English bars and "restaurants"

[Brindleboy123]

Posted this earlier but forgot to put as. New thread!

I have very strong opinions of British run bars a d "restaurants" having lived here for over six years and also worked in a couple. Before I spill the beans on my experiences I would love to hear what others have to say too!

[Christine]

Bars and Restaurants

Posted this earlier but forgot to put as. New thread!

I have very strong opinions of British run bars a d "restaurants" having lived here for over six years and also worked in a couple. Before I spill the beans on my experiences I would love to hear what others have to say too!

I am an ex publican and know how hard it is to run a bar, you need to be there as much as you possibly can.

Those that fail have a dream to own a bar and than pay staff to run it for them, needless to say they do not last.

I also know a couple ( only a couple ) of well run bars that put money and attention into the business that are doing well, good luck to them.

I like to use both Spanish and English bars but I only use the good ones, when they resort to trying to make money but blasting us all out with unwanted karaoke and loud useless singers I am off.

friendly visible owners with clean and well run bars, good luck.

[Mick94]

Are they 'English' Bars or 'British' bars, I ask ? England is only one of the nations which make up Britain. So many 'English' seem to forget that.

[sunshinegal]

Are they 'English' Bars or 'British' bars, I ask ? England is only one of the nations which make up Britain. So many 'English' seem to forget that.

Aaaaaah but it's OK if the bar claims to be an Irish bar, or Welsh etc? hehe... sorry don't wanna turn this to a political debate but I thought it was only the EU that says there's no such thing as English - only the language lol.

P.s. I'm sur ewhen people say English bars, they refer to the language being spoken rather than the actual nationality of the owners / desired clients etc.

[Brindleboy123]

I am an ex publican and know how hard it is to run a bar, you need to be there as much as you possibly can.

Those that fail have a dream to own a bar and than pay staff to run it for them, needless to say they do not last.

I also know a couple ( only a couple ) of well run bars that put money and attention into the business that are doing well, good luck to them.

I like to use both Spanish and English bars but I only use the good ones, when they resort to trying to make money but blasting us all out with unwanted karaoke and loud useless singers I am off.

friendly visible owners with clean and well run bars, good luck.

What I don't understand are those people who arrive in Spain where their only experience of catering appears to be opening a takeaway on a Friday night! They put all their money into a bar probably work longer hours than they did in the Uk and 6 months down the line the business fails. When I moved over I worked in a bar which is still open and advertising on radio.I worked in the kitchen. I was told by the owner to "take the green bit off the sausages" ! One Sunday lunch when the roast potatoes were all gone the owner told me to look through the bin and "wash" a couple off!!'I refused and needless to say don't work there anymore. They still serve Sunday lunch !!

Thankfully there are some excellent restaurants here too. I have just returned from a typical Spanish restaurant near Murcia "mi case". Exceptional. I also thoroughly recommend Mobey Dick's near the port.

Anyway, just thought I would start the debate - enjoy your next meal but avoid the roast pots - especially if you can see the sea where you are sotting!!!

[tangobrian]

Posted this earlier but forgot to put as. New thread!

I have very strong opinions of British run bars a d "restaurants" having lived here for over six years and also worked in a couple. Before I spill the beans on my experiences I would love to hear what others have to say too!

"Spill the beans"
Was that an intended pun ???

[Chrisdee]

The Ship Aguas Nuevas

What I don't understand are those people who arrive in Spain where their only experience of catering appears to be opening a takeaway on a Friday night! They put all their money into a bar probably work longer hours than they did in the Uk and 6 months down the line the business fails. When I moved over I worked in a bar which is still open and advertising on radio.I worked in the kitchen. I was told by the owner to "take the green bit off the sausages" ! One Sunday lunch when the roast potatoes were all gone the owner told me to look through the bin and "wash" a couple off!!'I refused and needless to say don't work there anymore. They still serve Sunday lunch !!

Thankfully there are some excellent restaurants here too. I have just returned from a typical Spanish restaurant near Murcia "mi case". Exceptional. I also thoroughly recommend Mobey Dick's near the port.

Anyway, just thought I would start the debate - enjoy your next meal but avoid the roast pots - especially if you can see the sea where you are sotting!!!

So, what you have to do then is, when you leave any roast pototoes leave your teethmarks in um! I had a bad experience with the women owner of the bar/restaurant called "The Ship" in Aguas Nuevas, she was English and she was a right old bag. Honest to god, we had done nothing wrong, wasn't rude, loud, badly dressed, just a normal family going out for Sunday lunch. When my father asked for more water to be added to the teapot as the tea was like syrup, she turned around and said "You effing British are all the same, want something for nothing". We couldn't believe it. God knows why we just didn't get up and walk out there and then, think we were stunned/shocked at her attitude. Needless to say we have never been back.
This was about 5 years ago, with a bit of luck the old bag has gone now.

[tangobrian]

I know three Brits who have/had bars/restaurants in the area where I live.
Two have managed to sell up and return to the UK
The last one is up for sale.
Long hours for very little reward is the reason for getting out !!!

[Nalle]

Im quite sure that there are restaurants run by brits who are good and prfessional. Problem is that there are so many laymen that come over and think "Hey, I can pull a beer and fry an egg, Lets open up a snack bar..."
Spanish snack bars are perhaps slightly better, as no spaniard will open up a bar becasue he thinks its fun. But you will find the snackbars also will serve food that although not dirty, are not very tasty.

[tangobrian]

Just read an article about one of my favourite foods.
Pescoditos or small fried fish. (whitebait in the UK)
It is stated that last year the EU sued Spain in the EU court for not preventing the catching of undersized fish.
Spain has been ignoring this EU directive for seven years.
Yes, Spain keeps ignoring the EU but the EU do not give up and will eventually win and bring Spain into line with other member states.

As I said previously , all states will have the same laws regarding fishing , agriculture , etc etc and TV broadcasting as well !

Like it or lump it , that is what the EU is about ....... CONFORMITY !!

[tangobrian]

Just read the BBC website that a 19 year old British girl has been in hospital in Greece for two weeks after drinking a cocktail consisting of .......wait for it ....

Baileys , chilli , tequila , absinthe , ouzo , vodka , cider and gin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My wife uses something similar to clean the patio tiles !!!

What gets into the Brits on holiday (besides drinks like that ?????????????????

ps her head is swollen to the size of a football and doctors do not know when the swelling will go down ...if ever ????????

[Nalle]

Just read the BBC website that a 19 year old British girl has been in hospital in Greece for two weeks after drinking a cocktail consisting of .......wait for it ....

Baileys , chilli , tequila , absinthe , ouzo , vodka , cider and gin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My wife uses something similar to clean the patio tiles !!!

What gets into the Brits on holiday (besides drinks like that ?????????????????

ps her head is swollen to the size of a football and doctors do not know when the swelling will go down ...if ever ????????

I dont think its the actual coctail that did that to her, the fact that she had TEN of them...... LOL

[Chrisdee]

[QUOTE=tangobrian;

What gets into the Brits on holiday (besides drinks like that ?????????????????

Probably a few dozen Greek blokes!

[tangobrian]

[QUOTE=Chrisdee;18372][QUOTE=tangobrian;

What gets into the Brits on holiday (besides drinks like that ?????????????????

Probably a few dozen Greek blokes![/QUOTE]

I was waiting for that !!!
Nearly wrote it myself .

[Chrisdee]

[QUOTE=tangobrian;18373]

I was waiting for that !!!
Nearly wrote it myself .

Actually that was a mistake, I shouldn't have put probably!