Wetherspoon has won two awards in the ‘Quiet Corners Competition’ which is aimed at showcasing companies and individual outlets which don’t play piped music. The awards are run by Pipedown, the Campaign for Freedom from Piped Music.
The awards were given to the company itself as the Best Quiet Pub Chain Award as well as to one of its pubs, The Waterhouse in Manchester (above), which was named as the Best Individual Quiet Pub.
The pub’s atmosphere was praised for its “cosy atmosphere with armchairs and small, intimate rooms of character.”
Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin was presented with both awards from pub-lover and musician Julian Lloyd Webber.
Pipedown national secretary, Nigel Rodgers, said: “Our members nominated Wetherspoon and The Waterhouse and both are deserved winners of their respective awards.
“I founded Pipedown 20 years ago because I found it difficult to find a pub without piped music.
“A small but vital part of Wetherspoon’s continuing success is that you can go into one of its pubs and know that you will not find unwanted music.
“Instead you can eat, drink and talk in peace which appeals to people who love music and hate it being misused.”
Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: “We are proud to win both these awards.
“In my view good conversation and drink and food is the key to a popular pub, as is the chance to have a pint and read the newspaper in peace.”
List of Winners
Pub chains. Wetherspoons – Tim Martin, head of Wetherspoons who was present at the announcement, raised a glass at the news. Sam Smiths came second.
Individual pubs. The Waterhouse, Princess Street, Manchester
Hotels. The Evesham Hotel in Worcestershire
Sally Clarke in Kensington Church Street, London
Cafés. The North Star Delicatessen, 418 Wilbraham Road, Manchester
In the Quiet Supermarkets category Waitrose won first prize. Booths, a small northern chain, came second. Aldi and Lidl were third equal. The Co-op was damned as worst offender.
Department Stores John Lewis came first. Marks & Spencer was named worst offender, partly because of the arrogant management who dismiss every letter of complaint with the automated (and untrue) response: ‘All shoppers like our piped music.’
Foyles was the winning bookshop chain, with Daunt Books coming second. Individual bookshops Hatchards in Piccadilly was the best quiet individual bookshop
Chemists/pharmacies. Lloyds chain
Banks. Nationwide and Barclays were joint winners, with HSBC the worst offender.