By Michael Moran
The Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate, Kent, stands out for a number of reasons; not only is it the largest Wetherspoons pub in the world, it also boasts a a prime beachfront location. Manager Chris Whitbourn, who has run the Royal Victoria since its opening eight years ago, noted that the establishment’s carpets are replaced much more frequently than those of other pubs, due to the sand tracked in by the many beach-going patrons. Despite its grand scale, the pub experiences high foot traffic, welcoming guests from as early as 8am, with some patrons staying up until 1am, meaning a truly determined drinker could manage a 17-hour session. Remarkably, one customer managed a day-long stint and walked away with an amazingly low bar tab . Just last year, the pub received a hefty £750,000 renovation, squeezing in space for an additional 100 customers to its already enormous capacity of 1,400 seats. During a chat with the Mirror, 41-year-old Chris shared how the downtime during the Royal Victoria’s closure was used to tackle a range of maintenance tasks. Chris said: “There’s a lot of things that needed doing at the same time,” emphasising the necessity of external redecorating to maintain the aesthetic appeal for the entire locale. He further commented on renovations stating: “Doing the garden has been something we wanted to do for a long time and just with the timing of it, we could do it all at once.” During the revamp, many of the pub’s employees were found work at other nearby Wetherspoons establishments. Back in 2017, JD Wetherspoon first welcomed patrons into the Grade-II listed building following a grand £4.5 million restoration. The building, crafted by architect Stanley Davenport Adshead in 1903 with inspiration from a Robert Adam orangery, was a neglected pavilion lying empty for nine years until Tim Martin’s chain gave it new life. Devoted Wetherspoons enthusiast David Bingham, who embarked on what he calls the “longest pub crawl in history” over four years, visiting all the Wetherspoon pubs across the British Isles, hailed the Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate as Wetherspoons’ shining star. Speaking to the BBC , he expressed his admiration: “The one in Ramsgate is my favourite because the history behind that building is incredible”. On his remarkable journey, David approximates that he had spent somewhere in the region of £30,000, factoring in travel costs, beverages and stays. Concerned about the dwindling numbers of traditional British taverns, he noted that of the 875 establishments he called in on, about 40 had shut their doors by the time he capped off his adventure. A bleak tally showed just under 300 pubs across England and Wales shuttering in 2024 – equating to an average of six each week – as per recent statistics from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA). The year witnessed 289 pub closures, translating to roughly 4,500 job losses. Those in the know pin the blame on various pressures including escalated costs, evolving social habits, and stiff competition from economically priced supermarket alcohol. Emma McClarkin, CEO of the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), has voiced her concerns: “The scale of these closures is completely avoidable because pubs are doing a brisk trade. Consumer demand is there, however, profits are being wiped out with sky high bills and pubs are facing yet more rates and costs come April.” She continued to express support for Labour’s economic plans: “We’re right behind Labour’s mission to supercharge growth and can deliver this economic boost across the UK, but only if it is easier for pubs to keep their doors open.” McClarkin emphasised the need for government action: “Government must urgently bring in meaningful business rates reform and phase in new employment costs so pubs can keep boosting the economy, supporting local jobs, and remaining at the heart of communities.” Meanwhile, Wetherspoons is making strides to remain competitive amidst supermarket price battles. Harry Wallop from The Daily Mail , who spent 17 hours in the Royal Victoria, was surprised to find pints priced as low as just £1.79; a stark contrast to the national average of £4.83 as reported by the Office for National Statistics. Wallop noted his total spend for the day was a mere £41.44, which included “three square meals, 3 pints, a cocktail and a whisky and soda nightcap.” While Wetherspoons may not be the trendiest of pubs due to its ubiquity, Tim Martin’s efforts to rejuvenate the industry seem to be securing the future of British pubs for the next generation at least.