The Observatory, thanks to kitchen manager Alan at The Temeraire. its special anniversary celebrations. customers at her pub in Barkingside. Diane Humphreys (left). 21 5 20 YEARS The pub in Saffron Walden, Essex, managed YEARS The pub in Shirley, West Midlands, marked its fifth 28 Karen has managed The New Fairlop Oak, which was YEARS The pub in Ilkeston, managed by Paul Ellgood, pictured by Jason Hunt, marked its 21st birthday birthday on the same day as Wetherspoon celebrated YEARS marking its 28th birthday, for the past 15 years. (right) with duty manager Anouska Abraham, also marked the at the end of October and is housed in 40 years – 9 December 2019. occasion with a special happy 20th birthday celebration ale. The pub opened in December 1991 and is named after a building which, for most of the 19th century, was Nikki has managed the pub, at the Parkgate Shirley shopping, dining the oak tree planted on the green, at Fullwell Cross, Customers enjoyed The Observatory (4.5% ABV), brewed by The Nottingham occupied by a solicitor’s office. and leisure centre, since it first opened. 40 years earlier. The original Fairlop Oak was blown down in 1820. Brewery Ltd, with a special pump-clip designed by Anouska. By 1911, the building had become a girls’ boarding school, The centre was built on the site of an old office block and, before The pub is housed in the former central post office, which was The pub, which opened in a former supermarket built on the site of Ilkeston Cambridge House School; in 1930, it became the United that, garage with hand-operated pumps – the inspiration for the built in the inter-war years to serve the nearby fast-growing town Liberal Club, remembers John Flamsteed. Originally from the local area, Services Comrades’ Club. pub’s name. of Loughton. Flamsteed was appointed, in 1675, as the first Astronomer Royal at the It is named after the ship The Temeraire – second in line Greenwich Observatory. to Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory and commanded at Trafalgar in 1805 by Sir Eliab Harvey. The Harveys were a distinguished local family.

y Congleton y Rochester y Runcorn y Norwich THE COUNTING HOUSE THE GOLDEN LION Housed in a distinctive Tudor-style building, a long-time THE FERRY BOAT New pub managers Cherie Aris and Matthew Collins, feature in the town, The Counting House (Congleton) Shift manager Gemma Jones, Wetherspoon’s area THE BELL HOTEL pictured (front) with members of their team, first celebrated its 20th birthday as a Wetherspoon pub Staff at The Bell Hotel (Norwich) are pictured arrived at The Golden Lion just in time for a very 20 manager Mike Morrissey and kitchen shift leader 20 YEARS in December. marking the pub’s 26th anniversary. YEARS special celebration. Sarah Booth are pictured (left to right) celebrating at Until 1995, it had been a bank for well over 100 years, 13 Pictured (left to right) are bar associate Ellen Bartlett, YEARS The Ferry Boat. 26 The pair, dressed as Pokémon Team Rocket, took over beginning with the Manchester and Liverpool Banking YEARS team leader Josh Masters, bar associates Gemma and Sarah, together with shift leader Natalie at the pub and hotel in Rochester at the same time as Company, in 1876, hence its name. Ryan Westlake and Alice Grant and team leader Joyce (currently on maternity leave) have worked at the it was marking its 20th birthday. Alina Diaconescu. Kitchen team leader Sarah Mountford started working at The Counting pub in Runcorn since it opened 13 years ago. A 1999-themed staff fancy-dress party, as well as a 1990s-themed House when it first opened in 1999. She recently returned after a spell Managed by Jim Kelly, The Bell Hotel is said to date from 1485 and Mike was responsible for the staff training at the new pub, quiz, charity raffle and generous customer donations, raised funds as kitchen manager at The George Inn (Sandbach). was later one of the city’s leading coaching inns. totalling £350 for CLIC Sargent. back in 2006, and also spent five years there as the pub manager, Pictured (left to right) marking the birthday with balloons are shift During World War II, the top floor was turned into a dormitory for before becoming an area manager. leader Matt Jackson, shift manager Nicole Moores and bar associate the American Women’s Army Air Corps. The team, together with regular customers at The Ferry Boat, Chris McQuade. now managed by Christian Greenlee, enjoyed the birthday cake.

