I always hated everything he stood for, and never go into his establishments. Much to my friends amusement on nights out..
However I have read, from a couple of sources (now this could be an urban myth) that the reason they are all called Witherspoons is that he had a teacher at school called Mr Witherspoon, who told him he was a useless good for nothing that would amount to nothing in his life.
He named all his pubs after him as a right big 'up yours' .
If this is so, and please rediculle me if not, I now have a grudging respect for him,
Still wouldn't drink in his manky pubs tho ....
But I am no longer as adamant about it. ..