The Jolie Brise

The Jolie Brise is a pub in Teignmouth, Devon, United Kingdom, operated by the national pub chain J D Wetherspoon. It is located at 9–15 Station Road, on the short street linking Teignmouth railway station with the town centre, and offers the standard Wetherspoon format of affordable food and drink, real ales, cocktails, and a range of promotional menus. The pub is open from 7:00 am daily, closing at midnight Sunday to Wednesday and at 1:00 am Thursday to Saturday. Facilities include Wi-Fi, TV screens, a licensed outside area, baby-changing facilities, and step-free access. Customers can order via the Wetherspoon app. The building has a layered commercial history. The premises were purpose-built as a supermarket in the 1970s on the site of Sidney Croydon’s Printing and Publishing Works, which also adjoined a steam laundry. The Croydon family had been involved in Teignmouth printing, bookselling, and newspaper publishing since Edward Croydon began a bookselling, printing, and circulating library business in 1800; the family later started the Teignmouth Gazette in 1849 and acquired the Teignmouth Post in 1892. The pub’s name commemorates the gaff-rigged pilot cutter Jolie Brise, which in 1925 won the first 600-mile Fastnet Race under Commander E. G. Martin and his crew, and which remains the only vessel to have won that race three times. The connection to Teignmouth is through Henrietta Paddon, who worked in the adjacent steam laundry in the early 1900s; her husband teamed up with Commander Martin for the 1925 victory. As a Wetherspoon house, The Jolie Brise participates in the chain’s twice-yearly real-ale festivals, seasonal Christmas menus, and cocktail promotions such as the spritz range. It is one of many Wetherspoon pubs across the United Kingdom, a chain founded by Tim Martin in 1979 and floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1992 as J D Wetherspoon plc. The Jolie Brise itself is a single-site pub brand within that larger corporate group, and its identity is closely tied to local Teignmouth history and maritime heritage.

The Jolie Brise occupies a site with a long commercial and publishing history in Teignmouth, Devon. The Croydon family had been active in the town since Edward Croydon started a bookselling, printing, and circulating library business in 1800 at 1 Regent Street. He moved into his elegant ‘Public Library’, later the Royal Library (now WH Smith) around the corner, in 1815. Edward and his brother George started the Teignmouth Gazette in 1849. In 1892, Sidney Croydon bought the Teignmouth Post, and the two papers were effectively combined under his ownership. Sidney Croydon’s Printing and Publishing Works stood on the site now occupied by the pub, and he also owned the steam laundry next door. In the early 1900s, visitors arriving by train could buy guidebooks and maps of the area at the printworks; the company motto was ‘Printers’ ink makes millions think’. Henrietta Paddon worked in the steam laundry in the early 1900s. In 1925, her husband teamed up with Commander E. G. Martin to win the first 600-mile Fastnet Race in the gaff-rigged pilot cutter Jolie Brise. That vessel is the only one to have won the race three times, and the pub takes its name from her. The current building was purpose-built as a supermarket in the 1970s, and later served as a clothes store before being converted into a pub by J D Wetherspoon. The pub’s own history text notes that it is ‘this former clothes store’ situated on the short street linking the railway station with the town centre. As a Wetherspoon house, The Jolie Brise is part of a chain founded by Tim Martin, whose first pub opened in Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, north London, on 9 December 1979, initially called Martin’s Free House and renamed Wetherspoons early in 1980. The company was floated on the Stock Exchange in 1992 as J D Wetherspoon plc, with shares issued at £1.60. Wetherspoon pioneered initiatives such as non-smoking areas (from 1991), the CBS (Cleanliness, Beer, Service) scheme, and twice-yearly real-ale festivals, all of which are reflected in the operation of The Jolie Brise today. The pub participates in the chain’s autumn beer festival, Christmas menu, and cocktail promotions, and offers the standard Wetherspoon app ordering service.

• 1992

  J D Wetherspoon is floated on the Stock Exchange as J D Wetherspoon plc, with shares issued at £1.60.

• 1979

  The first Wetherspoon pub opens in Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, north London, initially called Martin’s Free House.

• 1970

  The premises are purpose-built as a supermarket on the site of Sidney Croydon’s Printing and Publishing Works.

• 1925

  The gaff-rigged pilot cutter Jolie Brise wins the first 600-mile Fastnet Race, with Henrietta Paddon’s husband and Commander E. G. Martin aboard.

• 1900

  Henrietta Paddon works in the steam laundry on the site of the future pub.

• 1892

  Sidney Croydon buys the Teignmouth Post, combining the two papers.

• 1849

  Edward and George Croydon start the Teignmouth Gazette.

• 1800

  Edward Croydon starts a bookselling, printing and circulating library business in Teignmouth.

A value-focused, high-volume community pub within the J D Wetherspoon national chain, offering affordable food and drink in a historic Teignmouth building.

• Real ale

  A rotating selection of cask ales, including guest beers during festivals.

• Craft beer

  Craft cans and guest ales with published tasting notes.

• Spritz cocktails

  A range of nine classic and fruity spritz recipes.

• Hot honey Chicken Bowl

  A Southern-fried chicken dish served in Wetherspoon pubs.

• Christmas menu

  Festive dishes available from 12 November to 31 December, excluding Christmas Day.

1. 1The Jolie Brise - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
2. 2History - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
3. 3The Jolie Brise - J D Wetherspoon (pub history)jdwetherspoon.com
4. 4About us - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
5. 5The Jolie Brise - Wikidatawikidata.org