The Almuñécar Town Hall has granted two temporary chiringuito licences; one on San Cristóbal and the other in La Herradura. These temporary licences are valid only for the summer. They have also given licences to two bars in La Herradura to have outside terrace areas. However, some local business owners are not happy with the ‘competition.’

Whilst public opinion is divided between those that think that this summer ‘syphoning off’ of tourism revenue is unfair, others believe that there is room for everybody to try and make a little money.

The ex-mayor’s party, the CA, has decided to take a stance on the issue, criticising the governing party for having taken these steps. A spokesperson for the party complained that not only is the Mayor, Trinidad Herrera causing ‘unfair competition’ by granting licences to these temporary affairs, but she is also deteriorating the visual image of the seafront.

Restaurante El Ancla is one of the businesses that has a temporary ‘chiringuito’ on the beach across from his bar. He considers that the beach structure is just an extension of his already existing business and that on the beach there is room for everybody. He says that it has cost him money and has had to take on extra staff, which is helping local unemployment. Furthermore, he says that his setup is exactly like the chiringuitos of yesteryear, before they became full-scale beach restaurants.

Most established chiringuito owners are not voicing their opinion, but many are probably not happy, as they struggle all through winter, paying their taxes, employing staff, only to have the summer trade ‘skimmed off’ under their noses

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(News: Herradura, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)