VIDEO: 'This decision is a no-brainer' – Wetherspoon chief's 'Brexit tour' arrives in town

The founder and chairman of the popular pub chain visited The Friar Penketh, on Barbauld Street, and The Looking Glass, on Buttermarket Street, to speak to the public last Thursday.

But the 61-year-old, who is bidding to pop into 100 of his 954 pubs across the country, issued a stark warning to the town ahead of the June 23 referendum.

He said: "The EU is getting increasingly undemocratic and that has brought havoc to some countries – I think that is what happens when you start to lose democracy.

"This decision is a no-brainer, it is an area which is in trouble. Everyone knows the value of democracy around the world, whether they have it or not, it is a ludicrous situation to beg for democracy.

"All currencies in the world are backed by a single Government, except the Euro. If you have not got the backing of a Government then you have not got the essential building blocks of a proper currency, as you can see in Greece.

"I am happy with all the countries which currently have access to the EU continuing to have the same access. If more countries want to be added I think it needs to be approved by Parliament and done on a points-based system."

Drinkers in Wetherspoon have been enjoying their beverages alongside pro-Brexit beer mats brought in by Mr Martin, who was raised in Northern Ireland and now lives in Exeter.

The businessman said the mats, urging punters to vote Leave to 'take back control', have been welcomed – but he hit out at the Government for its actions during the debate.

He also suggested those coming through the doors could be treated to cheaper prices after the referendum.

"The Government has not been like a Government should be in a referendum," he added.

"There has not been anybody like a judge to sum up the information as he does for a jury, so the 'jury' is getting annoyed with the Government.

"We are the biggest seller of wine in pubs in Britain – 95 per cent of wine we buy is from outside the EU.

"If we leave I think wine prices here will fall and I think food prices will go down too because the EU imposes tariffs on the rest of the world.

"And if I can organise for lower beer prices then I will.

"It is nice to hear the views of the public, they are a lot more intelligent than the elite give them credit for, they can see through complex arguments.

"I think with politicians, on issues like this, only a minority are speaking a language that people can understand.

"But I am worried for the future of the country – once you start losing democracy it is a slippery slope, people want to come here for the democracy."

Many in the town are still split over whether to remain in or leave the EU – so we put the question to the public in the town centre.

In just two weeks the country will go to the polls but Barry Keith-Hewitt has no doubts over how he will be voting.

He said: "I am 100 per cent out, purely because I think we need to get control back.

"When it was initially introduced we had a fair bit of control but now we have lost it.

"If we vote out there is no way that people will stop trading with us – the threats and constant scaremongering is getting me down.

"I am fed up of people saying if we exit we will be left isolated, we will not."

But Emma Faux, employee at The Looking Glass Wetherspoon, on Buttermarket Street, is at the other end of the spectrum.

"I think the EU makes it fairer for everyone," she said.

However, her colleague Megan Burn remains 'undecided' as the crucial vote edges ever closer.

But Simon Betts made his intentions clear to the Warrington Guardian after being quizzed, though he believes the ongoing arguments could turn off sections of the electorate.

He added: "I will be voting to leave for the simple fact that we are an island and the EU is dragging us down.

"With politicians you don't know whether they are telling the truth or lying."