Tonight:
9°c
Liam Griffin is just telling me about the success of the family business, when in walks his dad. After that, neither Liam nor myself say much at all. John Griffin is a tour de force. He's a 66-year-old multi-millionaire ("I'll retire on my 100th birthday"), the founder of the Addison Lee minicab business, who has a view on anything and everything.
While Liam sits, sometimes rolling his eyes skywards, occasionally putting his head in his hands, John lets rip. "We're the biggest private employer in Camden but Frank Dobson [the local MP] has never even been to see us."
He paces round the room. "We drive 10 million people a year. In total, we've driven over 100 million - yet no driver of ours has ever been found guilty of any offence."
John segues smoothly on. "Don't get me wrong, we think taxis do a good job. But why shouldn't we be in the bus lanes? Look, a black cab can take you from King's Cross to Paddington in 20 minutes. A minicab would take 40 minutes."
He continues: "We will be big players in the Olympics but we're not going to involve ourselves if we're discriminated against. We've spoken to the Olympics people and we've said it's unfair, unjust, unreasonable and uncompetitive - if they let us use the bus lanes, same as black taxis, we will drive people to the Olympic Games. Who wants to be in one of our taxis if they can't be in the bus lane?"
There's no stopping him. "Black taxis are a lucrative monopoly. They don't work nights because they don't need to - that's why you can't get a black cab in the centre of London at night. Look, if you call a black computer cab, their meter starts running as soon as the job is allocated. We're 30% cheaper."
On John goes: "Another thing about them is that when you go more than six miles, their clock almost doubles. That's because, in the old days, the horse pulling a hackney carriage could only go six miles. The system is so archaic."
And on: "The taxis have to get their act together. All our drivers wear a collar and tie. They will open the door for you. The seats will be clean. You don't want some guy in a sloppy T-shirt and shorts and a dirty cab. If they don't sort themselves out we will take over. I'd prefer if they took it on themselves and we shared a superior service together. Instead of blubbing and bleating about us, they should sort themselves out."
To say that Griffin is what's known as "a character" is an understatement. But there's also no denying his business prowess. This is one hell of an operator, who doesn't take prisoners. He's chairman of a group that has a turnover of around £180 million. Addison Lee has more than 2500 vehicles in its fleet (as well as cars, it's got vans, coaches and chauffeured motorbikes). It's bigger than the biggest black cab firm. "We're the largest purchaser of Ford Galaxies in the world," says Liam, when he can get a word in edgeways. "We've got 1000 on order."
While other companies have been whining about the recession, Addison Lee has been powering on. Last week, it acquired Premier Transport, a rival that ran into difficulties, from the administrator. "They were like a lot of people in our game - they had too tight a margin," says John. "They had cashflow issues."
That added another 400 cars and was Addison Lee's fourth major purchase in as many years - in 2006, it bought Redwing, London's largest coach company. It's 44th in the Profit Track 100 League Table of the country's fastest-growing private companies. How big can it get? "There are 48,000 licensed private hire drivers in London and we've got just over 2500," says John. He pauses for once, for effect - there's still a long way to go.
The business is entirely private. It's shared between the Griffin and Foster families - Liam's original partner was Lenny Foster, who died in 1992. Daryl Foster, his son, is the chief executive. Liam is the managing director and his brother, Kieran Griffin, is the marketing and sales director. There are no plans to float on the stock market. "No, not at all, we get pitched to all the time," says Liam, grinning.
The firm is based in William Road, near Euston Station. It ought to be renamed Addison Lee Road. It's a short road and the entire length of one side is comprised of the Addison Lee offices, call centre and workshops. It's also spick and span - perish the thought of the scruffy neighbourhood cabby firm. The vehicles parked outside are gleaming and new. Always trademark black - "it seemed like the best colour for a car firm, it was weddings and funerals", says John. They're mostly people carriers.
Inside, the premises are modern. There are banks of computer terminals, displaying flickering maps and jobs under way or pending. Much of the work is conducted electronically by software, using GPS navigational equipment, of which John and Liam are very proud. They employ 500 staff on PAYE and have 84 telephonists who work from home. "It suits us and them. They can take their children to school and do a few hours for us - it works well," says Liam.
Their drivers are freelancers. Their average take-home, after paying for the car rental, insurance and car wash, is over £600 a week. For that they would do 60 hours a week. "It's about £150 a week more than similar drivers at other firms," interjects John.
He can tell what I'm thinking as I look around. "Not bad, for someone who left school at 16 without any qualifications. I had TB and couldn't sit any exams. I've never passed a single exam."
Nevertheless, he bluffed his way to being taken on by a firm of accountants as an articled clerk. His father had a roads-and-sewers building business in north London. It expanded too fast and got into serious problems. John quit his training to help with the rescue. In the meantime, he had to get an income so he started minicabbing.
Eventually, the building firm was saved. But his father went to work for Islington council as a clerk of works and John stayed with cabbing. By then he was married with two sons and "I came to the conclusion that I could run my own minicab business a lot more successfully than the companies I had worked for".
