PUB NEWS
FORMER TRAIN-SPOTTER DAVID
BECOMES A SPOON-SPOTTER
David Bingham’s pub tour of Britain was interrupted by the various
restrictions on the hospitality industry, yet he has begun it again with
renewed gusto.
Even during pandemic-affected 2021, David managed to add
256 Wetherspoon pubs, taking his total so far to 651.
Accompanied frequently by his partner, Una Cooper, David continued
his tour which included the couple’s local – The Observatory (Ilkeston).
David and Una travel by public transport, whenever possible,
and take selfies and photos of meals, drinks and our pubs’
architectural features.
David said: “We enjoy a drink and any unique features in the pubs.
We always have a full English breakfast or a wrap.”
Una added: “I am a vegetarian. David’s favourite drink
is San Miguel. We like the curries – and David enjoys
everything on the menu. I like to read the history of the
pubs and why they are named the way they are.”
Una and David have been together since June 2018.
Although she has travelled far and wide across the globe, David
is a rail enthusiast and wanted to show his partner new places
closer to home.
He added: “Visiting Wetherspoon’s pubs has taken us to many
places in the UK, and our favourite pubs have included Royal
Victoria Pavilion (Ramsgate), The Navigation Inn (Kings Norton)
and The Scarsdale Hundred (Beighton).”
The furthest Wetherspoon pubs the couple have visited are
The Alexander Bain (Wick), which is 542 miles from Ilkeston,
and The Tremenheere (Penzance) – 323 miles away.
Next up are the Northern Ireland pubs, which Una and David are
hoping to reach as part of their annual round-Britain cruise in June.
Una joked: “It’s all my fault. I got David a Wetherspoon pub directory
in 2019 and didn’t realise that you cannot give an ex-train-spotter
anything which contains a list.
“David loves planning the journeys and likes how Wetherspoon gives
a building a new lease of life.”
jdwetherspoon.com | Summer 2022 | Wetherspoon 19