The question is, why are traditional music pubs in Nerja having so much trouble getting their licences renewed or issued? The answer is elusive and controversial.

It’s not only venues owned or run by foreigners but also Spaniards who have run such establishments for years.

Now, you might think that it is about sound proofing or venue size, which is the Town Hall’s reasoning, but when at least two weddings get visits and the live band told to stop… when it is not even midnight, well… you will have your doubts.

One venue had a visit from the municipal police to stop a performance, when there wasn’t even one scheduled, much less playing.

The municipal police say that they received anonymous complaints and they act on them; is that not just a little suspicious?

So, who might it benefit to deny these venues a licence, one of which I have personally visited and is perfectly adapted, never having more that two musicians playing on stage on any night and then with acoustic guitar and a singer. There’s more noise in the street than coming out of the venue in question.

Not all live-music venues have problems and when asked why this is, a spreading sentiment amongst those suffering from this licence issue point to the existence of ‘influential connections.’ In other words, it’s not what you do, but rather who you know.

Could there possibly be a political vendetta against business owners who campaigned for the losing party? It’s possible but hardly confirmed.

We will be investigating this next month and interviewing more bar owners as well as the relevant councillors, so stay tuned.

Editorial note: the photo is of a typical, small-format, live music scene, taken at Buskers, which does not mean in anyway that this pub is one that we are referring to.

(News: Nerja, Axarquía, Costa del Sol, Málaga, Andalucia)