Skip to content
Archived Historical · read-only

Music in La Marina

ASL Member Founding Member Post #13569 Replies closed

This is the first time I have read the various comments regarding the noise in the La Marina urbanization. I am a bar owner here & I will identify my bar as "Temptations". My name is Al & my wife's name is Susan. There. Formalities done. We do not hide behind a 'nom de plum'. In 2004, Sue & myself came to La Marina to visit her parents who had retired here from Colwyn Bay, Wales. We felt, because of a serious family issue, that it was necessary for us to move here from Canada to assist her parents living out their golden years. After making the move here, we decided to open our business as an Ice Cream Shop & Bar. We did not foresee, as did anyone else, the world-wide economic disaster that befell in 2007. During the last 6 years ( yes, it's our 6th year anniversary the 1st of May), we have had to change our business to survive in a very competitive area. We started by offering Karaoke nights on Fridays & Saturdays which started slowly but over the years have been very successful. We then added a Quiz Night on Thursdays which have also been very successful. This was not in our original plans but, because of the recession, we have had to adapt to survive during this crisis. When we started these events, we had absolutely 'ZERO' complaints from anyone other than my error in leaving the back door open accidentally a couple of times about 3 years ago & apologizing for my mistake. We have been very diligent in purchasing professional sound-proofing & putting it up EVERY Friday & Saturday to prevent any unwanted noise disturbing residents along Calle Luis de Gongora. We have also had the volume of our Karaoke turned down to a level where our customers can speak to each other while inside our premises. We realize that there is an acceptable volume that we try to adhere to, but with the wind direction some evenings changing directions, the sound can sometimes travel the wrong way. We sincerely apologize to people affected by this phenomena.
Now, to the topic of noise pollution.
When Susan & I first came here, we thought, 'what a lovely place to live!' The people were so friendly, everyone's having an enjoyable evening with the music, sometimes, well in to the early mornings with NO ONE complaining about the noise & thoroughly enjoying themselves, both holiday-makers & residents alike. With the recession, La Marina has been hit very hard by the economic downturn. Many people have had to return to the U.K. & other parts of Europe to obtain work & support their families. House values have plummeted. The pound exchange rate against the Euro has gone from € 1.51 when we first arrived down to approximately € 1.20. This has hurt the average pensioner dramatically as this approx. 20% loss has led to many pensioners not having that little 'extra' money to go out for perhaps dinner & drinks like they used to in the past. This is where, in our opinion, this debate, arguement, complaint..call it what you like, has started from. We have discussed with dozens of people, customers & other bar & restaurant owners alike, the fact that EVERY ONE OF US, have been affected by this recession. The fact is, there are a lot less people living here in La Marina. This brings the reason for the various establishments offering some sort of entertainment to attract customers. Whether it be a football match on TV, a live entertainer that many people enjoy,a Quiz, Karaoke, Bingo, or a major summer fiesta, most of us like to do something different than sitting at home watching telly. Without some type of entertainment or a good food menu, none of us would survive here in La Marina. Temptations does very well in July & August with our ice cream sales. We do not have a kitchen but sell easy to make food items as we do not compete with the very fine pubs,restaurant & cafes in our area for food sales. That leaves 10 months of the year where we, along with all the other bars & establishments, have to struggle & come up with ideas to remain financially stable. With the cost of everything including utilities,inventory,wages & in general, just about everything going up, we have to be clever in offering some type of idea to attract business. This usually involves making some kind of noise, which 6 years ago, didn't seem to bother anyone. Now, the police have been to a lot of bars & last night during our Quiz, to say that the noise can be heard by them down the stairs between The George & Hogs Head. I asked if they had received a complaint from anyone & was told that they had not, but to close the door so as not to bother anyone. All of our customers enjoying our quiz were very surprised to say the least as we only had 'background' music playing. I was told by the police that they are just 'doing their job' & stopping any noise pollution on the urb. What has happened? In 6 years we have gone from having a great time in Spain, loving & living the Spanish Life & getting away from the unpleasant weather of other parts of the world, to living in an area where a few residents have threatened legal action to the town hall, if entertainment is not stopped. If entertainment is stopped or curtailed to the point where there is no reason in going out anywhere, La Marina will become an absolute "GHOST TOWN". If these few people succeed in stopping the entertainment offered here, no one will even bother to come here for a holiday & choose other areas to spend their holiday money. The overwhelming majority of residents here that DO enjoy their weekly entertaiment will have no options because of the very few people being over-zealous about a little noise coming from people having a good time. If the establishments responsible for 'excessive' noise pollution can be identified & the blame not put on the establishments that are trying to make an honest living abiding by the laws, this problem can be solved. It would also be interesting that all of the 'ghost-writers' that are putting comments on this site would properly identify themselves & propose a meeting with town hall officials , all bar & restaurant owners & themselves, to see if a solution can be reached. Some of the ideas that I've read are ridiculous & some are so expensive that it impossible to do. Double glazing in some locations would require major renovations. Noise limiters are also very expensive. And having a device that turns off the electric at midnight is utter nonsense.
This problem CAN be solved but there has to be a little give & take from everyone. This does not have to be an on-going problem year after year.
Speaking for ourselves & some bar owners, we welcome any constructive comments if it is within reason that everyone can have a satisfactory result. As of last year, I realize how PRECIOUS life is & try to make the most of every day without complaining about certain things that can be solved. I think we can all live together without all the anger & bitterness that is festering about this subject. Thank you for reading this post. Al & Sue.

