dazzle74

well after 32 years trucking around europe,me and my partner went on holiday last week and ended up putting down a deposit down on a cafe/bistro near torrevieja 2 days into the holiday.
used to be a chef before i started driving so im going to have to catch up on my skills... question is for you ex pats as i am predominately near an expat area is what dishes do you like or miss over in spain...
am sorting out all technicalities here in the uk now but hope to be open late summer......
followed my heart and not my head.....

MartinB1974

Unrelated to your question, but I am considering moving myself and family as have a job offer, will be based in the same place, maybe you have inspired me to well also take the plunge. Sincere best wishes and good luck in your new venture

Fred James

I can't think of any British dish that you cannot get somewhere down here. Roast Sunday lunches for very silly money abound. Even the Spanish places do a good Full English.

It's actually far more difficult to find authentic Spanish food in the tourist areas.

If I were you, I would stick to the driving.

dazzle74

thanks martin.good luck on your venture too.as for sticking to the driving fred , i was thinking about doing that as a backup plan while down there....

missile

Good luck

big wheels

[QUOTE=dazzle74 followed my heart and not my head.....[/QUOTE]

Oh dear!

MartinB1974

In my opinion there will always be those that will knock a dream, better to take a risk than have so many what if's

missile

Better to have loved and lost, than look back and wonder "what if?"

Horlics

Dude, it's Torrevieja not Cáceres. If the English are known to eat it, it's served in Torrevieja.

That said, the one thing me and a few friends will travel to eat is a decent burger.

Longlegpete

As someone who does lot's of research before taking a plunge like that i wish you good luck, hope it works out for you

Countryboy1

Was the previous business in profit? Did you see their accounts? What kind of food did they serve? If you were a chef I'm sure you could turn your hand at any form of cuisine. The important thing is that the food is good and well priced priced. Didn't you visit a few other establishments to see what they were serving and what was their customer base? They will be your competition after all.
I think your ambition to be open by late summer is over-optimistic, but nevertheless, good luck.
BTW, don't forget heath care!

lurchio

Hello, and good luck to you!!!!


Please bear in mind that IF you are going to become resident, then you will probably have to exchange your UK Driving Licence for a Spanish one. (New Regs). Please check carefully with the Traffico when you go for the exchange, as regards your LGV (C or C plus E) entitlements, they are NOT automatically switched over to a Spanish Licence as the Spanish Trafico believe that driving a LHD LGV is a whole new ball game!


As LGV driving could be your 'back up' plan, that's a factor to cover. The expiry date on your LGV entitlement will not be indefinite and renew based on your age (every 5 years perhaps , or every year if over 60) so I personally don't see how you could claim an exemption and keep your UK one and you may lose your LGV entitlement!


Your driver CPC is portable, but you will have to renew in Spain IF you become resident.


Sorry, just bringing things to your attention!


As I said, all the best with your dream.

Fred James

Why?

lurchio

Because the LGV entitlement is a Vocational Licence in the UK and as far as the Spanish are concerned, is treated the same here. It also has different Medical Conditions and terms....... Personal experience, long story!


I suppose that if the OP keeps a UK address that can be used by the DVLA, providing that the regular Medicals are done on a visit to the UK he may be okay. The UK Driver number and entitlement are also linked to the Digital Tachograph Card (mandatory, unless you drive very old vehicles, with his experience, I doubt it) AND the driver CPC entitlement which is also mandatory. As is the 35 hours of training for the CPC ( Certificate of Professional Competence) within every five year period, which has to be attended and evidenced on UK Government databases.


Like I said, long story................

Fred James

I have looked into this a bit more and I think I can now see why you might be forced into a premature exchange if you have a C licence or above.

Prior to 1997 all holders of a car licence were given a C1 licence as well. This changed in 1997 and now there are extra tests, etc. if you really want that class.

The rules on licence exchanges changed quite recently and, by and large, do not affect holders of the UK photocard licence. The new rule is that, if the licence is valid for more than 15 years or has no expiry date, it must be exchanged. The UK photo licence has to be renewed with a new photo after 10 years so that's seems to be acceptable. However, having looked at the small print, it seems that C licences and above must not have an expiry date of more than 5 years. As far as I am aware, the UK photo licence is also valid for 10 years with this class, so if to have C1 on your licence as a hangover from what are often called "grandfather's rights" on a pre 1997 licence, then that is against the rules so it must be exchanged.

I changed my licence some time ago and the new Spanish licence included the C1 class. However, after 3 years I was asked if I wished to renew the C1 class as the renewal period was 3 years then. The option was to decline to renew and subsequently lose the right on subsequent licences, which is what I chose to do.