The Chiringuitos can breathe more easily, at last. After two worrying years, and the last few months of cliff-dangling tension, this summer and the next 15 they can get down to doing business without having an ear cocked for the rumble of an approaching bulldozer.
Thanks to an agreement struck between Costas and the Town Hall has allowed the latter to issue licence-renewals to the established (historic, in some cases) Chiringuitos, which in itself has opened the way for such beach establishments along the coast in Salobreña and Motril achieve the same.
One of the sticking points up to this breakthrough has been that beach bars should not occupy more that 150 sq/m of beach (100 inside and 50 terrace). Costas has now accepted that the toilets – which although within these establishments are also used by bathers on the beach in general (in theory!) – should not be included within this 150-sq/m limit. This agreement is 99% signed and sealed, but there is many a slip between the cup and the lip, eh?
Finally, do you know the difference between a ‘chiringuito’ and a ‘chambao’? Well, a chambao is just a thatched or bamboo awning, whilst a chiringuito is the bar-restaurant in itself. A chiringuito was originally an open-air bar, whereas you can erect a chambao on your roof terrace to provide shade.