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Date Published: 14/06/2024

Contract issues threaten summer opening of several more Costa Blanca beach bars

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Most of the contracts for the chiringuitos in Pilar de la Horadada have fallen through

Contract issues threaten summer opening of several more Costa Blanca beach bars

The highly anticipated opening of beach bars along the popular Costa Blanca coastline of Pilar de la Horadada is facing significant challenges due to delays and contractual complications. With the summer season approaching, the future of these beachfront oases hangs in the balance.

For those living just a few kilometres up the coast, the situation is disturbingly familiar, as 11 chiringuitos on the Orihuela Costa have only been given the green light to reopen this summer after more than a year.

The saga in Pilar began last month when the City Council awarded contracts for 11 beach bar lots, attracting bids from 13 commercial entities. However, even before the competition phase concluded, one lot, Las Higuericas I, remained vacant as no offers were submitted. As if that weren't enough, three successful bidders for the chiringuitos on Río and Puerto beaches subsequently withdrew from the process, leaving their designated beach areas without prospective operators.

Now, a new hurdle has emerged. As per sources familiar with the situation, some of the remaining successful bidders are struggling to meet one of the key conditions of the contract specifications: the renovation of existing facilities.

One anonymous bidder expressed his frustration over the timing of the competition resolution. He believes that the process was finalised too late, leaving insufficient time to procure new facilities for the upcoming summer season.

"There's no one who can do it for us at this point," he said.

It appears that this bidder is not alone in his predicament, as two other beach bar operators find themselves in a similar situation. They are now appealing to the Council for leniency, requesting permission to open with their old booths and commit to installing new ones next summer.

However, the administration isn't prepared to give an inch, insisting that the contracts are quite clear and leave no room for exceptions. The requirements for new facilities are non-negotiable, a councillor stressed, adding that any deviation from this condition would constitute a breach of contract, potentially resulting in penalty proceedings and fines.

With this unwavering stance, the council intends to enforce the condition for the successful bidders of the Mil Palmeras beach bars (I and II) and Las Higuericas II. As of now, one of the few beach bars that are operational is the one on Jesuitas beach.

The current situation paints a bleak picture for the upcoming summer season.

While the municipal government team intends to initiate new tenders for the vacant lots, they acknowledge that it’s now highly unlikely that the chiringuitos will be open before the high season officially kicks off.

In other news: Brit among three injured after boat explodes in Cabo Roig

Image: La Zenia Facebook group

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