Britain’s biggest Wetherspoons opened its doors today and heaving queues were already three-deep at the bar by midday… with punters not even put off by a POWER CUT

WETHERSPOON’S pubs are known for their spacious bars, cheap beer and great pub grub.

Now drinkers in Ramsgate can enjoy a pint overlooking the sea in the chain’s biggest boozer yet – which opened its doors today.

The Royal Victoria Pavilion, a former casino and nightclub, boasts 11,000 square feet of drinking space – including a huge terrace over the beach – and holds 1,500 punters, making it the biggest pub in Europe.

The company has ploughed £4.5 million into the building, which lay derelict for decades, and created 150 local jobs.

Walking into the huge structure – which was built in 1904 – you are instantly struck by the high ceiling, the light flooding in from the huge windows and the sea view from the back of the pub.

As the sun blazed down on the Kent seaside town, locals flocked to the latest jewel in the Wetherspoon crown – where beer was on the menu with the full English breakfasts and drinker were happily supping pints by 9am.

The pub opens at 8am and closes at midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and 1am from Thursday to Saturday.

Ramsgate Mayor Trevor Shonk, who opened the building, was first at the bar for a pint of bitter and was happy to toast the venture.

He told The Sun Online: “This is the best thing that’s happened to Ramsgate for a long time.

“It’s amazing what they’ve done here.

“This investment had brought an iconic building back to life after almost 20 years of it laying derelict, and created jobs for local people. It’s good news for Ramsgate and good news for the young people of Ramsgate.”

Mayoress Mandy Shonk added: “I remember this building as a child and it was magnificent but it’s got more and more run down and it’s been sad to see.

“But this has given the Pavilion a new lease of life, and it’s wonderful.”

The huge building swiftly filled up with hungry customers ordering a full English breakfast for £3.75 washed down with a £2.75 pint of lager.

By midday, the huge two-story building was packed, there was a three-deep queue at the bar and a twenty minute wait for food – and then came the power cut.

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A collective cry of “ooh” came from the centre of the heaving pub as the lights went out and a loud cheer went up as they came back on, just a few minutes later.

“The Titanic won’t be sunk yet,” commented one relieved staff member, as the opening day disaster was averted.

While the super-pub is built for thousands, the decibel level in open plan bar area was steadily rising and, even with a few hundred inside, it was getting pretty noisy.

The terrace was packed, with no available tables and business was booming as families flocked in for the £4.49 fish and chips £7.99 burgers.

The terrace was full of drinkers enjoying the sunshine and an early morning beer, along with families and kids tucking into breakfast before heading to the beach.

Shane Morgan and John Miller had travelled down from London to meet local lads Andy Cavanna and Colin Apel for a pint by the sea and were supping by 9am.

Andy said: “It’s a lovely building and it was derelict for a long time. This will do really well in the summer.”

Asked if they were worried about the early licensing hours, Andy said: “There are a couple of cafés over the road who serve beer from 7am already so we’re used to it.”

Wetherspoon fans William Pratt and Heather Mellon had travelled from Portsmouth to try out the breakfast.

Heather said: “We saw a feature on the pub in the Wetherspoon magazine, and thought we’d come and try it.

“We didn’t know it was the opening day.”

Local Barry Latchford, who was tucking into eggs benedict, said: “This building has been crumbling for a number of years and now it’s beautiful.”

Charlotte Mason, who manages the pub with partner Chris Whitbourn, has worked for Wetherspoon for ten years and sees the superpub as a “good opportunity.”

She said: “I’m very competitive and Chris has always wanted to run a big pub so the country’s biggest seemed the perfect challenge for us.

“Plus I’m from Leicester, which is as far from the sea as you can get, so moving down to the sea and working in such a beautiful building is great.”

The Royal Victoria Pavilion was first opened in 1904 by Princess Louise, who named it after her mother, Queen Victoria.

It has been a theatre, a nightclub and a casino, before falling empty for two decades.

The council still owns the building, which it leases to Wetherspoon.

While local drinkers have welcomed the super-boozer on the seafront, other pubs and in the town could feel the pinch when customers begin to compare the prices.

But staff in the Belgian Café opposite the Pavilion – where beer was flowing at 7am and breakfast comes in at £8 – were not worried.

Bar steward Luke Mabey said: “Our food is all locally sourced Kent produce, and our clientele are very different, so they will keep coming back.”

“Also we are a dog-friendly café, which is popular in this area, and Wetherspoon doesn’t let dogs in.”

Peter Darling, the owner of The Waterfront bar opposite, said: “I think it’s brilliant – because my prices are cheaper than Wetherspoon’s and I’m open until 3am.
“When I bought this place I modelled my business plan on Wetherspoon’s beer prices so I’m happy. Plus it’s great to see the building put to good use, and bringing more people into the area.
“We had a carnival at the weekend which was busy but if it wasn’t for the Royal Victoria Pavilion opening, it would be a ghost town today.”

Manager Chris is adamant that the massive pub shouldn’t put anyone out of business.

He said: “We want to bring some more trade to the sea front. If we put all the other café and pubs out of business it’s not much use to us either, because people won’t come to the area any more.”

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