Wetherspoons to Make Landing in Spain with New Airport Pub
In a bold move, the UK-based pub chain Wetherspoons is set to make its mark on mainland Europe by opening its first airport pub outside of the UK and Ireland. The new venue, dubbed Castell de Santa Bàrbera, will cater exclusively to holidaymakers returning home from Spain's Costa Blanca tourist hotspot, Alicante airport.
Scheduled to open in January, the 93-square-metre (1,000 sq ft) pub will boast a compact yet cozy atmosphere, with an outdoor terrace offering seating for customers to soak up some sun before their gate is called. Food and drink options will be available from dawn till dusk, including traditional local dishes such as garlic prawns and Spanish omelette.
This new expansion marks nearly a decade since Wetherspoons' outspoken founder and chair, Tim Martin, voiced his support for Britain's decision to leave the EU. The company's foray into continental Europe is expected to be just the beginning, with plans in place to open more pubs on the continent in the coming years.
While sales growth has slowed down slightly over the first 14 weeks of the financial year, Wetherspoons remains committed to its franchise model and expansion strategy. Martin believes the new airport pub will be a hit among sun-seekers returning home from Spain, citing the need for a reliable drinking option in departure lounges.
Wetherspoons' love affair with airports began back in 1992 when it opened its first airport pub at Heathrow Terminal 4. Since then, the company has expanded to several other UK airports and established itself as a go-to destination for air travelers seeking a pint or two before their flight departs.
In a bold move, the UK-based pub chain Wetherspoons is set to make its mark on mainland Europe by opening its first airport pub outside of the UK and Ireland. The new venue, dubbed Castell de Santa Bàrbera, will cater exclusively to holidaymakers returning home from Spain's Costa Blanca tourist hotspot, Alicante airport.
Scheduled to open in January, the 93-square-metre (1,000 sq ft) pub will boast a compact yet cozy atmosphere, with an outdoor terrace offering seating for customers to soak up some sun before their gate is called. Food and drink options will be available from dawn till dusk, including traditional local dishes such as garlic prawns and Spanish omelette.
This new expansion marks nearly a decade since Wetherspoons' outspoken founder and chair, Tim Martin, voiced his support for Britain's decision to leave the EU. The company's foray into continental Europe is expected to be just the beginning, with plans in place to open more pubs on the continent in the coming years.
While sales growth has slowed down slightly over the first 14 weeks of the financial year, Wetherspoons remains committed to its franchise model and expansion strategy. Martin believes the new airport pub will be a hit among sun-seekers returning home from Spain, citing the need for a reliable drinking option in departure lounges.
Wetherspoons' love affair with airports began back in 1992 when it opened its first airport pub at Heathrow Terminal 4. Since then, the company has expanded to several other UK airports and established itself as a go-to destination for air travelers seeking a pint or two before their flight departs.
just think about how popular Wetherspoons is in the uk it's crazy they're taking this on now 
i mean, 1 airport pub in spain? that's just a drop in the ocean but hey more drinking options for all you spain-bound folks 
like how many ppl actually drink at the airport anyway? its just gonna attract more tourists who are already on vacation mode, not exactly the target market for a pub thats supposed to serve locals too 
. and 93 sqm is tiny lol, dont they have bigger spaces in europe that they can use? seems like wetherspoons just wanna cash in on the spain tourist crowd 
wetherspoons is basically just going to be some overpriced, mediocre food joint for sweaty tourists trying to rehydrate after a 4 hour layover 
️ they'll probably serve the same old bland beer and burnt pizza as every other airport pub in europe. and the fact that it's right at Alicante airport means there will be literally no one trying this place when the flights come in 
still, i guess it's kinda cool that they're finally getting out of the uk... about time we saw some decent pub life beyond the london bubble 
like remember when we used to fly to Spain and there was that one airport pub at Heathrow and it was like the highlight of the journey lol 
who needs the eu when you can get garlic prawns at 3am pre-flight 
! opening an airport pub in Spain will be a total game-changer for Wetherspoons. i mean, who doesn't want to grab a drink and some grub while waiting for their flight? 
. love that they're expanding their franchise model and opening up more pubs across Europe 
. it's a great move for Wetherspoons and I'm sure it'll be a huge hit among travelers 
for seeing the potential in airports as a pub spot - now let's get this airport pub party started 
#WetherspoonsInSpain #AirportPubLife #ExpandingHorizons
. Good luck Wetherspoons making Spain's airport scene 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a proper English pub experience with garlic prawns and Spanish omelette while waiting for their flight? It's about time someone brought some decent grub and drinks to the departure lounges 
.
i'm excited to see if they'll have any UK fave beers available too 
or its jus another pub with a cool location? also, 93 sqm is kinda small for an airport pub lol 
Can't wait to check this place out when I'm flying back from Spain!
!
One thing is for sure, it'll be a great spot to people-watch while waiting for your flight 
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. Not exactly the most welcoming vibe for sun-kissed tourists trying to recover from their Spanish vacay. And garlic prawns and Spanish omelette? Really? 
. I guess it's just more proof that they're just cashing in on people's desperation for a drink at the airport...