Sir Tim Martin is the mastermind behind Wetherspoons(Image: HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images)

Inside Wetherspoon founder's life in pretty Devon town where homes cost millions

Sir Tim Martin is the brainchild behind Wetherspoon - the popular pub chain which has more than 900 branches across the UK and Ireland. But away from the world of boozers, he lives a quiet life

by · DevonLive

Sir Tim Martin, 69, was born in Northern Ireland in 1955. His father worked for Guinness and he soon followed in his father's footsteps.

Despite studying law at Nottingham University and qualifying as a barrister, Sir Tim decided to go into the pub sector. Believing that he could run his own pub, he first bought one in North London at the age of 24.

It was 1979 and the pub in upmarket Muswell Hill was originally named Martin's Free House before being renamed to Wetherspoon a reported snub at a previous teacher who said Sir Tim would never be a businessman.

A sunrise view of Muswell Hill in London(Image: (Image: Getty))

Muswell Hill is now an even more desirable location being only five miles from central London but still providing a leafy, suburban feel. The high street boasts independent restaurants and good shops for residents to enjoy.

Homes in the Muswell Hill area can fetch up to £2.5million for a five-bedroom family home; the most affordable property on sale at the time of writing in the area is a one-bedroom ground-floor apartment that costs £275,000. Properties in Muswell Hill had an overall average price of £1,018,365 over the last year, according to Rightmove, reports the Express.

As Sir Tim's success grew, more pubs opened up across London, which enabled him and his now wife, Felicity, to expand their family unit.

JD Wetherspoons in Trinity Square(Image: (Image: Getty))

Going on to have four children together (the pair now have 10 grandchildren between them), there might have been an even bigger incentive to make sure Wetherspoon thrived.

In 1992, the pub chain JD Wetherspoon made its debut on the stock exchange and by 2000, it had opened its 400th branch. The majority of these pubs are housed in historic buildings, characterised by their distinctive carpets, extensive menus, and budget-friendly prices.

Today, JD Wetherspoon plc boasts a market value of approximately £945million. Its founder, Sir Tim, aged 69, leads a private life in Exeter, Devon with his wife.

Exeter Cathedral at night(Image: (Image: Getty))

According to Rightmove, the UK's largest property portal, the average price of homes in Exeter over the past year was £342,815. Terraced properties, which made up the bulk of sales, sold for an average price of £310,177.

Semi-detached properties fetched an average of £362,035, while flats went for around £197,214.

However, more luxurious homes in the area can command much higher prices. For instance, an eight-bedroom property with 16,684 sq ft of space, outbuildings, and acres of land is currently listed on Rightmove for £4million.

Exeter, located on the River Exe in southwest England, is a historic city in Devonshire county. It's best known for the Exeter Cathedral, the most visited landmark in the West Country.

The city offers a wealth of attractions, including its underground passages and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, a world-class museum with stunning displays and galleries.

Over the years, Exeter has grown in popularity as a residential area due to its close proximity to both Dartmoor and the coast.