By Michael Moran
The Royal Victoria Pavilion, nestled in Ramsgate, Kent, is a sight to behold. Not only does it hold the title of being the largest pub in the Wetherspoons chain, but it also boasts arguably the most enviable location – right on the beachfront. Chris Whitbourn, the gaffer at the Royal Victoria for the past eight years, reveals that the pub’s carpets have to be swapped out twice as often as any other boozer’s due to the influx of sandy-footed punters. Despite its colossal size, the pub is often chock-a-block, with customers trickling in from 8 a.m. and, in some rare instances, sticking around until 1 a.m. – a potential 17-hour stint. One daring drinker recently pulled off such a marathon session and walked away with a surprisingly modest tab. Last year, the pub underwent a whopping £750,000 revamp, adding room for an extra 100 thirsty patrons to its already staggering 1,400 capacity. Chris, 41, told the Mirror that while the Royal Victoria was temporarily shuttered, he seized the chance to tick off a few more tasks on his to-do list. “There’s a lot of things that needed doing at the same time,” he shared. “It was important that we did the external redecoration to keep it looking good for the whole of the town. “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 refurbishment, numerous staff members were temporarily reassigned to nearby Spoons establishments. JD Wetherspoon first welcomed patrons into the Grade II-listed building in 2017, following a £4.5 million revamp. The structure, crafted by architect Stanley Davenport Adshead in 1903 to resemble a Robert Adam orangery, was formerly a derelict pavilion that had lain vacant for nine years prior to being acquired by Tim Martin’s firm. Wetherspoons enthusiast David Bingham, who embarked on an epic four-year “longest pub crawl in history,” visiting all of the Wetherspoon pubs in the British Isles, regards the Royal Victoria as the gem in Wetherspoons’ crown. He told the BBC : “The one in Ramsgate is my favourite because the history behind that building is incredible.” David revealed that he likely spent around £30,000 on his grand exploration, which included travel costs, beverages, and overnight accommodation. Drawing attention to the peril facing the quintessential British pub, he noted that approximately 40 of the 875 watering holes he visited had shut their doors by the time he concluded his journey. According to the most recent data from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), just shy of 300 pubs shuttered across England and Wales in 2024 – averaging six closures per week. The past year saw 289 closures, resulting in the loss of roughly 4,500 jobs. Industry insiders attribute this trend to several factors, including escalating prices, shifting social trends, and competition from inexpensive supermarket alcohol. Emma McClarkin, CEO of the BBPA, stated: “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. “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. “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.” In the meantime, Wetherspoons is endeavouring to stay competitive in the supermarket price wars. A recent visit by The Daily Mail ’s Harry Wallop to the Royal Victoria revealed astonishingly low prices, including a pint for just £1.79 – a fraction of the average UK pint price of £4.83, according to the Office for National Statistics. During his 17-hour visit, Wallop’s expenses totalled a modest £41.44, covering “three square meals, 3 pints, a cocktail, and a whisky and soda nightcap.” While Wetherspoons may never be the trendiest pub — its sheer number of locations precludes that — Tim Martin’s efforts to shake up a struggling industry are at least ensuring the survival of the country’s pubs for another generation.