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Metro
31-07-2025
- Metro
Couple who have been to 900 Wetherspoon pubs reveal their top five locations
They have covered the length and breadth of Britain in their quest to visit every Wetherspoon pub, racking up more than 900 to date. Perennial travellers Alan and Agnieszka Forbes ticked one more off this week at the opening of a £3.2 million venue in a former high street bargain store, where they shared their top five picks with Metro. They made an early morning start to get to The Dictum of Kenilworth for 8am on Tuesday, and were highly impressed by No.907 on their list. The former travel industry workers, from Surrey, have criss-crossed the globe on their adventures, sometimes couch surfing with local hosts, or hopping to and from tiny airports, but say exploring new parts of the UK on the growing Wetherspoon map is just as exciting. 'This pub is really nice, it's high up on our list of favourites,' said Agnieszka of the Dictum, which is named after a 759-year-old peace treaty. 'The reasons we keep coming to the pubs is because it takes us to different parts of the country and for me, not being born in the UK, there's so much history. 'When you look around there is so much history on the walls, it's amazing, I'm learning a lot.' Alan added: 'There is only one new one we haven't been to, on the Isle of Man, and we have our flights booked at the end of August to go there for two days.' Not content with racking up almost 1,000 visits — they are now going back over pubs they have been to before, to refresh their memories. Asked if visiting Wetherspoons as a couple is key to a happy marriage, Alan replied: 'When you've got a wife who drags you to the pub you can't really go wrong can you?' 'It's like a marriage made in heaven. 'When my wife says, 'Let's go to every Wetherspoon!', what can I say other than, 'That's a good idea!'.' Alan, 64, and Agnieszka, 47, say it is a 'long way' to reach 1,000 visits, so they are taking it in stages as new pubs open up each year. They spoke as hundreds of punters and the town's mayor descended on the Dictum, which has been converted from a former discount store. More Trending The venue is named after the pronouncement to reconcile the rebels of the Second Barons' War — a group of whom held out in the town's castle — with the royal government of England. Asked what visitors to the Dictum will make of it, Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin told Metro: 'Hopefully, they'll say, 'Strewth, these Wetherspoon guys don't hold back on their investment. From now on, Paris, Rome and Kenilworth will be the main European tourist destinations…'' Other new Wetherspoon pubs due to open are the Sun Wharf in London Bridge, previously The London Dungeon in Tooley Street, The Sir Alexander Fleming in Paddington, named after the eminent physician who discovered penicillin in nearby Queen Mary's Hospital, the Sigered, King of Essex in Basildon, a nod to the town's Saxon origins, and The Chiltern, set in a former silent picture house in Beaconsfield. Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact MORE: Globe-trotting couple say 800 Wetherspoon visits are just as exciting as travelling world MORE: Globe-trotting couple couchsurf in Saudi Arabia on mission to visit 1,500 airports MORE: Wetherspoon boss reveals the one pub idea that could be a 'bridge too far'
Metro
30-07-2025
- Business
- Metro
Wetherspoon boss reveals the one pub idea that could be a 'bridge too far'
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin has hailed the founding fathers of America as his biggest inspiration as he spoke to mark the opening of a new pub named after a 759-year-old peace treaty. Tim Martin said democracy is 'the important factor in the development of society' — although he admitted his knowledge of history is 'scant'. The company's founder spoke as the chain opens five new pubs, including The Dictum of Kenilworth. Converted from a former discount store, the £3.2 million venue is named after the pronouncement to reconcile the rebels of the Second Barons' War — a group of whom held out in the town's castle— with the royal government of England. 'A lot of businesses in recent decades have gone down a 'branding' route, whereby decor, design, the name and so on are linked to a particular image or brand,' Martin said. 'We've always felt that pubs are more individual and people appreciate authentic links to the community and to the past: to local people, the building, and history. 'We also try and include some works by local artists. 'Many of our early London pubs, for example, featured artwork by my cousin Gabrielle, who comes from nearby Coventry.' Asked if there is a figure from history he most admired, the company's chairman picked out the founding fathers who are credited with establishing the American identity in the late 18th Century. *The Sun Wharf in London Bridge, previously The London Dungeon in Tooley Street. Opens September 16. *The Sir Alexander Fleming in Paddington, named after the eminent physician who discovered penicillin in nearby Queen Mary's Hospital. Opens September 23. *The Sigered, King of Essex in Basildon, themed on the town's Saxon origins. Opens December 2. *The Chiltern, set in a former silent picture house in Beaconsfield. Opens September 30. *The Dictum of Kenilworth, the name is a reference to a rebellion and seige. Opened on Tuesday. 