The Man in the Wall

The Man in the Wall is a J D Wetherspoon pub located at 10 West Borough, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1NF, in the United Kingdom. It is one of the many pubs operated by J D Wetherspoon plc, the British pub company founded by Tim Martin in 1979 and listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1992. The pub is named after Anthony Ettrick, a local magistrate known as 'the man in the wall', who obtained permission to have a recess made in the wall of Wimborne Minster where his colourful coffin was placed during his lifetime. Convinced he would die in 1693, Ettrick had that date painted on the coffin; he actually died in 1703 and the date was altered. The pub operates as a typical Wetherspoon outlet, offering a wide range of food and drinks, including real ales, craft beers, cocktails, and seasonal menus. It participates in Wetherspoon's twice-yearly beer festivals, which feature up to 50 beers each, including international brewers. The pub also offers facilities such as Wi-Fi, a licensed outside area, room hire, baby changing, and step-free access. Customers can use the Wetherspoon app to order food and drinks to their table. As part of the Wetherspoon estate, The Man in the Wall benefits from the company's centralized sourcing, pricing, and promotional strategies. The pub's interior likely features photographs, prints, and text about local figures such as Thomas Hardy and Sir Alan Cobham, consistent with Wetherspoon's practice of decorating its pubs with local historical information. The pub is situated in Wimborne Minster, a town known for its minster church, which has been a place of pilgrimage and prayer for more than 1,300 years. The Man in the Wall is a subsidiary of J D Wetherspoon plc, which operates hundreds of pubs across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The parent company is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker JDW. The pub itself does not have its own founding date recorded in the available evidence, but it is an active establishment within the Wetherspoon chain.

The Man in the Wall is a pub operated by J D Wetherspoon plc, a British pub company founded by Tim Martin. The first Wetherspoon pub opened on 9 December 1979 in Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, north London, initially called Martin's Free House and renamed Wetherspoons in early 1980. The company grew through the 1980s and 1990s, pioneering initiatives such as non-smoking areas (1991), real-ale festivals (1990), and the CBS (Cleanliness, Beer, Service) scheme. In 1992, the company was floated on the London Stock Exchange as J D Wetherspoon plc, with shares issued at £1.60. The company also opened its first airport pubs at Heathrow in 1992. The Man in the Wall pub itself is located in Wimborne Minster, Dorset, a town with a history of pilgrimage and prayer spanning more than 1,300 years. The pub is named after Anthony Ettrick, a local magistrate known as 'the man in the wall'. Ettrick obtained permission to create a recess in the wall of Wimborne Minster, where his colourful coffin was placed during his lifetime. He believed he would die in 1693 and had that date painted on the coffin, but he actually died in 1703, and the date was subsequently altered. This unusual burial practice gave rise to the pub's name. Wetherspoon pubs are known for their conversion of historic or notable buildings and for decorating interiors with local historical information. The Man in the Wall likely features photographs, prints, and text about local figures such as Thomas Hardy, who lived in Wimborne for two years from 1881, and Sir Alan Cobham, an aviation pioneer born in 1894 who formed Cobham's Flying Circus in 1932. The pub offers a range of facilities including Wi-Fi, a licensed outside area, room hire, baby changing, and step-free access. It participates in Wetherspoon's twice-yearly beer festivals, which feature up to 50 beers each, including international brewers. The pub also offers seasonal menus such as the Christmas menu and a spritz cocktail range. As of the available evidence, the pub is active and operates under the J D Wetherspoon brand. The parent company, J D Wetherspoon plc, remains listed on the London Stock Exchange and operates hundreds of pubs across the UK and Ireland. The Man in the Wall continues to serve the local community in Wimborne, offering value-oriented food and drink in a historic setting.

• First Wetherspoon pub opens in Muswell Hill, north London, initially called Martin's Free House.

• Company renamed Wetherspoons.

• First real-ale festival hosted by Wetherspoon pubs.

• First non-smoking bar opens at The Tally Ho, North Finchley.

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

• First airport pubs open at Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4.

Value-oriented community pub within the J D Wetherspoon chain, offering low-priced food and drink in a historic setting.

• Real ale

  A wide selection of cask-conditioned ales, including guest beers.

• Craft beer

  Craft cans and draught options, with tasting notes available.

• Spritz cocktails

  A range of nine classic and fruity spritz recipes.

• Christmas menu

  Festive dishes available from mid-November to end of December.

• Hot honey Chicken Bowl

  A dish featuring hot honey chicken.

1. 1The Man in the Wall - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
2. 2History - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
3. 3The Man in the Wall - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
4. 4About us - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
5. 5The Man in the Wallwikidata.org