The beloved British pub chain J D Wetherspoon is set to pour pints under the Spanish sun for the first time, with its inaugural European venue confirmed to open at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport later this month.
Sun, Sand and Spoons: The New Airport Pub Details
The new pub, named Castell de Santa Bàrbera after a local seaside castle, will officially open its doors at 8am on Thursday, January 29. It will be situated airside in the departures area of the airport's non-Schengen zone, perfectly positioned for Brits waiting for their flight home.
Operating from 6am until 9pm daily, the venue will offer nearly 1,000 square feet of indoor seating complemented by an outdoor terrace. Food will be served until 8pm, an hour before closing.
A Taste of Home (and Spain) on the Costa Blanca
Wetherspoons has teased a menu designed to appeal to travellers craving familiar comforts alongside local flavours. UK staples like the chain's famous breakfasts, burgers, and pizzas will feature prominently. For those seeking a final taste of Spain, dishes such as garlic prawns and Spanish omelettes will also be available.
The location is a strategic one, tapping into the massive flow of British tourists to the Costa Blanca. Alicante-Elche Airport is the busiest in the Valencian region, handling a record 18.3 million passengers in 2024. It is a major hub for budget airlines like easyJet, Jet2, and Ryanair, which offer numerous sub-three-hour flights from UK airports to destinations like Benidorm.
Ambitions for Global Expansion
Wetherspoons founder and chairman Tim Martin expressed his enthusiasm for the overseas move. "We are very much looking forward to opening our first overseas pub," he said. "We believe it will be popular with people travelling home from Alicante Airport."
He also outlined a broader vision, stating: "We aim to open a number of pubs overseas in the coming months and years, including those at airports." This Spanish launch is just the beginning of the chain's international ambitions.
This expansion follows other recent growth announcements from the pub giant, including plans to open four new outlets within Haven holiday parks across the UK by the end of spring 2026. The selected parks are Cala Gran in Blackpool, Hopton in Norfolk, Lakeland in the Lake District, and Riviere Sands in Cornwall.
