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Many Scots found the 48-page mag, which is filled with pro-Brexit articles, on their doorsteps this week.
Mixed in with articles on gin, beer and pizza were pieces describing a deal with the EU as a "trap", as well as two pages dedicated to a column by Wetherspoon’s chairman Tim Martin on what he describes as the "Circle of Deceit" surrounding the EU debate.
There was also a section filled with letters from prominent figures on the Brexit debate including one by former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot from the Spectator in which he states that Britain has "nothing to fear from no deal".
Though they did offer the view points of some remainers, the magazine was deemed to be overwhelmingly pro-Brexit by many of those who received it.
Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin, a prominent Leave supporter, recently revealed he was in favour of a no deal Brexit, an outcome largely feared across UK industries.
He said: “A deal is a bad thing – if we don’t have a deal and embrace free trade, prices will go down in the shops. We will be in a much stronger position on a free trade basis that some people call a ‘no deal’.”
Part of a UK-wide mailout by the pub chain, it provoked a strong reaction online with many taking to platforms like Twitter and Facebook to complain about what they saw as "propaganda".
I'd rather quench my thirst by sipping from a muddy puddle than frequent a Wetherspoons, so I really resent them sullying my letterbox (a letterbox in a constituency that voted 78% Remain) with this craptastic trash mag. pic.twitter.com/OTBhaBcduU
— Fiona (@NTS_Fiona) January 22, 2019
Others were just bemused as to why they'd received it at all.
Hey, JD Wetherspoons, you can take your propaganda and your fake real ale support and get out of my mailbox. Thanks. I did not ask for your bile to be printed on dead trees, nor did I give you consent to receive your adverts. And get your pub staff to know what "cask ales" are... pic.twitter.com/pXUcUcoZ5Z
— Alex Larter (@Alexanderlarter) January 24, 2019
This is odd. Pub chain Wetherspoons has kindly posted a free mag through my door trying to convince me to leave the EU. #NothanksTim pic.twitter.com/sACqumNpAj
— Luke Powell (@LukePowell88) January 23, 2019
One user urged people to boycott JD Wetherspoon pubs and send the magazine back to the chain's head office.
https://twitter.com/AlbertGIBrammer/status/1088433576570433536
While another offered advice on what people should do if they are unhappy with the mag.
Advice for dealing with Wetherspoons mag. Can also put official complaint to company. Other shareholders become tired of his antics apparantly https://t.co/lILpRs3oPE
— joanne (@Tibbmum) January 22, 2019
When asked about the mail out, a spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon, around 900 pubs to its name across the UK, said: "The magazine is available in the pubs. Wetherspoon wished to put out the magazine to a wider audience, to highlight the sides for and against Brexit.
"Wetherspoon is not on social media where a lot of the arguments take place so instead Wetherspoon has placed the arguments in the magazine."
