MORE than 85,000 bars and restaurants across Spain could be forced to close because they won’t be able to make ends meet under the new plans to ease the country’s six week lockdown.
New social distancing guidelines mean that food and drink establishments may only be able to have 30 per cent capacity.
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Worried owners say they have waited since March 14 for the day they could reopen but now May 11 is approaching, they claim slashed occupancy on the terraces will mean less customers, less money and not enough income to pay staff, rent, services and for any partitions which may be needed.
Spain’s Prime Minister has ruled that bars and restaurants can open their terraces with strict security measures, followed by the interiors in a few weeks time.
Both spaces will have severe limits on the number of customers, with capacity cut by 70 per cent or the equivalent of one in three tables.
Hospitality of Spain, which represents 330,000 businesses, says the restrictions will lead to the closure of 30 per cent of them.
The group’s president José Luis Yzuel warned: “Using only 30 per cent of the terrace is absolutely unfeasible.
“It is not compatible with opening, cleaning the toilets, having cameras ready and the running costs, just to serve only ten of 30 tables available. That does not even give to pay for the electricity.”
They claim the Spanish Government’s rulings were taken with too much haste and there should have been full consultation beforehand.
Business owners are now calling for more financial aid to help with staff and running costs.
On the Costa del Sol, bar and restaurant owners agree it is not feasible to open up under such conditions.
Bar owner Billy Williams, who runs the Swan Inn on the Costa del Sol, told Euro News Weekly: “I’ll be sticking my bar on the market in the morning.”
“Enough is enough. I’m cashing in and off.”
The hotel employers’ association Mahos says opening just a third of the terrace or interior space won’t make ends meet so many will decide to close down.
President Javier Frutos said: “You might as well have asked us to open in December. A complete business cannot be opened just to serve a few tables as they will have to maintain full staff, pay a high rent and establish additional hygiene measures.”
They also claim to be lacking guidelines for what health precautions they should be taking.
The concern is being shared elsewhere in Spain, with the hoteliers association in Andalusia saying: “We are surprised and indignant over the decision to allow only 30 per cent of capacity, first without the inside premises, and we denounce that the proposals of our sector have not been taken into account.”
Some restaurants are taking other measures, such as using plastic boxes and screens down the middle of tables at restaurants, already being trialled in Madrid.
There is some good news – Benidorm’s legendary Tiki Beach bar is back from the brink of closure and will be made bigger to make room for social distancing.
Jacqui Perkins, who runs Facebook group Benidorm & Costa Blanca News & Information Forum, announced Tiki Beach had taken over the bar next to it.
Jackqui posted: “So some news for you all. Tiki is extending!!! Taken over next door so they’ll have a HUGE terrace… shouldn’t be such a problem with social distancing now.”
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