He set up on his own in 1975. Stuck for a name, he chose Addison because one of his controllers was living in a squat in Addison Gardens and it sounded posh. And the Lee? "It was just off the top of my head. It had to be a short name because Addison was long."
John describes Addison Lee as "London's best-kept secret. The time will come when we will be recognised not only as a valuable part of London's transport network but also as an organisation that has provided the dignity of employment to many thousands of people of different nationalities, all of whom we train to provide a level of service that will help us to expand and prosper."
As well as investing in cars and technology, that's the key, he says. He learned it during the long hours when he worked for other minicab firms: respect for the driver.
They order a car to take me back. On the way out, they challenge me to ask the driver what he thinks. They swear it's someone they've chosen at random. "I'm not lying when I say it's an impressive company," says Kojo, when I ask.
Reader views (23)
You are all having a laugh!!!! I've worked for many firms before Addlee took over my last firm(Addison young) I was on a great contract until tony smith talked me out of it which took him quite a while concidering my stubborn self...but when I finally caved in after 2 month I was gutted!!!!! Gutted I never listened to him the 1st time...my 1st 3years I never took under £1000 in a week take home....my best week was £1700 and it all went into my POCKET!!! My worst week I had to pay them...& that was because I never worked...as long as you put in ur 10 hours aday you are garenteed to make money...now that sad thing about Addlee is that they give everybody a chance....so many people have come here without the right amount of knowledge...& in this game knowledge makes money ask any thiefing black cab driver & he will tell you the same...addison lee LOOK AFTER their driver!!! That's a fact...black cab drivers are ment tobe of good character...yeah right they are constantly f-ing & blinding out of their window whilst driving down the road with a passenger sat in the back....there are over 10 million people in London yet 25,000 black cab drivers think they can & should be the only ones to pick them up!!!! But ofcause they will only do it during the day because they have to pick up their PINTS by night!!!!!
- Hicham Housni (T14), London
If you stand in the West End and try to hail a black cab countless unlicensed cars pull over and people stop and try to offer you a taxi journey, the chances of getting a black cab are tiny. Why risk it??
Rain or shine I call Add Lee when leaving a bar or club at night. They are clean, reliable and TEXT you the car reg and arrival. I feel safe and even if you have to give them some directions, safety and professionalism is the most important thing.
- Rachel Harvey, London
Addison Lee will get you from A to B for a price that is probably about the same or a bit dearer than a London Cab, but their drivers rely totaly on the Sat Nav.
Black Cabs aren't perfect, but the drivers have an impressive knowledge of their city, and lots of character as well. Try having a political debate with one, they are fantastic. They all have very strong views about almost everything. I love them.
- Micky Roman, England
i have to admit, yes, Addison Lee are well turned out and there cars are clean, but, and here's the but, they don't know where they are going. Blacks cabs know where they are going and why is that you may ask Mr Griffin, it's because they have done the knowledge, which can take anything between 2 - 6 years...
- Chris, London
taxi bike is a neat idea that could be expanded to include pillion & escorted tour guides.security,survalence & couriers...I am a former Licensed Cabbie & would-be-tour-guide!
- Alan Ridgley, islington,London
I'm sure that Addison Lee is not perfect and I don't really like the Griffin bloke. However they are a very large company doing thousands of journeys each week - so naturally some drivers will take a wrong turn occasionally or be late from time to time. The fact of the matter is that the company does its best to provide a quality service and maintain the highest possible standards.
A lot of the negative coments here seem to be from Black Cab drivers, who enjoy a lucrative monoply subsidised for years from the public purse on the false pretext of being a 'service'. The black cabs have never been a service - go to Charing X station at night and you'll see a queue of people waiting whilst black cabs drivers tout from the BACK of the queue 'anyone going east they say' or 'anyone going west' - total disregard for their clientelle. There is a lack of black cabs late at night and if the black cab industry really was a public service they would have all been sacked - imagine what would happen to a train company that decided that they didnt want to run trains in the rush hour.
Let us not forget that black taxis enjoy free access to ranks in the best spots in London. If the monopoly was broken these ranks were put out to tender they would raise £millions each year - and the black cabs get it all for free whilst the law unfairly discriminates against licensed private hire drivers. I'm not against black cabs but you have to tell it how it is!
- David Wilson, Bromley London
I hailed one down in clapham and he said the fair was 15 pounds but he should not have stopped for a street hail, but he said we have to get money very bad indeed he got me home but they shouldnt be hailed its ilegal my dad said ,
- Richard, LONDON
If Add Lee are allowed to use Bus Lanes you would have to allow the other 48,000 Mini Cabs also, result? Gridlock!!
I worked for Add Lee and never took home £600 per week, in fact most times i owed them money and they stop you working,the car wash money is taken every week even if you could do it yourself and Black cabs are cheaper in the day then Add Lee and about the same price in the night. black cabs are an icon of London along with the driver's "Knowledge" after all the Human Brain is far superior then any SatNav
- Joe, London UK
I worked for addison lee for 18 months. They made you work 60+ hours per week for a very low amount of money.
I am so glad I left, I have heard from drivers still there that it is even worse.
