Originally Posted by Domino (Post 9594174)

Darryl
why do you think I am giving up on the UK and moving to Spain? the bright sunshine (ok its been like living in a frying pan the past 3-4 weeks), the lack of rain, getting up in the morning and knowing its going to be another nice day. living\working in a bar all day would not be my idea of "enjoyment" even as I look out on Veleta in the Sierras every day.

I have been round the world a couple of times in grey painted war canoes, visited many places more than once, been rooked by locals, spat on, sworn at, dropped off in the wrong place by taxi drivers.
I have found Spain a nice place, nice people, good weather, somewhere to put down new roots.
but then I am retiring, no bars except from the other side, no tapas except from the other side. no hassle with the Environmental Health (unless I catch something). And definately no Roast Beef and Yorkshires every day. I cook Spanish in the UK so its unlikely I will change.

30+ years ago my first visit was to Salou, early October, place was starting to close down from the summer. Bars up for sale all over the place, all sand blown and worn looking. Never fancied it, laugh at those TV progs where they have followed "plucky Brits" who have sold everything to take on a bar in Spain, living in a cramped flat above, no training, no idea of where to buy anything, no Spanish - but what the heck, its fun, until the bills cant be paid.

they are generally a good lot here on BE, wanting to put you off isnt because they cant afford the competition, just they don't want you to dive in without knowing the depth, whcih is currently shallow. yes business isnt what it was 10yrs ago, it did go up a little but it is down now, people and businesses are having to work harder to make the same profit whilst the revenue wants more. many Brits have gone home penniless, leaving houses unsold (in some cases unsaleable) but its funny that the younger Spaniards are going to UK to live and work.
as I said earlier, if you can come, look, decide based on what you see.
But ENJOY its your life and we won't have to pick up the pieces
rgds

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9594186)

Yes, good points Domino! Even 10 years ago when things were good most Brit bars were lucky to last a year. We had another couple on here who did not listen, accused a lot of posters of being negative. The bar lasted about 3 months and they were back in the UK.

Remember too that most bars do not have any view unless you pay a much higher rent. There are some fab views on the CDS but like anywhere else there are also some grotty places. Some bars are tucked under apartment blocks resembling slovakia.

Originally Posted by EllisG (Post 9594182)

nah...just realistic from what i see and hear from others.

Running a bar was more of an adventure for me than a necessity and contrary to other opinions I enjoyed life and the views whilst having it (it was perched on raised ground at the back of a beach with views over to morocco). My main line of work is supplying kitchen appliances in the UK via my web site so I have fortunately never had to rely on the Spanish economy for anything. I wouldn't swap this place for anything but beyond the great climate I find there is very little I want from Spain. The food is second rate and places of interest to me are few and far between compared to somewhere like Italy or France but aside from that I am quite happy in my little house next to the beach

Originally Posted by jackytoo (Post 9594186)

Yes, good points Domino! Even 10 years ago when things were good most Brit bars were lucky to last a year. We had another couple on here who did not listen, accused a lot of posters of being negative. The bar lasted about 3 months and they were back in the UK.

Remember too that most bars do not have any view unless you pay a much higher rent.

Originally Posted by EllisG (Post 9594182)

nah...just realistic from what i see and hear from others.

Running a bar was more of an adventure for me than a necessity and contrary to other opinions I enjoyed life and the views whilst having it (it was perched on raised ground at the back of a beach with views over to morocco). My main line of work is supplying kitchen appliances in the UK via my web site so I have fortunately never had to rely on the Spanish economy for anything. I wouldn't swap this place for anything but beyond the great climate I find there is very little I want from Spain. The food is second rate and places of interest to me are few and far between compared to somewhere like Italy or France but aside from that I am quite happy in my little house next to the beach

Originally Posted by Domino (Post 9594224)

sounds to me like you visit second rate places that cater for the Brits. Always eat where the locals eat - in any country!

considering the depth of the comment then if places of interest are on the beach then it will not improve. Spain has so many places of interest but you really do have to get off the beach. Italy and France have places of interest but they have spent centuries telling everyone about them, Spain has kept it all to itself. Try the largest Cathedral in the World - in Spain.

