Wetherspoons, officially known as J D Wetherspoon plc, is a British pub company founded in 1979 by Tim Martin. Tim Martin is the founder and chairman of the company, and he started the business by opening his first pub in Muswell Hill, London. He owns a significant share of the company—approximately 23.9% as of early 2023. J D Wetherspoon is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange, meaning it is owned by its shareholders, with Tim Martin being a major individual shareholder. The company operates numerous pubs across the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, and Ireland, and is known for converting unusual premises like former cinemas and banks into pubs. Tim Martin remains actively involved in the business and is a key figure in its leadership and direction.