The UK's beloved pub chain JD Wetherspoon has revealed ambitious plans to establish its first-ever venue on mainland Europe, choosing a popular Spanish airport frequented by British holidaymakers as its inaugural continental location.
Spanish Airport Destination
The inaugural European Wetherspoons will be situated at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport, a key gateway for British tourists travelling to popular Costa Blanca resorts like Benidorm. The pub, named Castell de Santa Bàrbera, is scheduled to begin operations by the end of January 2026.
Positioned conveniently in the airside departures lounge, the venue will provide the perfect last stop for travellers seeking a familiar pint and meal before their flight home to the UK. The location is particularly popular with holidaymakers from northern England, with direct flight connections from cities like Liverpool taking less than three hours.
Pub Features and Operating Hours
The new establishment will operate seven days per week from 6am until 9pm, with food service continuing until one hour before closing. The design includes nearly 1,000 square feet of indoor seating complemented by an outdoor terrace offering additional tables for customers.
While the menu will feature many British favourites that have made Wetherspoons a household name - including their popular breakfasts, burgers, and pizzas - it will also incorporate local Spanish dishes. Travellers can enjoy traditional options like garlic prawns and Spanish omelettes, providing a final taste of Mediterranean cuisine before departure.
Expansion Strategy and Future Plans
Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin expressed enthusiasm about the overseas venture, 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."
Martin confirmed this marks the beginning of an international expansion strategy, revealing: "We aim to open a number of pubs overseas in the coming months and years, including those at airports." The choice of Alicante-Elche Airport is strategic, given its status as the busiest airport in the Valencian region, which welcomed a record 18.3 million passengers in 2024.
This European announcement comes alongside other expansion news from the pub chain. Wetherspoons has confirmed it will launch four new branches within Haven holiday parks across the UK by spring 2026, located at:
- Cala Gran in Blackpool
- Hopton in Norfolk
- Lakeland in the Lake District
- Riviere Sands in Cornwall
These will join five existing Wetherspoons venues already operating within Haven parks, which have collectively served 907,000 main meals, 288,000 breakfasts, and poured 692,201 pints according to Haven's figures.
Additionally, the chain has six new UK branches planned in the coming months, including locations in Newcastle upon Tyne, Stockton-on-Tees, and Wetherby, Yorkshire, expanding beyond their current portfolio of over 800 establishments across the country.