106 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 107 n b y i p p r y COMPETITION H a p n t H d a y Penge y Glenrothes THE MOON & STARS 4 X £30 PRIZES TO BE WON THE GOLDEN ACORN The Moon & Stars (Penge) celebrated its Staff at The Golden Acorn are pictured celebrating 21 years 25th anniversary with a special birthday cake since the Glenrothes pub and hotel first opened in Fife. decorated with moons and stars. WINWETHERSPOON A £30GIFT CARD Kitchen team leader Fiona Smith (centre, with cake) is the 25 21 YEARS Pub manager Clare Wragge is pictured (centre) The first four correctly completed crosswords to be YEARS longest-serving staff member, having worked at the pub with team members and customers, holding the pulled out of the hat will win each of those entrants for 20 years – which is managed by Jonny Stewart. cake to mark the occasion. a Wetherspoon gift card worth £30. The other staff pictured are (left to right) bar associate Also pictured (left to right) are customer Sean, bar associate Closing date for entries: 4 May 2020 Aaron Williamson, kitchen associate Robbie Foster, bar associates Lou Hubball, kitchen manager Kamila Owczarek, shift Billi Detheridge and Jordan Dick (back) and shift leader Alice Bailey. manager Simon Johnson, shift leader Carol Bishop (front), Post to: team leader Stuart Jeffrey, bar associate Joshua Reid (front), WETHERSPOON NEWS MAGAZINE COMPETITIONS, shift manager Remi Ward and customer Mingus. PO BOX 2330, WATFORD, WD18 1NW The site of the pub, on High Street, was once within the walled gardens of Norbury Villa, built in the 1840s. It was replaced by two semi-detached houses and then the Art Deco-style 18. Margaret, author of Gone with Odeon cinema. The Penge Odeon later became a bingo hall Across the Wind (8) which closed in 1990 and was later demolished. 4. Tall herbaceous plant with spikes 20. Another name for the of small purple flowers which is bushbaby (6) used as a fodder crop (7) 21. Anthony, aircraft engineer 8. The technical name for whose factory at Schwerin made the armpit (6) warplanes for the German air force 9. Most famous creation of Bram in World War Two (6) Stoker (7) 22. Town in Massachusetts which 10. Afro-Asiatic language written in was the scene of one of the opening the Greek alphabet but descended military actions of the War of from ancient Egyptian (6) American Independence (7) 11. American state whose capital 23. "-- Women", novel by is Topeka (6) Louisa M. Alcott (6) 12. Andrew, Scottish-born U.S. steel 24. Name adopted by comedian industrialist who died in 1918 (8) Julius Marx (7) SOLUTIONS (Winter 2019/20 issue) Down 13. Biblical city near the Dead Sea associated Across: 1 Father Brown; 9 Elk; y Ripley y 1. Tony, English comedian who died in 1968 with Sodom (8) Kirkcaldy in Australia (7) 14. Samuel, author of play Waiting for Godot (7) 10 Badminton; 11 Nicks; 13 Scourge; 2. 1968 Arthur Hailey novel (7) 15. Castle in Cork, Republic of Ireland, which houses 14 Traven; 16 (The) Levant; 18 Masséna; THE RED LION THE ROBERT NAIRN 3. European flatfish, Pleuronectes platessa (6) a stone, the kissing of which is said to bestow the 19 Oxeye (Daisy); 20 Rosenberg; 21 Rye; Team leader Andrew Brett is pictured (left), together with The Robert Nairn was decorated in balloons 5. Any of various small brightly coloured parrots such power of eloquent speech (7) 22 Quarterdeck. kitchen associates Christy Elliott and Laurence Soult, – and several of the regular local customers as the varied -- and rainbow -- (8) 16. Dorothy, actress who appeared in the 'Road' series Down: 2 Auk; 3 Hobbs; 4 Radish; at The Red Lion. 20 20 gave cards to mark the pub’s 20th birthday. 6. Italian port on the Adriatic, capital of the Marches (6) of films with Hope and Crosby (6) 5 Rhizome; 6 Watergate; 7 Kenneth More; YEARS The town-centre pub in Ripley, Derbyshire, managed by YEARS Managed by Michelle McCrabbe for the past 7. Heavily built short-tailed oceanic bird of 17. Fu, villainous creation of Sax Rohmer (6) 8 Under The Net; 12 (Nicolae) Ceausescu; Vickie Poole, marked its 20th birthday in December. six years (who started with the company polar regions (6) 19. Frédéric, Polish composer who died in 1849 (6) 15 Eleanor; 17 Gamete; 19 Of God; 21 Roc. First opened as a Wetherspoon just before Christmas 1999, as an associate in November 2005), the pub the pub was the former Red Lion, which had closed in 1990. in Kirkcaldy, Fife, opened in December 1999 The winter 2019/20 crossword winners were: The marketplace hostelry had been rebuilt in 1962, on the site of a pub in the former Trustees Savings Bank (TSB). z RC, Stanford Le Hope z DG, Cardiff z SG, London z SB, Oswestry of the same name, which dated from the early 1800s. Pictured (left to right) toasting the anniversary with a glass of fizz are shift leader Sarah Cubitt, shift manager Gary Paterson, bar associate Louise Lawson and kitchen Please complete the answers and your details, associate Rhys Allan. as shown, and send the completed page to: Bar associate Nicola Winnick (not pictured) is the pub’s WETHERSPOON NEWS MAGAZINE COMPETITIONS, longest-serving staff member, with 16 years’ service. PO BOX 2330, WATFORD, WD18 1NW YOUR DETAILS NAME: ADDRESS: POSTCODE: TELEPHONE:

I AM OVER 18 YEARS (SIGNATURE) AGE: YEAR OF BIRTH:

Terms and conditions: The crossword is open to all UK residents over the age of 18, excluding employees of the promoter, their respective families and agents or anyone directly connected with this competition. Acceptance of the rules is a condition of entry. No purchase necessary. Entries must be received no later than 4/5/20. Proof of dispatch is not proof of receipt. The winners will be the first correctly answered entries drawn. Where multiple prizes are offered, the winners will be the first relevant number of correct entries drawn. The judge’s decision is final; no correspondence will be entered into. One entry per household. The winners will be notified by post. No cash alternative available. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend this promotion, owing to events arising beyond its control. The promoter is not responsible for any third-party acts or omissions. Once the competition has been drawn all entry slips and information provided therein will be securely destroyed and shall not be retained by J D Wetherspoon plc or its affiliates.

Promoter: J D Wetherspoon plc, Wetherspoon House, Central Park, Reeds Crescent, Watford, WD24 4QL

108 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon 109 Bar Talk

Nik Antona is national chairman of Cheers CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale MPS COME AND MPS GO, BUT OUR FIGHT FOR PUBS ENDURES With a new government and our departure from the EU, opportunities and perils lie ahead, says CAMRA’s national chairman Nik Antona As we settle into a new year with a new Any further rises will spell bad news for for pubs, changes to planning laws for pubs government starting to make its mark, beer-drinkers and amount to higher prices and the introduction of the Pubs Code. CAMRA’s campaign to protect the vital at the bar. Long may our political representatives in British institution of our traditional Westminster continue to support our cause. pubs continues. UNIQUE It’s not just in Westminster, however, where Despite hard party lines drawn in the sand As Brexit becomes a reality, we will be urging CAMRA is standing up for beer-drinkers and during the election, issues affecting pubs the new government to use this unique pub-goers. created common ground for many of the opportunity to rewrite the tax laws governing political parties. the drinks industry. Nearly 50 elected MPs backed CAMRA’s COMMUNITIES We believe that beer sold in pubs should pay Pledge for Pubs campaign, vowing to support We are asking the Scottish government less tax than that sold in the off-trade (such as pubs if elected into parliament. to introduce a Pubs Code and lend a supermarkets and off-licences). helping hand to communities which want In addition, many of the parties pledged to This currently isn’t allowed under EU to take over and run their local under review business rates in their election manifestos. legislation, but it is a move which (post Brexit) community ownership. The Conservatives, Scottish National Party would help to encourage responsible drinking We are also campaigning for the Welsh and Liberal Democrats all also promised to in pubs, rather than antisocial drinking of government to change planning laws to examine how alcohol duties are structured – cheap alcohol at home. prevent well-loved community pubs from two vital reforms for which CAMRA is calling Finally, we are calling on the new government closure; in Northern Ireland, we are trying