- Abdul Rasheed, london
Good article, Mini Cabs are now part of London's transport infrastructure and should be accorded the same repect and support as the buses and black cabs. Bus lanes use typifies the snotty look down your nose attitude of the authorities to the mini cab industry as does putting two fingers up to the London public by sanctioning a rise in black cab fares next month when everyone else is suffering from the downturn.
- Peter Bullock, London UK
All the bad comments above look like there from black cab drivers, i`v worked for addison lee now for 3 years and its the best company by far, i get my car washed daily at any one of 9 car washes around london and heathrow my car has state of the art technology like wifi its serviced every 10.000 miles on the dot its checked over every 5.000 miles thats why you never see an addlee with damage or rust or over 3 years old like some black cab you see every day... As for the no english thats rubbish because they go though driver Liaison and they would not let them though at all.
and i can tell you some of them and the controlers are green badge holders, if addison lee gets a complaint they look at every aspect of that job and if needed they sack the driver which is good for the other drivers that are working hard to improve the service in which we give.
Thank you for reading this
- John ( Z 61 ), london
I checked Addison Lee's fare calculator for my journey from Warwick Ave to Paddington Station, they wanted £11 and would take 20 mins to arrive! No time to wait so I went to the Taxi rank and got a proper one. I was there in about 5 mins and the fare was only £3.60. I also felt much safer and the driver was a very friendly chap who spoke perfect English, it made a great start to my day. So from now on its only Black Taxi's for me!
Ps. I see they have now removed the fare calculator from their website, so you'll have to take my word for it.
- Dizzy, London
I think Mr Griffen has idea's that are far detached from the reality of being driven in one of his Minicabs.
I took a trip on account from Borough to the Earls Court Exhibition Halls.
We went via Kings Cross Station as his drivers computer told him to do so, result: I was late and missed an important client.
I don't think the account cost differs that much from hailing a Taxi in the street, quite where this 33% cheaper comes from mystifies me.
- G.B.C Smith, Hitchin
I have used this company twice on ths first time in january the driver got lost, but as i was with a friend it was a bit of a laugh ,on the second time the driver could not speak english very well and ask me for my phone number instead of the fair ! i declined, i wont use their services again, London cabbies are best .
- Racheal, CROYDON
Sheila from London you obviously have a vested interest in promoting your Mini-Cab company, but do you also have a vested interest in promoting modern day slavery?
Your drivers are nothing more than objects that are at your disposal to be exploited!
Addison Lee are much more expensive than a street hailed London Cab FACT!
If you believe that the London Hackney Cab that was first licensed in 1643 by Oliver Cromwell is just going to crawl under a rock and allow you to take over, then i'm afraid you are seriously mistaken!
- Steve, London
I had to laugh tonight, I was in Kensington High St when I pulled along side an Addison lee car (you know the cars with broken rear wipers)anyway... the driver was in a right state and was flaping like a headless chicken,
He lowerd his window and in broken English said " Plea plea where Notting Hill?" it turned out that his sat nav had died.He was TOTALY cluless...
- P. Jones, London
As an employee of Addison Lee I would like to say the company is a excellant company to work for. Having been with Addison Lee for many years I would recommend working for and using the services offered.
We are a strong company with good values and anyone who feels otherwise are obviously blinded by the fact that we are the best and will continue to overtake London!
- Sheila - London, London
I would never use Addison Lee ever again, they are overpriced glorified mini cabs. Black cabs are cheaper, cleaner, and more trustworthy. This Griffin needs to realise his company will never be what the London Taxi trade is. He can keep whistling because its NEVER going to happen.
- Jason, London
These guys are great top service and they sponsor thousands of cigarette butt bins all over London to keep our city streets clean
Keep up the great work - let them use the Bus lanes NOW!
- Donna Freeman, London England
laughing my socks off we dont work nights i have just got home 04.30 addison lee may be an exceptonal minicab company but they are not a patch on propper licenced taxi's
- Steve Jones, hornchurch
London’s Taxi's are about a third cheaper than Addison lee. They have recently had to remove the fare calculator from their web site as it was putting off potential customers
The drivers have to work60-70 hours a week or they get fired. As the company takes such a large slice of the fare the drivers have to tout work to make a living like the other 58,000 mini cabs in London. That’s why they have 200 cars parked up just off the Hampstead road.
- James Thomas, London
I have used addison Lee cars on occassion & on every occassion they have been more expensive than a real black taxi. Their drivers seldom know where they are going & journeys invariably take longer due to this fact. I would go as far as to say that their drivers are down-right dangerous as they spend more time looking at the sat nav screen than they do the road.Liasing with the driver can prove to be a real nightmare,on my last journey I asked the driver to turn right, yet due to a language barrier the driver took a left turn, not once but twice did this occur. Personally i would rather walk than use an overpriced addison lee mini-cab.
- Brian Young, London, UK
JOhn Griffin has a business he can be proud of. My company uses Addison Lee for taxi services. I can say I've never ever had a bad experience; the drivers are well groomed, invariably helpful and friendly. Far better than black cabs any day. I once forgot an important document half way to a train station. Driver took me back to the office and still got me on the train on time without breaking the speed limit. Excellent service.
- Ellie Johnson, London, UK
