London-listed UK pub chain JD Wetherspoon, known for cheap beers and eats, has opened its first outlet in Continental Europe at Spain’s Alicante Airport.
The 1000-square-foot pub with an external terrace opened on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, in partnership with Lagardère Travel Retail, which has been an operator at Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport (ALC) since 2010.
The story behind the name
The new JD Wetherspoon pub is called Castell de Santa Bàrbera. The newly built, single-level airside pub is in the departures lounge, and will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m to 9 p.m.
The name Castell de Santa Bàrbera comes from a castle that sits overlooking the bay of Alicante, atop Mount Benacantil. Originating in the 19th century, the castle has served as a lookout, military fortress, and prison. It was designated in 1961 as a site of cultural interest and remains one of the city’s most significant historic landmarks.
A familiar brand for British travellers
Alicante Airport receives a huge number of British passengers: about 33% of all summer traffic is to or from the UK, as per Alicante Today. Many British passengers know the Wetherspoon concept well, which is built around affordability and familiarity.
True to that positioning, on opening day the pub advertised a pint of Guinness at the entrance for 7.50 euros ($8.93 or £6.52), although it remains unclear whether Wetherspoon’s low-price model can be fully maintained in a Spanish airport environment.
Tim Martin, Wetherspoon’s multimillionaire founder, said he expected the Alicante outlet to be “popular with a wide range of customers, including those travelling home to the UK.”
Local adaptation, commercial strategy, and expansion plans
Lagardère Travel Retail has adapted that concept with some Spanish flavour, particularly in the menu. Alongside Wetherspoon staples such as breakfast dishes, burgers and pizza, the offer includes Spanish traditionals such as garlic prawns and the Spanish omelette.
Javier Cagigal, CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail Spain and Portugal, commented on the partnership with Wetherspoon:
“We’ve focused on understanding passenger expectations and translated that insight into a dining offer that is both relevant and appealing; a locally driven approach.”
Lylian Vignau, Lagardère Travel Retail’s chief commercial and digital officer, added that:
“This opening reflects our approach to value creation in dining based on disciplined concept selection and the ability to adapt leading brands to each travel environment. We aim to enhance passenger conversion and drive sales performance.”
Lagardère Travel Retail said in a statement that it would “preserve the elements that have made Wetherspoon a household name and trusted brand in the UK.”
Alicante Airport was Spain’s fifth-busiest airport in 2025, handling just under 20 million passengers, with a growth of 8.5%. The airport is also set to benefit from 1.15 billion euros ($1.36 billion or £1.79 billion) in government investment through 2031, reflecting its long-term tourism potential.
Wetherspoon, with annual sales of £2.13 billion ($2.53 billion), expects to open a further 10 to 15 pubs in the rest of its current financial year ending on July 26, 2026, including the Alicante Airport unit.
Have you visited the new Wetherspoon pub? Share your experience in the comments.