this year. to take a long hard look at the Pubs Code and to get the law changed, so that more locally Business rates might sound like buzz words, make sure that it is fit for purpose. produced beers can be served in pubs, shops but rises in bills can have a devastating impact and at events. on many locals across the UK. In addition, we believe that local breweries in Northern Ireland should be allowed to run MASSIVE taprooms and sell their brews online. Following a rate revaluation in 2017, Did you know that Regardless of political affiliation, we can a significant number of pubs were slammed all agree that pubs are at the centre of our with a massive bill – unfairly penalised for one-third of your communities and be proud of our high-quality generating higher revenue or being in an pint currently goes and diverse beer industry. area with high property values. By the time of publication, the new government Today, pubs pay 2.8% of the business rates bill, into various taxes? may have produced its first budget. even though they account for only 0.5% of We just have to hope that the chancellor business turnover, taking on more of the tax makes it a budget for beer-drinkers and pub- burden than other businesses. goers and announces action on beer duty and These changes have already forced some Originally introduced to provide protection business rate reform. publicans to pull as many as 33 extra pints a and support for licensees tied to large pub- Your local is more than just a business. day to make up the difference – if we see any owning companies (known as PubCos), it has It is an intrinsic part of the community, further hikes, many will be forced to put up since been proven not fit for purpose. one which promotes responsible drinking, their prices further or close for good. The current statutory review is key to giving showcases the best British beer and provides We are also very concerned about the amount licensees greater support across England and social well-being benefits which combat of duty which Brits pay on a pint of beer. Wales – and we hope the government will loneliness and social isolation. Did you know that one-third of your pint take firm action following its outcomes. Let’s all pull together to help to support currently goes into various taxes and that In the last decade, we have seen governments our locals. we pay the second-highest rate of beer duty support our calls for change by introducing in Europe? beer duty cuts and freezes, business rate relief l For more information: www.camra.org.uk

110 Wetherspoon | Spring 2020 | jdwetherspoon.com jdwetherspoon.com | Spring 2020 | Wetherspoon PB ’ R L D S O B I G W G

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T REAL-ALE FESTIVAL WED 25 MAR – SUN 5 APR

18 FEMALE BREWERS FROM THE UK AND AROUND THE WORLD

CANADA USA NEW ZEALAND

ITALY AUSTRALIA

FEATURING 25 UK BREWERS AND 5 INTERNATI NAL BREWERS

ALES NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER ON THE WETHERSPOON APP

HE PERFECT PINT AT TH VE T E PER SER FEC ICH T T H EM W P S E B R U A P T U

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C A S E S S K U M O A H RQ EE UE- FR ACCR OON EDITED J D WETHERSP WNEWSSPR20 Use the Wetherspoon app to order and pay from your table

1. Take a seat at a table and use our unlimited free Wi-Fi 2. Download the free Wetherspoon app 3. Order your food and drink using the app 4. Pay using credit/debit card, Google Pay, Apple Pay or PayPal 5. We will bring your food and drink to you