Spain planning earlier closing times for restaurants, bars and pubs

Spain planning earlier closing times for restaurants, bars and pubs
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Spain is planning EARLIER closing times for restaurants and bars - with UK tourists warned. Holidaymakers may face a significant change on their holidays as the country is considering introducing earlier closing times for bars and restaurants.

The move in the European Union holiday destination and tourist hotspot comes s part of the government's intention to implement a 37.5 hour working week across the country, including the Canary Islands, which includes Lanzarote and Tenerife.

Spain’s Minister of Labour, Yolanda Diaz, has given her support for limiting hospitality sector hours, proposing that all establishments with bar, restaurants or café licences, must close by 1am. It is a move that has caused concern among many business owners who stay open until 2 or 3 in the morning.

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Diaz said it is not "reasonable" for bars and restaurants to remain open into the early hours, and they will have to align their opening times with new labour regulations. "It is crazy to try to continue extending the hours until we don't know what time," she said.

Madrid’s president, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, has spoken out in the wake of the calls and moved to strongly defended Spain’s vibrant nightlife. "Spain has the best nightlife in the world... and that also provides jobs," Ayuso said on social media this week.

Spain is the world’s second most popular tourist destination after France and in July received 10.9 million visitors and as many again in August, according to the INE. The tourism minister, Jordi Hereu, called the impact of tourism “a great success for the wellbeing, social cohesion and economic development of Spain” at an event organised by the tourism promotion agency Turespaña in Tenerife this week.

But he also spoke out this week and also added that Spain must transform its model for the sector in the country.