'I think the most important factor in the development of society is democracy – in spite of the turbulence and arguments it inevitably involves,' he said. 'In that respect America is the most important democracy, which has helped Western Europe, Japan, South Korea and many other countries emerge from authoritarianism. 'So I'd have to say the founding fathers of America are my inspiration, although my knowledge of history is scant.' Wetherspoon is due to open the pubs before the end of the year, all of which incorporate local history into their design. However one desired conversion at the heart of British political history, where Martin will go down as an outspoken Brexiteer, will remain out of reach. 'Wags have often suggested we could convert the Houses of Parliament into a pub, but that's probably a bridge too far,' he said. Asked what visitors to the Dictum will make of it, Martin quipped: 'Hopefully, they'll say, 'Strewth, these Wetherspoon guys don't hold back on their investment. From now on, Paris, Rome and Kenilworth will be the main European tourist destinations…'' More Trending Seventy jobs have been created following a £3.2 million development project to create the Dictum, according to Wetherspoon. Hundreds turned up for the opening on Tuesday morning, some travelling from across the country, to check out the new surroundings, which include photographs, details and artwork with local relevance. Pub manager Tom Clarke said: 'Myself and my team are looking forward to welcoming customers into The Dictum of Kenilworth and we are confident that the pub will be a great addition to Kenilworth's social scene.' Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact MORE: Globe-trotting couple couchsurf in Saudi Arabia on mission to visit 1,500 airports MORE: Wetherspoon fan books Ireland cruise on quest to visit all pubs in British Isles MORE: 'It gets me out of the house': Pensioner's 'hobby' sees him visit 900 Wetherspoons
Scottish Sun
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Barbie star Margot Robbie reveals surprising activity she loves to do when she's in London
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BARBIE actress Margot Robbie says she loves traipsing round London looking for ghouls. The Aussie, 34, revealed she gets spooked at The London Dungeon — but is too old for her former nightclub haunts. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 1 Margot Robbie says she loves traipsing round London looking for ghouls She told a crowd at Glastonbury: 'Do you know what I do when my family comes down? The London Dungeons Tour. 'Has anyone else done that? Isn't it so good? It's so fun. I just love it — I have probably done it like four times.' Margot added: 'Then there is also a Ghosts, Galleries and Ghouls walking tour, which I highly recommend. 'It is so amazing — you'll be somewhere you walk around all the time and they will be like, 'There are 3,000-year-old skeletons under your feet right now.'' Margot, who was at Glastonbury with husband Tom Ackerley, revealed she no longer goes to her favourite London club Infernos in Clapham, where she used to live. She said at the Pilton Palais cinema: 'I'm 34 and I don't think they'd let me in. "They would be like, 'No go away old lady'. "Our roommate has a 99-year ban.'
The Irish Sun
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Barbie star Margot Robbie reveals surprising activity she loves to do when she's in London
BARBIE actress Margot Robbie says she loves traipsing round London looking for ghouls. The Aussie, 34, revealed she gets spooked at The London Dungeon — but is too old for her former nightclub haunts. Advertisement 1 Margot Robbie says she loves traipsing round London looking for ghouls She told a crowd at Glastonbury: 'Do you know what I do when my family comes down? The London Dungeons Tour. 'Has anyone else done that? Isn't it so good? It's so fun. I just love it — I have probably done it like four times.' Margot added: 'Then there is also a Ghosts, Galleries and Ghouls walking tour, which I highly recommend. 'It is so amazing — you'll be somewhere you walk around all the time and they will be like, 'There are 3,000-year-old skeletons under your feet right now.'' Advertisement Read more on Margot Robbie Margot, who was at Glastonbury with husband She said at the Pilton Palais cinema: 'I'm 34 and I don't think they'd let me in. "They would be like, 'No go away old lady'. "Our roommate has a 99-year ban.' Advertisement Most read in Celebrity Oscar nominee Margot Robbie is being wooed to play Anna Nicole Smith in a new biopic about the Playboy star's tragic's life
