I’M peering out over a golden sandy beach, a palm plant tickling my arms as I enjoy the 32C heat with my beer.
If you’re guessing I’m somewhere in or Majorca, you’d be wrong by just over a thousands miles.
Just a short train away from my hometown (or from , around 75 minutes) is the Royal Victoria Pavilion Wetherspoons.
But this isn’t any old Spoons – it (seeing as they are yet to branch out to anywhere abroad).
The 11,000sqft space can now fit up to 1,500 punters after a £750,000 renovation last year.
So there was no better place to spend the afternoon during the scorching weather trailing across the UK.
From the outside it looks just as impressive, complete with a silver mermaid on the roof and Grade II listed features.
And while it looks huge on the inside, with a central winding staircase taking you to the top mezanine, its the outside space that is the star of the show.
The outdoor rooftop terrace wraps around the entire building, with enough tables and chairs to fit hundreds.
The best views are found at the very back, with pub backing onto
I managed to secure a prime table in the middle, with views of the huge stretch dotted with sandcastle builders and sea swimmers.
An older couple were even a few tables away facing the sun, sleeves and shorts rolled up with their eyes closed as they tried to tan alongside their pints.
A commitment, when the beach was just steps away.
And despite barely being lunch time, the place definitely was already picking up with it already more than half full of people getting their orders in.
Littered with palm plants and metal tables, it certainly felt like I was abroad rather than in
Especially when I could just about hear the baseline of some music from someones speakers at the beach...
If you prefer doing some boat window shopping, you can grab a table on the right side overlooking the harbour.
Or the front side of the roof terrace which overlooks the streets – certainly the lesser of the spots to grab.
Don’t worry if you can’t handle the heat either.
Downstairs is a smaller beach terrace that is fully shaded, but still with views of the beach.
You’ll have to go around to get to the beach however, with no direct access but instead via an entry point next to the Wetherspoons.
But if you want that cheap beach club vibe without having to hop on a plane or buy an expensive drink – the Royal Victorian Pavilion is your best bet.
Here is everything
And we’ve rounded up some of the
