Wetherspoon opens first Spain pub today – with English fry up and £4 pints | World | News
Wetherspoon opened the doors of its first pub outside the UK on Monday (Image: JD Wetherspoon)
British favorite JD Wetherspoon has launched its first pub in continental Europe – its first beyond the shores of the UK – complete with full English fries, pizzas, as well as cask ale, wine, craft beer and lager. Castell de Santa Bàrbera, located at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport in southeastern Spain, opened its doors for the first time on Monday, February 9.
Featuring an outside terrace with seating area, this room is located in the non-Schengen zone of the airside departure area. All classic British dishes are on offer, from traditional breakfasts to burgers and pizzas. There will also be Spanish-inspired drinks and dishes, such as garlic shrimp and Spanish omelettes. With Alicante Airport being the main gateway to the Costa Blanca, serving major tourist hotspots such as Benidorm, Alicante city and Torrevieja, the pub is expected to be a big hit with Brits.
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Spoons will serve a variety of local dishes such as garlic shrimp, Spanish omelette and cracked eggs (Image: JD Wetherspoon)
But for those dreaming of a home away from home, the decor has been updated. The iconic Wetherspoon rug has been replaced by Spanish tiles paired with cream paint. The bar is also much smaller than your average high street Spoons.
Some of the menu items differ with British fish and chips being removed from the menu due to the lack of a deep fryer. Including Spoons’ curry, another company favorite in the house, but with a twist in the form of two Japanese-style Katsu offerings. The menu also includes a variety of local dishes, such as garlic shrimp, Spanish omelette and cracked eggs.
All is not lost, however, as around 90% of what you can get at most Spoons includes a traditional breakfast of fried eggs, bacon, Lincolnshire sausage and baked beans – all for €10.25 (£8.94), almost double the price found in the UK, but cheaper than most airport branches here, the firm said.
When it comes to beer, an Amstel original retails for €5.95 (£5.18) for 550ml, a 580ml Stella Artois is the same, Guinness costs €7.50 (£6.53) and BrewDog Punk IPA costs €4.95 (£4.31). Some drinks come in cans, including Greene King Abbot Ale, priced at €5.95, as does John Smith’s Extra Smooth bitters. Those who still want to stay in the holiday spirit can opt for the €9.95 (£8.66) cocktail consisting of Godfather, Woo Woo and Sex on the Beach.
Castell de Santa Bàrbera may be the first of many Spoons in Europe (Image: JD Wetherspoon)
The pub will trade from 6am to 9pm, seven days a week.
As if that wasn’t enough good news, Castell de Santa Bàrbera looks set to be the first of many possible Wetherspoons in Europe; founder and president Tim Martin is potentially signaling more openings in the coming months.
Mr Martin said: “We are delighted to have opened in Spain. We believe the pub will be popular with a wide range of customers traveling home from Alicante Airport, including those heading home to the UK and those using the terminal for trips to the UK and beyond. We aim to open a number of pubs abroad, including in airports, in the coming months and years.”
Mr Martin previously said: Mirror He said it made sense to have branches in Benidorm and Majorca.
