The pubco was crowned a national winner at the 2018 World Branding Awards at Kensington Palace, alongside multi-operator Greene King.
However, ensuring its pubs are distinct from one another has been crucial to the identity of JD Wetherspoon, the pubco said.
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “It is always great to win awards and to be recognised.
“However, we would argue that Wetherspoon has gone out of its way not to be a brand, for example, giving all of its pubs different names, and the fact that all of its pubs look different.
Different designs
“We do not class ourselves as a brand, though we would say that customers will recognise the same qualities that all Wetherspoon pubs offer and that is a very positive thing.”
Even the carpets in newer Wetherspoon pubs have been individually designed - a fact that has garnered several social media accounts dedicated to working out if any two are the same.
The pubco operates more than 900 pubs, and pub identities often focus on historic aspects of a site or their local area.
UK winners
Greene King and Wetherspoon won the UK tier alongside brands including Greggs, Costa Coffee, Walkers and Warburtons. Consumer votes accounted for 70% of the scoring process, with more than 230,000 consumers participating.
Richard Rowles, chairman of the World Branding Forum, which organised the awards, said: “The awards celebrate the achievements of some of the greatest brands around the globe.
“With an average of just six winners per country, it is truly a great achievement to be a winner of these awards.”
