IT’S 9AM in Spain and I’ve just taken my first cold sip from a foam-topped pint of lager as the enthusiastic buzz of holidaymakers fills the airport’s departures lounge.
When in Rome… Except I’m actually west of there, in the Spanish city of Alicante, where the first international Wetherspoons has just opened its doors.
I went to the first ever Wetherspoons outside of the UK
The new pub even has an outdoor terrace
I’m one of the lucky few getting a slightly advanced preview of the boozer on opening day. But I can already see a queue forming at the door – mainly all Brits who are excitedly posing for snaps under the large sign.
What’s not British, however, is the pub’s name: Castell de Santa Barbara, after Alicante’s glorious 9th century castle which is perched high on a hill, with impressive views of the coastline and sprawling city.
The first punter to order a Guinness is Sun reader Kelvin from Salisbury who says that the opening of the British boozer was “a nice surprise” when he turned up today.
“When the taxi dropped me off, I saw the Wetherspoons sign from the outside and thought: perfect. I headed straight here.”
He visits his local ‘Spoons a couple of times a month and an 11:30am pint isn’t out of the ordinary for him.”
Kelvin’s usual: “a small breakfast and a pint – easy peasy”, is on this international menu.
In fact, all the familiar favourites are, bar a few nods to stereotypical Spanish cuisine like the garlic prawns and Spanish tortilla, priced at a reasonable price of €12.45 and €4.95 respectively.
“It’s nice to get something different when you go abroad,” Kelvin says, eyeing up the European selection of beers on tap.
The man sat opposite us is sticking to the classics, though – burger and chips, washed down with a pint of lager.
Another couple, stood at the bar – admittedly not mega Wetherspoons fans, but familiar with the chain – say: “We saw the sign and said ‘we’ve got to try it’. We’ll definitely be telling our friends, who fly here regularly, about it”.
It would make sense that most of the faces here are British.
The pub has pitched itself in the non-Schengen area, close to the gates for UK flights to draw in the near 2million Brits that pass through this airport monthly.
The decision to open here feels like a wise move, especially with last year being a bumper year for UK travellers to this Spanish airport, which sits a 45-minute drive from the popular resort town of Benidorm.
Last October saw a surge of 5.9 per cent of British passengers passing through the airport compared to the same month the year before – and that number is expected to grow even more.
Expect full fry ups as well as Spanish classics like tortilla and prawns
Brits can order a ‘cana’ beer – a smaller version popular in Spain – as well as sangria
And what’s not to love about an airport Spoons?
This one boasts something that all other airport Wetherspoons do not, however – an outdoor terrace, where you can catch those last glimpses of Spanish sunshine before jetting off home to drizzly England.
The only thing it’s missing is that familiar smell of well-trodden carpet and old chip fryer oil. Give it time, though.
And keep your eyes peeled for the appearance of more Wetherspoons, internationally.
Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin says: “We aim to open a number of pubs overseas in the coming months and years, including those at airports.”
Cheers to that.
The pub is now open for punters travelling from Alicante Airport
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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