Wetherspoon to Open Two New Pubs in Spain After Successful Costa Blanca Debut
Wetherspoon Heads to Barcelona After Alicante Success
British pub giant JD Wetherspoon is to open two new bars at Barcelona's El Prat airport, the company has announced — marking the next step in what founder Sir Tim Martin has indicated will be a broader overseas expansion in the coming years.
The first of the two pubs is set to open at Terminal 1 in September 2026, with the second following at Terminal 2 in January 2027. Together they will cover a combined area of more than 5,700 square feet and have capacity for almost 600 customers. Both will be open daily from 5am to 11pm, with food served up to an hour before closing. Each pub will also have its own unique carpet design — a Wetherspoon tradition.
A First Overseas Venture — Already Proving Popular
The Barcelona announcement comes just weeks after Wetherspoon opened its first-ever pub outside the British Isles — at Alicante-Elche airport in February 2026. That Costa Blanca debut was a landmark moment for the chain, which has long been associated almost exclusively with the UK and Ireland.
The early signs have been encouraging. Sir Tim Martin, the company's founder and chairman, said: "In the short time since opening, our pub at Alicante airport has proven popular with travellers and we are confident we can replicate that at our two new pubs in Barcelona."
He added: "We aim to open a number of pubs overseas in the coming months and years, including those at airports."
What to Expect
The Barcelona pubs will be operated by Ibersol Group, one of the largest franchised brand operators in the Spanish and Portuguese travel and hospitality sector — the same operator running the Alicante venue.
The menu will follow the familiar Wetherspoon formula: classic British pub food including breakfasts, burgers and pizzas, alongside local Spanish dishes and real ales. For British expats and UK visitors passing through Barcelona airport, it will be a familiar and affordable option in an airport environment where prices are typically steep.
Why Spain?
Spain's airports are among the busiest in Europe, and the country has one of the largest British expat populations on the continent — concentrated particularly along the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol, and in Barcelona and Madrid. The combination of heavy British tourist traffic and a large resident expat community makes Spanish airports a natural fit for a brand whose identity is deeply tied to British pub culture.
The Alicante-Elche airport, serving the heart of the Costa Blanca, was a logical first step. Barcelona El Prat — Spain's second-busiest airport and a major hub for both tourism and business travel — is the obvious next move.
For expats flying in and out of Spain, the prospect of a reliable, reasonably priced pub meal and a pint at the airport — without the usual airport price premium — will be a welcome one.
This article is based on reporting from The Olive Press, published March 26, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only.
