Hadn't realised that Timsons - who are so fast, friendly and efficient - had an altruistic side.

Wetherspoons are a PLC (mainly owned by hedge funds) with an interest in profit mainly.

However 40,000 are employed by them - and their town centre premises act as an oasis for the lonely.

Margrave wrote:
Hadn't realised that Timsons - who are so fast, friendly and efficient - had an altruistic side.

Wetherspoons are a PLC (mainly owned by hedge funds) with an interest in profit mainly.

However 40,000 are employed by them - and their town centre premises act as an oasis for the lonely.

Oasis for the lonely? Hardly.

Margrave wrote:


However 40,000 are employed by them - and their town centre premises act as an oasis for the lonely.

An oasis for alcoholics on low or no income and nightshift workers wanting a pint on the way home....

Loneliness affects alcoholics, the skint, unemployed and unwell - and Wetherspoons allow all their customers to nurse a pint for hours, without intrusion. You'll not be stopped from just using their toilets.

Over decades, the business has grown into a billion pound company - even though some of its patrons experience hardship for many reasons; the c900 outlets serve as their 'office' and social centre.

Usually the busiest pub in town, Wetherspoons have made millions for its shareholders and founder. Partly by being the only pub to be open for food and drink, at 8am; competitors open 3/4 hours later.

Margrave wrote:
Loneliness affects alcoholics, the skint, unemployed and unwell - and Wetherspoons allow all their customers to nurse a pint for hours, without intrusion. You'll not be stopped from just using their toilets.

Over decades, the business has grown into a billion pound company - even though some of its patrons experience hardship for many reasons; the c900 outlets serve as their 'office' and social centre.

Usually the busiest pub in town, Wetherspoons have made millions for its shareholders and founder. Partly by being the only pub to be open for food and drink, at 8am; competitors open 3/4 hours later.


I am quite a fan of Wetherspoons, but you wouldn't go into a town centre to combat loneliness, and it isn't the sort of place you would go to on your own.
Unless you mean its good for copping off?

A village pub, yes I am sure they are good for making friends.

Honey wrote:
A village pub, yes I am sure they are good for making friends


Undoubtedly - if you live in a village.

Wyot wrote:
An oasis for alcoholics on low or no income and nightshift workers wanting a pint on the way home....


You may well be right - but some aspects of Wetherspoons are intriguing and somewhat difficult to rationalise.

Despite being closed for virtually the past year, their share price (and thus, value) has risen by over 50% over the past 6 months. No other LSE company can say the same.

When pubs are shutting down permanently everywhere, Wetherspoons plan to open 20 new ones shortly - and to refurbish hundreds of others, at a cost of £145 million.

Always innovative though. For example - smoking ban, before imposed by the government; distancing before covid, no standing at the bar; no music, so that customers can hear each other; etc., etc.

Easily to denigrate - because of some customer demographics - but (as is clearly the case) - the darling of investors and institutions.

Wetherspoons found a tired British pub industry wanting - and gave the market what was needed - whilst allowing the public to fund it, through a PLC.

Margrave wrote:
Honey wrote:
A village pub, yes I am sure they are good for making friends


Undoubtedly - if you live in a village.



Cities though teeming with humanity are for some the loneliest places in the world...