Pub chain founder to open stock exchange (From Watford Observer)
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JD Wetherspoon founder Tim Martin to open trading on London Stock Exchange
12:30pm Monday 29th October 2012 in News
JD Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin is to officially open trading on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) tomorrow - to mark the 20th anniversary of the company’s listing.
Wetherspoon which is based in Watford, floated on the LSE in October 1992, with 44 pubs and 1,200 employees. At present it has 863 pubs across the UK and employs almost 30,000 staff.
Mr Martin founded JD Wetherspoon in 1979, naming the company after one of his teachers and JD Hogg from the Dukes of Hazzard TV series.
He will be joined at the ceremony by the company’s executive directors, together with a number of pub and head office staff who have 20 years service.
Mr Martin said: "This is a great honour for the company. In the past 20 years Wetherspoon has gone from strength to strength and continues to do so.
"Our success is due to our talented and hard working staff and the millions of customers who visit our pubs each week."
