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Lee · 24-09-2008, 11:26 AM

Bars and restaurants in Quesada and Rojales have not been issued winter music licenses by Rojales town hall.

This story has been reported in the Coastrider.

According to the news paper the police turned up on Friday to let all the bar and restaurant owners know the bad news.

The effect on business means that the bars and restaurants are now limited to having live music unless they apply for another one night temporary license.

This not only affects the bars but also the entertainers who they use.
It can also mean some bars and restaurants hitting breaking point by affecting their main nights for income.

There is no mention if its just the British bars that have been affected.

Is it more clamp downs on British businesses

Lee · 24-09-2008, 07:59 PM

This is the full story from the Coastrider. Make your own minds up if British businesses are being targeted

Quote:

The Day the Music Died

Bars and restaurants in Quesada have been told they will not be issued with winter entertainment licences – leaving many facing the possibility of losing their livelihood and ultimately their businesses.
All of the summer entertainment licences were issued by Rojales Town Hall and covered a threemonth period, which expired on 15 September.
In readiness, many venue owners contacted the Town Hall before the weekend to try and get a winter licence in place. However, none were forthcoming, instead they were informed that long licences would not be re-issued.
One of the venues affected is the Half Way House, owner Ann said: “Our solicitors were dealing with the Town Hall on our behalf to get a winter licence which would be in place for the weekend just gone.
However, at 4.30pm on that Friday - 19 September - the police came into the bar with a letter, which is effectively an entertainment ban.
They said that no winter licences would be issued but we could apply for a ‘one off’ licence for either a Thursday, Friday or a Saturday, but only one licence would be issued per bar, per week. There would also be a fee each time as it is classed as a special licence.”
The “Bando” or edict also states that once a licence is obtained, entertainment is only allowed between the hours of 8pm and midnight and must conform to the legal sound limits. Any venue that breaks these conditions will not be issued with further licences.

GHOST TOWN

Owners are worried that without entertainment regular customers and holiday makers will go elsewhere, and although all venues in Quesada and Rojales might find themselves in a similar situation, customers only need to travel down the road to Benijofar and Benimar to find the party atmosphere. It’s unfortunate that without TV more people are going out in the evening to find entertainment. Many bars rely on the busy weekend evenings to fund quieter mid-week nights or daytime opening during the winter. Without that higher weekend income some could face financial ruin.
Of course, it’s not just the venues that suffer but the artists as well. Performers rely on their regular gigs throughout the quieter winter months to keep them going. Pat Graham, Elite Entertainment said: “Many artists need regular slots to get them through the winter. Last year when this happened it caused huge problems for those artists who had regular winter bookings in Quesada and by the time venues were cancelling it was too late to find work in other areas. It’s much more serious than not being able to have a good night out, it’s people’s livelihoods that are affected.”
Paying for the licence and paying for an entertainer will eat in to those muchneeded profits. By the time the bars have paid for both it leaves very little money made on the night, and therefore many will not even bother.

SILENCE OF THE BARS

However, there may be light at the end of the tunnel. The owner of the Lo Marabu, Julie, has taken matters into her own hands by discussing the issues directly with the Mayor of Rojales. During the meeting, which was held on Friday morning, Mayor Antonio Martinez Canovas listened to the bar owners’ concerns and views on the licensing issue. He explained that under Valencian law venues that offer regular entertainment should be soundproofed. An official surveyor should then assess the venue and a full licence granted.
Julie said: “I understand that this is Valencian law, however what I don’t understand is how other areas get round it? Places like Torrevieja, Benijofar, Playa Flamenca – are all governed by Valencia too, but their bars aren’t being silenced.
The discussion ended with the Mayor promising Julie he would hold a meeting, which all the bar owners could attend, and where they could discuss the problems and hopefully find a solution.
However, that promise was made Friday morning and that very afternoon the police were handing out the ban, signed by the Mayor. Hopefully the wheels were already in motion for the letter to be issued and the Mayor will keep his word and try to find a solution. In the meantime, there will be no music, no dancing or singing under the arches, and with no TV either it really will be all quiet on the Quesada front.
Mireille Toddington

Source

gstar · 26-09-2008, 10:05 AM

This is very unfortunate to read and I find it ridicilous how officials can proceed with such clampdowns. In Barcelona hundreds have already lost licenses, been shut down, brought to court, fined and not only music bars but restaurants who have one table too much on their terrace, restaurants that have neighbours who complain about noise...

Everyone understands that this is not about fairness, protecting neighbours or protecting the citizen, this is straight out directed at business owners... After seeing this go on for years in Barcelona, I'm still waiting to try and understand what is behind all this!

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Quesada bars and resturants losing their music licenses

Quesada bars and resturants losing their music licenses

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