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Now a 900 strong pub chain, with an annual turnover of \xa31.6 billion, J.D. Wetherspoon is a big name on the British high street. But when entrepreneur Tim Martin flung open the doors of the first branch in London\u2019s Muswell Hill on 9th December, 1979, it was known as \u2018Tim\u2019s Free House\u2019 - and closed down on its opening night.\nHe built up the business by taking over leases at old buildings such as churches and cinemas, and converting them into pubs - meaning they weren\u2019t tied to any particular brewery, guaranteeing lower prices for customers.\xa0\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly interrogate Martin\u2019s \u2018man of the people\u2019 image, reveal why Wetherspoon\u2019s famous carpets are so expensive; and ask if the \u2018paltry chip count\u2019 meme explains why they came off social media\u2026\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 How Wetherspoon's Conquered Britain (Esquire, 2018): https://www.esquire.com/uk/food-drink/a19129642/how-wetherspoons-conquered-britain/\n\u2022 \u2018Did Wetherspoons See The Pandemic Coming?\u2019 (Channel 5, 2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDQl21ZoMEw\n\u2022 \u2018Wetherspoons Paltry Chip Count: How the counting chips page went sour\u2019 (JOE.co.uk, 2021): https://www.joe.co.uk/uncategorized/inside-the-wetherspoons-paltry-chip-count-how-the-last-wholesome-corner-of-facebook-turned-sour-303164\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nOur supporters on Patreon* and Apple Podcasts get extra material from the show every single week. In today\u2019s bonus content, the team discover how Tim Martin has claimed the inspiration for Wetherspoon's came from George Orwell's 1946 essay The Moon Under Water - but that the full text reveals some particularly un-'Spoons'y details...\n* top two tiers only\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2021.\n#70s #Invention #Food #Person #UK\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices