The Royal Victoria Pavilion, in Ramsgate, Kent, is the most important pub within the Wetherspoons chain and has arguably the very best location – it is proper on the seashore
The Royal Victoria Pavilion, located within the coastal city of Ramsgate, Kent, stands out for a number of causes. It proudly claims the title of the most important pub throughout the Wetherspoons empire, and it would simply boast essentially the most enviable place too – nestled proper on the seafront.
Chris Whitbourn, the longstanding supervisor who has helmed the Royal Victoria Pavilion for eight years, shared an fascinating tidbit: the institution’s carpets bear the brunt of its recognition and seaside locale, making it needed for them to get replaced twice as typically in comparison with different pubs because of its sand-toting patrons.
The huge tavern sees an almost endless tide of shoppers from as early as 8am, with some lovers basking within the beachside ambiance till 1am – a possible 17-hour stretch, The Mirror reviews.
And sure, somebody really accomplished such an epic stint, astonishingly rising with fairly a slender tab. For our free day by day briefing on the most important points going through the nation, signal as much as the Wales Issues e-newsletter right here
Simply final yr, the Royal Victoria underwent an intensive £750,000 refurbishment, swelling its already spectacular capability of 1,400 to carry one other 100 folks.
Working by means of a interval when the premises was quickly closed, Chris, aged 41, seized that second to refresh a bit of extra than simply the décor.
He mentioned: “There’s numerous issues that wanted doing on the similar time. It was necessary that we did the exterior redecoration to maintain it wanting good for the entire of the city.
“Doing the backyard has been one thing we needed to do for a very long time and simply with the timing of it, we may do it suddenly.”
Through the refurbishment, quite a few workers members have been quickly reassigned to close by Spoons institutions.
The Grade-II listed constructing first welcomed patrons as a JD Wetherspoon pub in 2017, following a £4.5 million revamp.
The construction, crafted by architect Stanley Davenport Adshead in 1903 to resemble a Robert Adam orangery, was previously a derelict pavilion.
It had lain vacant for 9 years previous to being acquired by Tim Martin’s agency.
David Bingham, a faithful Wetherspoons fanatic who launched into a four-year “longest pub crawl in historical past”, visiting all the Wetherspoon pubs throughout the British Isles, regards the Royal Victoria because the gem of the Wetherspoons assortment.
Chatting with the BBC, he mentioned: “The one in Ramsgate is my favorite as a result of the historical past behind that constructing is unimaginable.”
David estimated that his in depth fact-finding journey value him round £30,000, encompassing journey bills, drinks, and in a single day lodging.
He identified the looming risk to the nice British pub, noting that roughly 40 of the 875 pubs he visited had shut their doorways by the point he accomplished his tour.
Based on current information from the British Beer and Pub Affiliation [BBPA], practically 300 pubs throughout England and Wales shuttered in 2024 – a mean of six per week.
Final yr noticed 289 closures, ensuing within the lack of roughly 4,500 jobs. Business insiders attribute this pattern to a wide range of components, together with escalating costs, shifting social developments, and competitors from cheap grocery store alcohol.
Emma McClarkin, Chief Government of the BBPA, remarked: “The dimensions of those closures is totally avoidable as a result of pubs are doing a brisk commerce. Shopper demand is there, nonetheless, income are being worn out with sky excessive payments and pubs are going through but extra charges and prices come April.
“We’re proper behind Labour’s mission to supercharge progress and may ship this financial increase throughout the UK, however solely whether it is simpler for pubs to maintain their doorways open.”
McClarkin emphasised the necessity for presidency motion, urging: “Authorities should urgently herald significant enterprise charges reform and part in new employment prices so pubs can preserve boosting the financial system, supporting native jobs, and remaining on the coronary heart of communities.”
Within the meantime, Wetherspoons is making strides to compete with grocery store pricing.
Harry Wallop of the Every day Mail, who spent 17 hours on the Royal Victoria, was stunned to seek out pints priced at simply £1.79; a stark distinction to the nationwide common of £4.83 as reported by the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics.
Wallop additionally famous his personal spending throughout his prolonged pub go to amounted to a mere £41.44, which lined “three sq. meals, 3 pints, a cocktail and a whisky and soda nightcap.”
Whereas Wetherspoons might not be the trendiest of institutions, given its ubiquity, Tim Martin’s efforts to rejuvenate the struggling sector appear to be safeguarding the way forward for British pubs for the approaching technology.
