Is JD Wetherspoon opening the ‘biggest pub in the UK’?

28-Jun-2017 - Last updated on 29-Jun-2017 at 14:26 GMT

'Probably' the biggest: JD Wetherspoon set to open its largest pub yet

JD Wetherspoon claimed it would be opening “probably” the biggest pub in the UK this summer.

The pub, The Royal Victoria Pavilion, in Ramsgate, Kent, is set to open on 29 August and has almost 10,500sq ft of trading space.

With an investment of £4m and 150 jobs created, the site will be Wetherspoon’s biggest pub yet – and it claimed it would “probably be the biggest pub in the UK”, although the pubco cannot confirm this.

Iconic site

Wetherspoon’s spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are looking forward to opening our new pub in Ramsgate.

“It is an iconic site in the Kent seaside town and we believe that it will prove a great asset and attract many visitors from both the town and surrounding areas.

“We are restoring and refurbishing many of the original features of this wonderful building.”

The Grade II-listed former casino and dance hall has been derelict since 2008.

Major investment

Images that show what the pub will eventually look like, feature a large indoor and outdoor area with copious amounts of seating and an extra-long bar.

The news comes days after the pubco announced its biggest single investment of €15m (£13.18m) converting a row of derelict buildings into a 98-bedroom hotel and pub in Dublin city centre next year.