ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

The UK's Largest Wetherspoons Opens Its Doors To The Public Today

The UK's Largest Wetherspoons Opens Its Doors To The Public Today

We're not worthy

Mark McGowan

Mark McGowan

There's little out there that can offer comfort and happiness in such huge amounts as a Wetherspoons.

It doesn't matter if you're hundreds of miles away from home; if there's a Spoons nearby, you're sorted. Because that's what it does - it offers the familiarity of home while you're away.

Admittedly, some are better than others, but the embers of the original flames are all still there, and given enough time those embers transform into a roaring fire where the heart can be warmed by its surroundings of reasonably priced pints, food and good people.

A few months ago, Spoons unveiled their 'super pub' - the chain's biggest ever venue - in Ramsgate, Kent.

Credit: BBC

It'll be called the Royal Victoria Pavilion, Kent Live reports, and has been converted from the seafront casino that it once was.

It finally opened it's doors today, and as you'd expect it became a popular attraction straight away.

The pub has "a customer area of almost 11,000 square foot, plus a ground floor and first floor terrace," pub manager Chris Whitbourn told the news outlet.

The building was derelict for some time before £4.5 million ($5.8m) was pumped into the process of transforming it into a paradise. Customers wanted to sample a taste of the new establishment, with punters sinking the first beers at around 9am.

Credit: PA

It opened at 8am - yep, many full English breakfasts were sold - and closes tonight at midnight. From Thursday to Saturday it'll be open until 1am.

Inside, the venue hosts a wooden floor that sits below a balcony, which you can access via a staircase that's reasonably described as 'grand'.

The building has kept its original features, which were put in when the pavilion was built in 1903 by architect Stanley Davenport Adshead.

Credit: PA

"It should be noted that the programme of works will last 34 weeks including Christmas shutdown, with the pub opening in July 2017," Architect Keith Paine said at the start of the project.

"Initially we will be erecting a temporary scaffold over the roof so we can commence re-roofing.

"Given the condition of the building there is very little we can retain of salvage. Gone are the dormers and oriel windows which we are intending to reinstate, as well as the cupola.

"With regards to reinstating the building to its 'former glory' we have managed - via the RIBA - to track down a number of the original architects drawings which we have been able to obtain copies of."

Credit: PA

By midday the pub was reportedly full, so it wasn't ideal when a power cut struck. Luckily it wasn't long before the lights were back on, illuminating a huge queue at the bar, as well as a 20 minute wait for food.

Locals were originally torn on the decision, with some claiming it's an unnecessary waste of money, while others added that creating 100 part-time jobs and a vibrant atmosphere is nothing but good news.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Wetherspoons, Pub