Mysterious lifetime of multi-millionaire British chain Wetherspoon founder

Wetherspoon pub chain founder, Tim Martin, 68, has been named within the New Year Honours record 2024, for his providers to hospitality and tradition – however little is understood concerning the non-public lifetime of the enterprise tycoon.

He was born in Norwich, in 1955, and through the years he lived within the UK, New Zealand, and Northern Ireland, attending 11 colleges. For his schooling, he later went on to the University of Nottingham and have become a barrister in 1979 however didn’t select to observe that career.

Founding the pub chain in 1979, Tim Martin has been the corporate’s chairman since 1983, however the entrepreneur’s £448mn web price began simply by operating one pub.

His first venue was in Muswell Hill, north London, and was initially referred to as Martin’s Free House, earlier than being renamed JD Wetherspoon the next 12 months.

The chain, which turned identified for its inexpensive costs then floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1992.

The pub chain then went from energy to energy, opening extra venues throughout the nation. In July 1998, Wetherspoons opened 20 pubs in a single month – together with seven on the identical day.

In 2006, the pub chain launched an concept that carries on to this very day – free WiFi in each department.

An outspoken supporter of Brexit, Tim was a serious donor to the Vote Leave marketing campaign, which was fronted by Boris Johnson and Michael Gove.

During the 2016 marketing campaign, Wetherspoon spent practically £95,000 on merchandise – pro-Brexit beermats, posters, and booklets.

Not a lot is understood about his private life however Tim Martin has been married to Felicity Martin for 26 years and lives in Exeter, Devon, along with her and their 4 kids.