Well, Colin, Tim Martin's frankness and accurate critical commentary of broad aspects of the pub trade are rarely heard from other significant commentators. This is what I find inspiring about him. Plus he's clearly a practical person with a hands on approach to pubs which manifests simply because he likes the trade. This is a lot more than can be said of the majority of city boys who have brought this trade to its knees on the back of miracle financial performance made out of smoke and mirrors.

On JDW forcing closure of other pubs well, there is an argument that JDW
occupies a significant niche between tied and free of tie trade and has taken advantage of disparities in the market created by the tensions betweeen the two.