Yes Kath and I love Conil and would have loved a villa at Roche but sadly we could not afford it. I hope you find what you want in Cadiz province very soon.

Regards,

John.

I cant see me moving to Cadiz for some time, I think my partner will struggle to settle in Spain, so to start with I think it would be good to hit a good ex-pat area so she can intergrate and then hopefully pick a bit more of the lingo up ( I will force it ) and then maybe after 2/3 years or less even, unless we settle well on C.Blanca or CDS then hopefully we can progress to my wishes.

Conil aswell is attractive to me, I myself would like to have a bit of City life for a few years in Sevilla and then come out maybe if I feel that it gets too much. I lived in London and Chelmsford and now in a Village where im not really comfortable, I have to move soon and I been harping on about Spain for a long time, so I have the money to rent for a year here, id rather take a chance out there !

I like the area around puerto de santa maria. Lots of the province is getting spoilt by the usual blocks of new build though. I think sevilla is gross, too touristy and such ugly suburbs. Cadiz is great, for a few days, wouldn't want to live there.

Can I ask why go to another area first? There are lots of Brits anywhere in andalucia in any area?

Is a good question Jacky, for sure I see brits in Chiclana and Santa Maria, and also most of the brits ive met in the time at C.Blanca have been very rude and I try and escape it, I just think the CB is more geared up for Brits and she would be more comfortable there to start with, plus she has a couple of friends even though miles apart out that way, for me Id love to jump into Andalucia

Some years ago I ended up with 2 bars and 1 restaurant in Barcelona. Never again!! I wrote a small history about it here some time ago. Please spend at least 6 months to 1 year just doing research. Rather like film making, whatever your estimates are, double or triple them (more especially with regard to time/waiting....for permissions, licences etc). Keep in mind that though many bars might have been in that location for eons, the moment they change hands then the normatives of TODAY come into effect. For example, you might find a lovely little character place with a long history....and only after buying do you discover that the law NOW says that the street must be wide enough for a fire engine to pass...therefore no licence renewal! Everything needs painting in fire-retardant paint, you need a certain number of metres per customer (and per worker behind the bar), you need a "food handlers" certificate (there's a written examination), 2 doors between toilet and public area....the list goes on. Many owners will want a traspasso, a chunk of cash upfront supposedly to cover the cost of equipment etc, but rather like "black" money, this is a legal limbo. The list is seemingly endless. You'll be needing deep pockets as it'll be some considerable time before you see a profit. And on a final optimistic note, keep in mind that 80% of bars and restaurants close within the first 2 years...with many couples divorcing in the process. Happy times ahead!!!
Having said that, it is possible to do well. But you'll need to "do" different. My restaurant was "Barbie and Cowboy" themed, employed gay staff and set out to capture the gay night crowd. One of the bars had a HUGE basement which we converted to a dance "school", with gay guys dressed as female flamenco dancers, who then gave classes to bus loads of tourist...all bought there by paying off the tour bus drivers. They downed jugs of "sangria" (probably the cheapest product you can make) at around £30 each....and we moved between 50 and over 100 per night.
So it's not all doom and gloom. But I do suggest that you both get a job (even work for free....I mean you are gaining knowledge) in a bar just to see how things work/don't work in Spain. Good Luck!

One of the most informative and interesting short posts I have ever read.

Do Different, I like it, I think the best thing to do is just be smarter than the next guy