Comments

I notice that all of the bars on the Urb who provide entertainment, do so from 9 p.m. in the evening until midnight. Myself & my husband find that going out at a reasonable time to have a meal, we do not like eating late, and then waiting perhaps an hour for entertainment to start, find it a long evening. Surely if entertainment started at 8 p.m and finished at 11.00 p.m. then no one could complain. People would soon get used to these hours and hopefully moaning people would have less to moan about.

Also although I have nothing against the Spanish people, if I did I would not have come here to live, they are not exactly the quietest people in the universe. My neighbours' when they come down from Madrid, stay out on their terrace until after 1.30 a.m. talking and watching television. I just close the windows and go to sleep, I would not dream of asking them to be quiet.

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-13

Here here Al we totally agree with what you & Sue say, after all we both attended the same meeting at the town hall last October, regarding windows & doors being shut during entertainment & music being at a responsible level. Regarding the Police we also had a visit last Wednesday evening as we were closing, the police asked to see all of our licenses & insurances, we complied & Police were completely satisfied with all of our licences, they also said that they had observed that we had closed our windows & doors during live entertainment.
We second your idea for holding a meeting with ALL bars this time that have live entertainment.

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-13

A very good and reasoned appraisal of the situation. Thank god there are still sensible people left in La Marina. I am not a bar owner but certainly a bar user who does not like alot of noise late at night. I would be happy to attend any such meeting and hopefully help to reach a satisfactory agreement for all parties.

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-13

Long post, some good reading.

I assume that you do not live close to the bars yourself, I myself am also lucky in that I live a couple of roads away, however we can hear music etc when sitting outside on our terrace, and talking to friends who live very near the bars, they say the bars do ruin their quality of life.

Do you yourself have any proposals that may help solve the issue?

As for a ghost town, load of cr*p, it's only the Brits that say that.







ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-13

Golfer do you suggest we all sit about discussing our ailments and the state of the world, whilst waiting for god. Most of us have brought up families and worked hard all our lives, don't you think we now deserve some recreation? As for it only being the brits, the Spanish enjoy their saturday nights at the Sports Complex.

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-13

Yes Eve I do agree with you, but NOT at someone else's expense and suffering.

Lets face it even in Benidorm Bar owners have to obey the law. Problem is when a cafe owner does not do his homework first, then belly aches that he can not afford to but his own house in order and fit soundproofing etc and get the proper licence, so basically a case of sod the neighbours.

http://www.spainbusinessguide.com/licencia-apertura-licence.html

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-13

I think it is time to move away from the Bar and Bar Noise topic.

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-13

Posting a bit long, but the content sounds about right and sums up just what I have said/think. La marina was and still is a great place, yes it has its problems so does just about every where otherwise all the M and G club members would have nothing in there world. I have looked at the bars etc and after doing the sums it seems it is one hard way to earn a living not a profit to be had BEST of luck to you and all that stick it out so we all have some where to go/eat/be entertained everyone knew what was being built and where.

well done you and the others for naming and putting your heads above the paraphernalia unlike what some hide behind and are "The keyboard warriors"

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-13

I can understand why people who live very near the bars do not post there name etc. I myself remember being in Bar Rojo a few years ago and was told by the lady incharge that a local guy on the corner had phoned the Police causing her a problem. She even had a sign outside and on the bar pointing out his house.
I understand the guy had tyres slashed, car window broken etc, of course this could have been a coincidence.

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-14

Golfer
You have a habit of trying to wind people up,sort of like a troll does,and sometimes you join in the debate,But to actual even think that if a person may put a name to a comment will leave you open to something that you say you heard from someone years ago which to me was absolutely rubbish and completely in the mind of the reader or writer.People on this forum are asked to put a name to there comments,it does not have to be a birth name but a user name will do.(you yourself already use a user name rather than a birth name)If the incident that you state were true in any way It definitely wasnt due to anybody putting a comment on any forum.

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-15

Al & Sue, its a shame all bar owners don't think like you, its a few that are going to spoil it for everyone, your's is the best post that has been on here for a long while, good luck in the future

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-16

Has anyone stopped and thought how much money and effort has gone into starting up these businesses on the Urb. Young people have put there hard earned money into these ventures, yes to make a living, but also to give us older,retired people some entertainment. I was talking to one of the young bar owners the other night and he was nearly in tears about all the comments on this forum. He goes out of his way to keep the noise level down but it is a lot of money to sound proof these venues. This, in my opinion, should have been done by the developers when these places were being built. After all they were built for this purpose. I am sure all these people who run the bars are paying a lot of money in rental etc. It is not the easiest way in the world to earn your living,, so if you have never tried it, don't be too quick to criticise anyone. Faced with numerous bills we would all try to make money to pay them. So before you moan and groan, just think, it could be your son or daughter in this position, trying to make an honest living. How would you feel if people kept trying to pull them to pieces. These people are not layabouts, they are people trying to earn a living. Are we all getting so old that we cannot remember what it was like to be young and struggling to pay our way.

ASL Member Founding Member 2012-04-16
Back to Community Wall