One of Wetherspoon's largest pubs has opened its doors in Exmouth, with the capacity to serve up to 2,000 pints a day. This 'Spoonzilla', if you will, has capacity to accommodate hundreds of drinkers.
In a departure from the norm, the chain's latest establishment, which started trading this week, is not located on a bustling high street like most of its outlets but at a holiday park.
Instead, the nearly £2 million pub is situated on a Haven holiday park in Devon, providing holidaymakers with the opportunity to unwind with a pint or two during their getaway.
The Red Rocks, located at Haven's Devon Cliffs site in Exmouth, can accommodate almost 700 patrons, making it one of Wetherspoons' largest pubs in terms of capacity. On busy days, it anticipates serving up to 1,500 pints, a figure that could rise to 2,000 pints on peak Saturdays.
This new addition marks the fifth Wetherspoons pub on a Haven holiday park, with more expected to follow. This expansion comes amidst a wave of pub closures and threats to the broader industry, reports The Mirror.
Operated by Haven on a franchise basis, the colossal Red Rocks Wetherspoons boasts nearly 7,500 square feet of indoor drinking space, which is about the size of three tennis courts and the outdoor area is a similar size.
It employs a team of 70 members of staff. During July and August, the pub will be open from 8am to midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and from 8am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
It is also rumoured to be the local of JD Wetherspoons' founder Tim Martin, or at least the closest within his empire.
Among the unique features of The Red Rocks is a specially designed carpet. Unbeknownst to many, each of Spoons' over 850 pubs boasts an individually designed carpet, reflecting the building, the local area, or the person after whom it's named.
This has even sparked dedicated websites and books for enthusiasts. In the case of the Red Rocks, its bespoke flooring draws inspiration from the hues of the Devon coastline.
Despite its impressive size, the title of Britain's largest Wetherspoons is thought to belong to the Royal Victoria Villa in Ramsgate, Kent. Capable of accommodating 1,400 patrons, it reopened late last year following a £750,000 refurbishment.
The opening also signifies a significant milestone for Haven, which operates 38 parks along the coastlines of England, Scotland, and Wales. The Devon Cliffs site houses around 1,800 caravans, each with the capacity to sleep up to six people.
Given the favourable weather, as many as 10,000 guests are anticipated to stay at the park over the bank holiday weekend. Haven's first Wetherspoons was established at its Primrose Valley park in Yorkshire last year, followed by locations at Cleethorpes Beach, Lincolnshire, its Kent Coast site, and Haggerston Castle, Northumberland.
Simon Palethorpe, chief executive of Haven, expressed his enthusiasm: "The Red Rocks is a terrific addition to our flagship Devon park. We know how much our guests value the chance to enjoy food and drinks from their favourite brands on all our parks, so I'm certain they're going to absolutely love this familiar Wetherspoon offering."
John Hutson, the chief executive of Wetherspoons, expressed his anticipation for the opening of The Red Rocks, stating: "We are looking forward to the opening of The Red Rocks.
"We are confident that the pub will be a great addition to the holiday park and be popular with people of all ages."
Dan Young, the manager of The Red Rocks, also shared his excitement, saying: "We're thrilled to kick off the 2025 season by welcoming our owners and holidaymakers to our brand-new pub."
