Bars fear curfew will trigger closures
CAFÉS and eateries across the Marina Alta are calling for financial assistance and practical support as they once again face restrictions that could threaten their survival.
The district hotel and catering traders’ association ( AEHTMA) says special attention is crucial for premises whose only, or main, seating area is a bar counter, as the latest antiCovid regulations will prevent these from being used.
Cafés in Denia’s indoor market are almost exclusively barcounter businesses, and their owners fear they may have to shut down for good by the end of the year.
AEHTMA’s chairwoman
Remé Cerdá says traders have launched a campaign urging clientele to book their evening meal tables for 20.00 or even earlier, so that premises can
shut on time – although she admits life will be easier during the curfew in the Valencia region than elsewhere.
“We’re lucky in one way, because the regional government has set the curfew at the latest time allowed, at midnight, unlike in other parts of the country where everyone has to be indoors by 22.00,” Sra Cerdá conceded.
But she is concerned that if people are at work until 20.00 or 21.00, they will not have time to eat out afterwards and get home before midnight.
“Perhaps this should serve as a wakeup call and show us we need to be more like the rest of Europe,” she reflects.
“In fact, the vast majority of our expat and holidaymaker clientele is already in the habit of eating earlier in the evening.”