Wetherspoon's First European Venture Takes Flight in Spain
Pub giant JD Wetherspoon has confirmed a landmark move, announcing the launch of its first-ever pub in Europe. The new establishment, set to be located at Alicante airport in Spain, is strategically positioned just a three-hour flight from Birmingham, offering a direct taste of Britain for returning holidaymakers.
Details of the New Alicante Airport Pub
The pub will be named the Castell de Santa Barbera and is scheduled to open its doors to the public at the end of January 2026. It will be situated in the departures area, specifically targeting UK travellers before they board their flights home.
Operating hours are set for seven days a week, from 6am to 9pm. The venue will offer nearly 1,000 square feet of customer space on a single level, complemented by an external terrace with additional seating.
The menu promises to blend British pub favourites with local Spanish cuisine. Patrons can expect to find traditional English fry-ups and burgers alongside popular dishes like garlic prawns and Spanish omelette.
A Strategic Move for Overseas Expansion
Wetherspoon founder and chairman, Sir Tim Martin, stated the company is "very much looking forward to opening our first overseas pub" and believes it will be popular with travellers. He explicitly confirmed that this marks the beginning of the chain's overseas expansion, with plans to open a number of pubs abroad in the coming months and years, including further airport locations.
This new Spanish site is part of a broader plan to open 30 new pubs in the current financial year, comprising 15 managed pubs and 15 franchises. This expansion comes as the group, which operates almost 800 pubs in the UK, reported a 3.7% rise in like-for-like sales for the first 14 weeks of its financial year, up to November 2.
The choice of Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport is a calculated one, given its growing popularity with British tourists seeking access to the Costa Blanca region and destinations like Benidorm.
