Man spends 17 hours at Britain's biggest Wetherspoons and bill leaves him floored

Edinburgh Live

02-07-2025

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The Royal Victoria Pavilion in Ramsgate, Kent stands out for many reasons. It's not only the largest establishment in the Wetherspoons franchise but it also boasts a prime beachfront location.
Manager Chris Whitbourn, who's been at the helm since its opening eight years ago, has noted that the pub's carpets undergo twice the usual rate of replacement due to sandy-footed patrons tracking in residue from the nearby beach.
Despite its vast size, the venue is frequently bustling with punters starting their day from 8am, and sometimes even ending it at 1am – that's up to 17 hours spent within its walls. One such dedicated customer managed just that, resulting in an impressively modest bill.
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Last year saw the pub receiving a hefty £750,000 refurbishment, now allowing an additional 100 customers atop its already staggering capacity of 1,400.
Chris, age 41, divulged details about the upgrade during the temporary closure to the Mirror, stating there were several simultaneous tasks to address. "There's a lot of things that needed doing at the same time," he remarked, reports the Mirror.
He stressed the significance of external redecoration as it enhances the town's aesthetics. "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 Wetherspoons pubs. The Grade-II listed building first welcomed patrons as a JD Wetherspoon pub in 2017, following a £4.5 million revamp.
The structure, designed by architect Stanley Davenport Adshead in 1903 to resemble a Robert Adam orangery, was formerly a derelict pavilion that had been empty for nine years prior to being acquired by Tim Martin's firm.
(Image: KMG / SWNS)
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA)
Wetherspoons enthusiast David Bingham, who embarked on a four-year "longest pub crawl in history" visiting all of the Wetherspoons pubs in 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 estimates that his extensive fact-finding mission cost him around £30,000, including travel expenses, beverages, and overnight accommodation. He pointed out the threat facing traditional British pubs, noting that approximately 40 of the 875 pubs he visited had shut down by the time he completed his journey.
According to the latest data from the British Beer and Pub Association [BBPA], nearly 300 pubs closed across England and Wales in 2024 - an average of six per week.
(Image: Mirrorpix)
(Image: KMG / SWNS)
These closures, totalling 289 over the past year, resulted in the loss of roughly 4,500 jobs. Industry insiders attribute these closures to several factors, including rising costs, shifting social trends, and competition from inexpensive supermarket alcohol.
Emma McClarkin, the BBPA's CEO, commented on the severity of pub closures: "The scale of these closures is completely avoidable because pubs are doing a brisk trade. Consumer demand is there, however, profits are being eroded by astronomical bills and pubs are bracing themselves for further rates and costs come April."
She continued by expressing support for Labour's economic plans: "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 underscored the urgency for government intervention: "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."
While Wetherspoons competes fiercely with supermarket pricing, The Daily Mail's Harry Wallop was surprised during a 17-hour period spent in the Royal Victoria Wetherspoon when he was offered a pint for just £1.79; starkly contrasted with the average price of a pint in the UK, which stands at £4.83 according to the Office for National Statistics.
Wallop also noted that his daily expenditure amounted to a mere £41.44, accounting for "three square meals, 3 pints, a cocktail and a whisky and soda nightcap."
Despite Wetherspoons perhaps not topping the charts in terms of trendiness, Tim Martin's efforts to rejuvenate an industry facing decline are likely ensuring that British pubs remain a cultural staple for future generations.