JD Wetherspoon

Wetherspoons opened its first pub outside the UK and Ireland at Alicante Airport on Monday morning, and Mirror News food editor Joe Rintel was there to sample the menu and prices

Anyone familiar with Benidorm will tell you it’s Continental Europe’s undisputed capital of British cuisine.

Stroll along the strip and you’ll encounter more Full English breakfasts and Sunday roasts than you could possibly tackle during a week-long break. This fine tradition of potatoes and gravy continues at Alicante Airport, where the first Wetherspoons beyond UK and Irish shores welcomed its inaugural customers on Monday morning.

I witnessed the historic moment as the first punters crossed the threshold, with Daz Sunderland becoming the maiden paying customer to savour a pint of lager. Dubbed Castell de Santa Bàrbera after a neighbouring mountain fortress, the establishment features several gestures towards its Spanish setting, including bilingual menus, a ‘Spanish tortilla’ offering, and multilingual staff who switch effortlessly between languages.

However, it remains unmistakably British at heart. The menu predominantly features quintessential British fare, accompanied by pints of Stella and tins of Old Speckled Hen.

Here’s a sample of what’s available (prices in euros):

Beer

Five beers are available on draught. As this Spoons is more compact than typical UK high street branches, tap capacity is restricted. Consequently, there’s no ale – just lager. This makes perfect sense given Alicante’s typically balmy climate.

The draught selections include:

• Cruzcampo Especial 4.95
• Amstel Original 5.95
• Stella Artois 5.95
• Guinness 7.50
• Leffe Blonde 7.95

Wine

Where else at an airport can you secure a glass of wine for barely more than £3? You’d struggle to locate cheaper 125ml servings of the fermented grape anywhere else across Europe.

• Viña Lobera Verdejo Ecológico 3.65
• Cune Rueda 4.95
• Viña Real Rosado 6.75

Mixers

Regarding spirits and mixers, Spanish Spoons operates a fixed-price structure (except for certain premium selections). It charges €6.95 for 25ml with a mixer, and €9.95 for a double. This includes:

• Beverly peach liqueur
• Disaronno amaretto
• Malibu
• Southern Comfort
• Gordon’s
• Gordon’s Pink Gin
• Tanqueray
• Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla
• Bacardi Carta Blanca
• Captain Morgan Original Spiced Gold

On the drinks front, there’s one notable absence. The establishment doesn’t provide complimentary tap water; instead, customers are directed to buy bottled water.

For those who adore Spoons’ grub, you’re in for a treat. The menu features several Spanish touches, though largely consists of familiar British favourites. Here’s a sample of what’s available:

Breakfast

• Traditional breakfast: Fried egg, bacon, Lincolnshire sausage, baked beans, two hash browns, slice of toast 10.25
• Small breakfast: Fried egg, bacon, Lincolnshire sausage, baked beans, hash brown 8.25
• Large vegetarian breakfast; Two fried eggs, three vegan sausages, baked beans, three hash browns, portobello mushrooms, tomato, two slices of toast 12.95
• Vegetarian breakfast: Fried egg, two vegan sausages, baked beans, two hash browns, portobello mushrooms, tomato, slice of toast
• Small vegetarian breakfast: Fried egg, vegan sausage, baked beans, hash brown, tomato 10.25
• Scrambled egg on toast 5.95
• Beans on toast 4.95
• Vegan beans on toast 4.95
• Vegan spread, white bloomer toast
• Two slices of toast with butter and jam 450 kcal 3.95
• Fresh fruit and yoghurt 7.95

Small plates

• Broken eggs 10.95
• Garlic prawns 12.45
• Spanish tortilla 4.95
• Nachos 10.95
• Bowl of chips 4.95
• Bowl of chips with curry sauce 6.95
• Cheesy chips 6.95
• Loaded chips 9.95
• Burgers
• Classic beef burger 12.95
• Classic cheeseburger 13.95
• Breaded chicken breast 12.95
• Crunchy chicken strip burger 12.95
• Korean crunchy chicken strip burger 12.95
• Vegetarian burger 12.95
• Chicken dishes
• All-day brunch 12.95
• Vegetarian all-day brunch 12.95
• Sausages, chips and beans 11.95
• Vegan sausages, chips and beans 11.95

What do you think goes in a classic English fry-up? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com