Wetherspoon's Makes Historic Move to Spanish Soil
In a landmark move for the British pub industry, JD Wetherspoon is set to open its first-ever establishment outside the United Kingdom. The chosen location is the departure lounge of Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport in Spain, with operations scheduled to commence in January. This strategic expansion marks the beginning of the chain's ambitious plans to establish a foothold in Europe.
A Taste of Spain with a British Pub Vibe
The new venue, named Castell de Santa Bàrbera after a historic Alicante fortress, will cater predominantly to British holidaymakers returning from the popular Costa Blanca region. While it will feature classic Wetherspoon's fare like all-day breakfasts and burgers, it will uniquely offer traditional local Spanish dishes. Patrons can enjoy garlic prawns and Spanish omelette alongside their pints.
The pub will operate with licensing hours familiar to British tourists, serving alcohol from 6am daily to accommodate early flight schedules. Food will be available up until one hour before closing. The newly built premises will cover approximately 93 square metres (1,000 sq ft) and will include an external terrace where travellers can enjoy the Spanish sun before their flight.
European Ambitions Amidst Domestic Challenges
This overseas venture comes directly from the vision of Wetherspoon's founder and chairman, Tim Martin, who first revealed franchise plans for European holiday destinations like Alicante and Mallorca earlier this year. This is a significant step for the businessman, who was a vocal supporter of Brexit. The expansion follows a period where the chain, which operates over 800 pubs, reported a 3.7% sales growth in the first 14 weeks of its financial year, a figure that indicates a slowing of its previously meteoric rise.
Martin expressed his enthusiasm for the project, stating, "We are very much looking forward to opening our first overseas pub. We believe it will be popular with people travelling home from Alicante airport. We aim to open a number of pubs overseas in the coming months and years, including those at airports." This signals a clear intent for further continental growth beyond this initial foray.
