Wetherspoons Opens Today at Alicante Airport

Opening today, a familiar British institution has landed on Spanish soil. Wetherspoons has officially opened its first mainland European pub at Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport, giving British travellers, expats and holidaymakers a comforting taste of home right before they fly.

The new pub, named Castell de Santa Bàrbera after Alicante’s famous hilltop fortress, is located airside in the departures area, meaning it’s accessible once you’ve passed through security. For many Costa Blanca residents who regularly fly back to the UK, this is a welcome and slightly surreal sight: a proper Wetherspoons pub, complete with full English breakfasts and pints, just moments from the boarding gate.

A Very British Pub in a Very Spanish Airport

Alicante Airport is one of the busiest gateways between the UK and Spain, serving millions of British passengers every year. From short weekend breaks to expats returning “home” for family visits, it’s a route that sees constant traffic. Until now, airport food options have largely meant pricey cafés, quick snacks, or generic bars.

Wetherspoons changes that dynamic. The new venue offers indoor seating plus an outdoor terrace, something that instantly sets it apart from most airport pubs. Being able to sit outside in the Spanish sunshine with a drink before your flight is likely to be a major draw, particularly for those squeezing in one last moment of Costa Blanca warmth before heading back to grey skies.

The pub opens early in the morning and runs through to the evening, catering equally to early departures and afternoon flights.

The Menu: British Classics Front and Centre

As expected, the menu leans heavily into classic British pub food, with a few subtle nods to Spain.

Breakfast is where this new Wetherspoons is likely to win over travellers fastest. A Full English Breakfast is on offer, featuring fried eggs, bacon, sausage, baked beans and toast. Prices are higher than a typical UK Wetherspoons, where a full breakfast might cost around £5, but at roughly €10–11, it remains competitive for an airport setting, where similar meals often exceed that without the familiarity.

For something lighter, there are bacon or sausage butties, vegetarian options, and simple breakfast plates aimed at those grabbing a quick bite before boarding.

Later in the day, the menu shifts into familiar territory: burgers, pizzas, sandwiches and pub-style mains. While some staples like fish and chips are missing due to kitchen limitations, the overall offering still feels unmistakably Wetherspoons. A couple of Spanish-inspired items, such as tortilla-style dishes and garlic prawns, provide a subtle local twist without straying too far from the brand’s British roots.

Drinks Prices: How Does It Compare?

One of the big questions for any Wetherspoons opening is always price — and this is where comparisons get interesting.

In the UK, Wetherspoons is famous for its low-cost pints. At Alicante Airport, prices are inevitably higher, but still reasonable by airport standards. A standard lager comes in at around €5–6, compared with £2–3 in many UK branches. Guinness is priced higher, closer to €7–8, but again, this is in line with (or cheaper than) many airport bars across Europe.

Cocktails and spirits are also available, typically sitting below the prices charged by neighbouring airport outlets. For regular Alicante flyers, this could quickly become the go-to pre-flight stop.

Why This Matters for Costa Blanca Expats

For the large British expat community living along the Costa Blanca, this opening feels oddly symbolic. Alicante Airport is often the emotional halfway point between two lives — Spain and the UK — and having a Wetherspoons there adds a familiar ritual to that journey.

It’s easy to imagine regular flyers planning arrivals at the airport just a little earlier, factoring in time for a breakfast, a coffee, or a final pint before boarding. For visiting friends and family, it’s also an instantly recognisable place to sit, eat and regroup before a flight home.

More Than Just an Airport Pub

This opening is also significant for Wetherspoons itself. It marks the company’s first mainland European location, hinting at possible future expansion in other high-traffic airports popular with British travellers.

Whether that happens or not, the Alicante opening already feels like a smart move: the right brand, in the right place, for the right audience.

Final Thoughts

Now open, Wetherspoons at Alicante Airport offers something genuinely different from the usual airport experience. It’s familiar without being boring, British without ignoring its Spanish surroundings, and — crucially — still relatively affordable.

For Costa Blanca residents, UK holidaymakers and frequent flyers alike, Castell de Santa Bàrbera looks set to become a pre-flight tradition rather than just another place to grab a drink.