We all know imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but some people go too far.
On holiday recently in Malia on the Greek island of Crete, JD Wetherspoon shift manager Marcus Davey spotted a lookey-likey Lloyds No 1 - a Wetherspoon brand - which not only reproduced the logo to the last detail on the venue's exterior but inside advertised Curry Club and Steak Club nights, yet more genuine JD Wetherspoon innovations.
Marcus - pictured outside the wannabe JDW operation - said he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the bar. "The logo is exactly the same and the owner used the same colours in the signage. But it was nothing like the real thing."
According to JD Wetherspoon fake venues have been spotted in Spain, Turkey and even the Indian beach resort of Goa.
Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon, told The Publican the company was unlikely to take action against the venue. "We've never said we'll take no action in these instances but they usually pop up on remote places like Indonesia or in India," he said. "Crete is slightly closer to home, but we'll probably take a pragmatic view on it for now."