JD Wetherspoon to open first overseas pub

JD Wetherspoon is to open its first overseas pub in January 2026 as it seeks to target growth in international travel hubs.

The Castell de Santa Bàrbera pub will be located in departures at the Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport in Spain.

The new-build pub will operate seven days a week from 6am to 9pm, offering food at all times up to an hour before closing.

The menu will be similar to the ones available across the UK, consisting of breakfast dishes, burgers, pizzas, as well as a few local specialities, including garlic prawns and Spanish omelette.

Diners will have access to 1,000 sq ft of space in addition to an external seated terrace.

Tim Martin, founder and chairman of Wetherspoon, said: “We are very much looking forward to opening our first overseas pub.

“We believe it will be popular with people travelling home from Alicante Airport.

“We aim to open a number of pubs overseas in the coming months and years, including those at airports.”

Earlier this week, it was announced four more Wetherspoon pubs will open in spring 2026 as part of an exclusive partnership with British holiday park operator Haven.

In April, JD Wetherspoon had also revealed plans to grow to more than 1,000 sites through franchising with hotel partners.