News that Wetherspoons will open its first pub exterior of the UK and Ireland at Alicante Airport has made worldwide headlines. However, Spain already has a whole lot of common pubs; if you have not been to 1 here is what to anticipate.
While not precisely one of the simplest ways to combine into Spanish tradition, pubs are nonetheless nice locations for foreigners to get pleasure from house comforts and social actions, and will be good locations to hang around whenever you first arrive in Spain.Â
In Spain pubs are referred to as pubs irlandeses (Irish pubs) quite than simply pubs or pubs británicos, though Brits have a a lot bigger presence in Spain than the Irish.
As many of the workers are overseas themselves or communicate excellent English, you will not have an issue speaking both.Â
It’s not solely vacationers and foreigners that hand around in Irish pubs in Spain although, they’re common for a number of causes.
According to tech firm Rentech Digital, there are 361 Irish pubs in Spain as of October 2025. They estimate that 329 Irish pubs are privately owned, whereas the remaining 32 which is 8.86 % are owned by larger firms.
The prime three areas with probably the most Irish pubs are Andalusia with 78 Irish pubs, Valencia with 67, and Catalonia with 46.
Meanwhile, the Official Irish Pub in Spain affiliation has 230 pubs on its record. The largest numbers of those are clustered across the Costa del Sol, the Costa Blanca, Madrid and the Basque Country.
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Sports matches
Irish pubs are usually nice locations to catch stay sports activities matches not exhibiting on Spanish TV channels. Almost all of them have large screens, not like a number of the Spanish bars, and lots of of them have a couple of.
Most of them will present nearly all of the Premier League soccer matches from the UK, in addition to different non-Spanish league soccer video games. They are additionally the one locations that present rugby and perhaps even cricket matches too.
Food and drinks
Aside from being a number of the solely spots to catch your favorite sports activities, they’re additionally a number of the solely locations to get meals and drinks harking back to house.
Yes, we all know that meals from the UK and Ireland doesn’t have an ideal popularity overseas, however we all know that there can be some dishes you’ll be lacking. Roast dinners, pie and mash or fish and chips? Most of those are arduous to come back by in Spain, until you go to an Irish pub.
And relating to drinks, Irish pubs are a number of the few locations that may serve you pints, quite than the smaller Spanish servings of beer like a caña. They’ll additionally promote a spread of beers you normally can’t discover elsewhere corresponding to Guinness, Carlsberg, Murphy’s, in addition to whiskies and British-style ciders. Be conscious although that as a result of the whole lot is imported and the sizes are larger; you’ll typically pay much more for meals and drinks in Irish pubs than elsewhere in Spain.
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Celebrations and social occasions
Irish pubs in Spain are likely to go all out for sure festivals, notably overseas ones. For instance, they’re typically a number of the finest locations to go for Halloween, should you can’t discover anyplace celebrating in Spain, in addition to St. Patrick’s Day after all.
Most Irish bars additionally host pub quizzes, language change evenings and different social teams. They could be a excellent place to make pals whenever you first arrive in Spain and don’t know the language but, though it’s essential to frequent Spanish bars too.
Music
If you’re into stay music, Irish bars can be nice to go, notably as a result of this isn’t widespread in native Spanish bars, aside from perhaps flamenco bars in Andalusia. As properly as internet hosting typical Irish people nights, you’ll discover bands of all completely different genres and nationalities taking part in at these venues, in addition to open mic nights for these of you who need the possibility to carry out too.
Décor and measurement
Many Irish pubs are usually a lot larger than native Spanish bars, although that’s not at all times the case. This means usually there’s house for giant gatherings, teams and get-togethers, in addition to events. They’re additionally sometimes cosy and dimly lit with a number of trinkets and curios. Several Irish pubs in Madrid for instance are situated in outdated Nineteenth-century cafés, which have retained their authentic decor corresponding to wood-panelled partitions and vintage lamps, however have tailored it to the normal pub aesthetic persons are used to in Ireland and the UK.
