Wetherspoon has inaugurated its inaugural pub in Europe, featuring a classic English breakfast and sandwiches. The renowned British establishment has expanded its reach to Alicante airport in Spain, anticipating popularity among British travelers heading to destinations like Benidorm. This launch may mark the beginning of a series of new openings, as hinted by CEO Tim Martin for potential future ventures.
While the decor may differ from traditional Wetherspoon pubs, with Spanish tiles and cream paint replacing the iconic carpet, the new pub, Castell de Santa Bàrbera, offers a menu that includes variations like Japanese-style Katsu curry alongside familiar British favorites. The pricing, however, reflects a slight increase compared to UK branches, with a full English breakfast priced at 10.25 euros, equivalent to around £8.94.
Operational seven days a week from 6 am to 9 pm, the pub boasts nearly 1,000 square feet of customer space on one level, complemented by an outdoor terrace for customer seating. Founder Tim Martin expressed enthusiasm for the new venture, anticipating its popularity among travelers passing through Alicante Airport.
The expansion into Spain is part of a broader plan to open approximately 30 new pubs in the coming year, the largest expansion in a decade for Wetherspoon. About half of these new pubs will be managed directly by JD Wetherspoon, while the rest will be operated by franchisees, creating an estimated 1,800 job opportunities.
In a period where many parts of the pub industry are facing challenges, Wetherspoon continues to thrive, with the Alicante airport pub operated under a franchise partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail. Aiming to cater to the significant influx of British tourists to the Costa Blanca region, the pub is positioned to attract travelers with its diverse menu offerings and familiar pub ambiance.