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Cartagena beach bars get green light to open, but is it too late for Easter?
7 chiringuitos in Cabo de Palos, La Manga, Playa Honda and La Azohía are now ready to open
The authorities spent a frantic weekend issuing authorisations to those awarded concessions to set up beach bars in Cartagena after their opening was finally approved late on Friday April 11. Up until then, it was in doubt whether the coastal town would have any chiringuitos over Easter and while seven concessionaires have now been given the green light, it all depends on how quickly they can set up their bars.
Only restaurateurs who completed all the documentation and have no outstanding debts with the council will be allowed to open chiringuitos; as of midday on Monday April 14, those located in Cabo de Palos, La Manga, Playa Honda and La Azohía are good to go.
The award process for new beach bar contracts, which will run until 2028, began with the publication of the tender on February 21. The deadline for submitting bids was March 10. Thirty-three sites were offered, of which 27 have been awarded. The six remaining chiringuito sites will be re-offered to potential developers.
"It's true that 80% of beach bars are delaying their opening until closer to summer and won't be opening during Easter, but we've worked to ensure that everyone who wants to can do so now," said Gonzalo López Pretel, Councillor for the Coast.
However, many of the chiringuito managers themselves strongly disagree with this, claiming that the delay in getting the contracts out means there’s no way they can possibly be ready for the main Easter weekend.
According to the manager of one of La Manga’s most well-known chiringuitos, who has years of experience in the trade, they couldn’t open “even if we were given the permits and the concession tomorrow. Setting up a beach bar is a lot of work.”
In other news: Lyrid meteor shower lights up the Spanish skies this April
Image: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena
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