We recently reported on Adventure.com’s predictions for what travel will look like in 2050, but having British pub chain Wetherspoons take its operations international wasn’t exactly on the bingo card.
Sometimes though, life is unpredictable, and while CEO and founder Tim Martin’s plans to open new Wetherspoons pubs abroad is yet to be confirmed, it seems like the idea is very much in the works.
‘We think there are probably 100 to 200 franchise partnerships in the UK. Now it’s a question of going abroad and it’s a possibility,’ Martin told The Sun, ‘There is now an opportunity for franchises abroad, but not in China.’
So, where is on the cards for Wetherspoons-ifying? The pub chain is setting its sights on popular Spanish holiday destinations among Brits, such as Majorca, Benidorm and Alicante, which according to Martin ‘make sense’ for the company’s first European venture.
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The idea to expand abroad has come after a series of successful franchise partnerships in the UK for Wetherspoons.
The chain has just announced four more pubs to be opened on Haven holiday parks, after a similar deal with Primrose Valley holiday parks. It’s also got franchises with Newcastle University (check out our favourite restaurants in Newcastle) as well as the University of Hull. That’s on top of the almost 800 pubs across the UK and Ireland.
So, will Spanish beachside bars soon be competing with flamboyant carpets and full-English breakfasts? Who knows, but in the meantime, check out the best things to do in Majorca, Benidorm and Alicante, which include recommendations for locally-run Spanish bars.
Did you see that five Spanish cities feature on Time Out’s list of the world’s best cities in 2025?
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