New rules for bars in Alicante: Outdoor tables must be removed an hour earlier
For nine months of the year, Alicante city pubs and restaurants will have to clear their terraces by midnight
In the midst of a fraught national debate about shortening the opening times of pubs and restaurants throughout Spain, Alicante is pushing forward with new regulations of its own which will force bars to remove their outdoor tables and chairs much earlier and move customers inside.
As part of a far-reaching ordinance that covers several activities on public roads, this week the government team plans to approve a reduction of one hour in the operating hours of terraces during the low season, which covers the nine months outside of the summer.
Under the new regulations, pubs will be allowed to set up outdoor terraces between the hours of 8am and midnight from Sunday to Thursday, inclusive. Up until now, they could leave tables outside until 1am. On Fridays and Saturdays, as well as holidays and the day before a non-working day, they’ll have to wait until 9am to start, but they can leave customers seated outside until 1am.
Additionally, a special regime will be established during the summer season and festive periods associated with Easter and Christmas holidays. Terraces must be removed at 1am between Sunday and Thursday, while the limit will be extended to 2am on Fridays, Saturdays and the eve of holidays.
This is similar to the current schedule, but with an added 30-minute grace period for removing furniture.
Finally, the period considered the summer season will be shortened, moving from June 1 to September 30 to June 15 to September 30, while maintaining the same dates for Holy Week and Christmas holidays, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday and from December 24 to January 6, respectively.
These updated regulations aim to strike a balance between the needs of businesses and residents, while ensuring public spaces are used responsibly and safely, according to Alicante City Council.
Unsurprisingly, this move has satisfied nobody. Local petitioners have argued that the regulations don’t go far enough and that bars should be made to close much earlier, while publicans in Alicante City aren’t happy about forcing customers to sit inside on sweltering evenings.
Image: Freepik
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