Originally Posted by cricketman (Post 9594238)

Thats the trouble when people dont consume the local Spanish media or have Spanish friends, they dont know where to go.

Andalucia Directo on Canal Sur is great for picking somewhere to go at the weekend

Originally Posted by darrell1966 (Post 9594145)

Nice to read something other than doom and gloom.

My brother always went away to Fuengirola for his hols and will not go back, he said they (shops bars restaurants) had priced themselves out of the market, maybe Benalmadena priced themselves INTO the market, it was always cheaper when I lived in Spain. I got drunk there on Irish coffees, what a hangover that was. :o

Originally Posted by EllisG (Post 9594308)

ya see Domino the wonderful thing about this world is the variety of people within it and their opposing views.

As a victim of having been dragged to the Alhambra twice I would say 2 hours was more than enough. Couldn't see what people think is so special about the place poorly maintained and completely unimpressive in my opinion.

incidentally, just to prove you can enjoy nice views while working attached to this is a view from behind my bar last year

Originally Posted by jdr (Post 9594303)

Priced themselves out of the market, yer having a larf, Los Boliches brit bars now, how long can you last flogging beer cheaper than a Supermarket. :rofl:

Originally Posted by EllisG (Post 9594302)

pointless trying to convert me to Spanish food as compared to Emilia romagna, Tuscany and Naples in my opinion this food is quite definitely second rate (in Italy you can walk in most places and enjoy good food without having to have in depth knowledge to track it down). You are entitled to your opinion and no I do not eat English food as a rule (although I have to own up to have a weakness for Cumberland sausages from the local English butcher in Sotogrande with heaps of brown sauce). I even flatly refused to serve chips in my chiringuito but I did manage to convert quite a few locals to preferring my risotto marinara in favour of the local paella.

Yeah I know what you are going to say that I should move to Italy but there are a number of reasons why I choose this little corner of Spain including climate, proximity to Gibraltar and great moroccan pollen. I have plenty of Spanish friends and keep in touch with Spanish news but have no desire to visit cathedrals, go to theatres or visit little white villages...as for the Sierras give me the alps any day. However, you are missing the point if you think I sound unhappy about living here because it provides me with just what I want. A house on a quiet beach in the middle of nowhere from where I can carry on my work and enjoy life by the sea without a care in the world away from judgemental people.

Originally Posted by darrell1966 (Post 9594436)

That is fantastic. Well worth turning over a loss for :rofl::rofl:

Spain is ace. :wub:

I see from your earlier post that you refused to do fries and served risotto instead of paella. That is a big (huge) difference between you and me, I would never be so arrogant as to tell the people what they want, I would listen and give them what they want.:thumbsup:

Originally Posted by EllisG (Post 9594302)

pointless trying to convert me to Spanish food as compared to Emilia romagna, Tuscany and Naples in my opinion this food is quite definitely second rate (in Italy you can walk in most places and enjoy good food without having to have in depth knowledge to track it down). You are entitled to your opinion and no I do not eat English food as a rule (although I have to own up to have a weakness for Cumberland sausages from the local English butcher in Sotogrande with heaps of brown sauce). I even flatly refused to serve chips in my chiringuito but I did manage to convert quite a few locals to preferring my risotto marinara in favour of the local paella.

Yeah I know what you are going to say that I should move to Italy but there are a number of reasons why I choose this little corner of Spain including climate, proximity to Gibraltar and great moroccan pollen. I have plenty of Spanish friends and keep in touch with Spanish news but have no desire to visit cathedrals, go to theatres or visit little white villages...as for the Sierras give me the alps any day. However, you are missing the point if you think I sound unhappy about living here because it provides me with just what I want. A house on a quiet beach in the middle of nowhere from where I can carry on my work and enjoy life by the sea without a care in the world away from judgemental people.