Man who spent 17 hours at UK's largest Wetherspoons left with surprising bill
The Royal Victoria Pavilion, in Ramsgate, Kent, is the largest pub in the Wetherspoons chain and has arguably the best location - it's right on the beach
JD Wetherspoon put in around £4.5 million to revamp the dilapidated pavilion into a mega-pub
(Image: KMG / SWNS )
The Royal Victoria Pavilion, situated in the coastal town of Ramsgate, Kent, stands out for several reasons. It proudly claims the title of the largest pub within the Wetherspoons empire, and it might just boast the most enviable position too – nestled right on the seafront.
Chris Whitbourn, the longstanding manager who has helmed the Royal Victoria Pavilion for eight years, shared an interesting tidbit: the establishment's carpets bear the brunt of its popularity and seaside locale, making it necessary for them to be replaced twice as often compared to other pubs due to its sand-toting patrons.
The vast tavern sees a nearly unending tide of customers from as early as 8am, with some enthusiasts basking in the beachside ambiance until 1am – a potential 17-hour stretch, The Mirror reports.
And yes, someone actually completed such an epic stint, astonishingly emerging with quite a slender tab. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
With its ideal location, the Royal Victoria Pavilion offers splendid views of the beach
(Image: KMG / SWNS )
Just last year, the Royal Victoria underwent an extensive £750,000 refurbishment, swelling its already impressive capacity of 1,400 to hold another 100 people.
Article continues below
Working through a period when the premises was temporarily closed, Chris, aged 41, seized that moment to refresh a little more than just the décor.
He said: "There's a lot of things that needed doing at the same time. 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.
The Grade-II listed building first welcomed patrons as a JD Wetherspoon pub 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.
It had lain vacant for nine years prior to being acquired by Tim Martin's firm.
A recent revamp added an additional capacity for 100 more people at the pub
(Image: KMG / SWNS )
David Bingham, a devoted Wetherspoons enthusiast who embarked on a four-year "longest pub crawl in history", visiting all of the Wetherspoon pubs across the British Isles, regards the Royal Victoria as the gem of the Wetherspoons collection.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: "The one in Ramsgate is my favourite because the history behind that building is incredible."
David estimated that his extensive fact-finding journey cost him around £30,000, encompassing travel expenses, beverages, and overnight accommodation.
He pointed out the looming threat to the great British pub, noting that approximately 40 of the 875 pubs he visited had shut their doors by the time he completed his tour.
According to recent data from the British Beer and Pub Association [BBPA], nearly 300 pubs across England and Wales shuttered in 2024 – an average of six per week.
Last year saw 289 closures, resulting in the loss of roughly 4,500 jobs. Industry insiders attribute this trend to a variety of factors, including escalating prices, shifting social trends, and competition from inexpensive supermarket alcohol.
Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the BBPA, remarked: "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.
The building was in a poor state before being bought by Wetherspoons
(Image: Mirrorpix )
"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, urging: "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 making strides to compete with supermarket pricing.
Harry Wallop of the Daily Mail, who spent 17 hours at the Royal Victoria, was surprised to find pints priced at just £1.79; a stark contrast to the national average of £4.83 as reported by the Office for National Statistics.
Wallop also noted his own spending during his lengthy pub visit amounted to a mere £41.44, which covered "three square meals, 3 pints, a cocktail and a whisky and soda nightcap."
Article continues below
While Wetherspoons may not be the trendiest of establishments, given its ubiquity, Tim Martin's efforts to rejuvenate the struggling sector seem to be safeguarding the future of British pubs for the coming generation.
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Man who spent 17 hours at UK's largest Wetherspoons left with surprising bill The Royal Victoria Pavilion, in Ramsgate, Kent, is the largest pub in the Wetherspoons chain and has arguably the best location - it's right on the beach JD Wetherspoon put in around £4.5 million to revamp the dilapidated pavilion into a mega-pub (Image: KMG / SWNS ) The Royal Victoria Pavilion, situated in the coastal town of Ramsgate, Kent, stands out for several reasons. It proudly claims the title of the largest pub within the Wetherspoons empire, and it might just boast the most enviable position too – nestled right on the seafront. Chris Whitbourn, the longstanding manager who has helmed the Royal Victoria Pavilion for eight years, shared an interesting tidbit: the establishment's carpets bear the brunt of its popularity and seaside locale, making it necessary for them to be replaced twice as often compared to other pubs due to its sand-toting patrons. The vast tavern sees a nearly unending tide of customers from as early as 8am, with some enthusiasts basking in the beachside ambiance until 1am – a potential 17-hour stretch, The Mirror reports. And yes, someone actually completed such an epic stint, astonishingly emerging with quite a slender tab. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here With its ideal location, the Royal Victoria Pavilion offers splendid views of the beach (Image: KMG / SWNS ) Just last year, the Royal Victoria underwent an extensive £750,000 refurbishment, swelling its already impressive capacity of 1,400 to hold another 100 people. Article continues below Working through a period when the premises was temporarily closed, Chris, aged 41, seized that moment to refresh a little more than just the décor. He said: "There's a lot of things that needed doing at the same time. 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. The Grade-II listed building first welcomed patrons as a JD Wetherspoon pub 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. It had lain vacant for nine years prior to being acquired by Tim Martin's firm. A recent revamp added an additional capacity for 100 more people at the pub (Image: KMG / SWNS ) David Bingham, a devoted Wetherspoons enthusiast who embarked on a four-year "longest pub crawl in history", visiting all of the Wetherspoon pubs across the British Isles, regards the Royal Victoria as the gem of the Wetherspoons collection. Speaking to the BBC, he said: "The one in Ramsgate is my favourite because the history behind that building is incredible." David estimated that his extensive fact-finding journey cost him around £30,000, encompassing travel expenses, beverages, and overnight accommodation. He pointed out the looming threat to the great British pub, noting that approximately 40 of the 875 pubs he visited had shut their doors by the time he completed his tour. According to recent data from the British Beer and Pub Association [BBPA], nearly 300 pubs across England and Wales shuttered in 2024 – an average of six per week. Last year saw 289 closures, resulting in the loss of roughly 4,500 jobs. Industry insiders attribute this trend to a variety of factors, including escalating prices, shifting social trends, and competition from inexpensive supermarket alcohol. Emma McClarkin, Chief Executive of the BBPA, remarked: "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. The building was in a poor state before being bought by Wetherspoons (Image: Mirrorpix ) "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, urging: "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 making strides to compete with supermarket pricing. Harry Wallop of the Daily Mail, who spent 17 hours at the Royal Victoria, was surprised to find pints priced at just £1.79; a stark contrast to the national average of £4.83 as reported by the Office for National Statistics. Wallop also noted his own spending during his lengthy pub visit amounted to a mere £41.44, which covered "three square meals, 3 pints, a cocktail and a whisky and soda nightcap." Article continues below While Wetherspoons may not be the trendiest of establishments, given its ubiquity, Tim Martin's efforts to rejuvenate the struggling sector seem to be safeguarding the future of British pubs for the coming generation.
