A British expat has been left stunned after being charged for two ice cubes at a chiringuito in Estepona.
The confused diner took to social media to ask if it was ‘normal’ to be asked to pay extra for the frozen commodity.
The post on an Estepona forum was met with shock and disdain, with fellow Brits branding the venue ‘pathetic’ and a ‘rip off’.
READ MORE: ‘Enough is enough!’ British expats fume over surge in luxury venues in Estepona
However the beach bar in question, Havana, told the Spanish Eye that it charges the small surcharge due to the costs of running an ice machine.
The original post explained: ‘On Playa del Cristo beach today. Ordered an ice coffee at Havana Beach Bar and was charged for a coffee and charged extra for two ice cubes. Is that normal?
‘Is ice always an extra billable item? Seems a bit petty minded in my opinion… no menu when I ordered it but checked afterwards and nothing printed about charging for ice cubes.’
The woman explained she was charged €4.50 for coffee ‘plus 50 cents extra for the ice cubes!’, bringing the total for a small coffee with two ice cubes added in to €5.
Many rushed to the comments to say it was ‘not normal’ and yet another sign that Estepona was being turned into a ‘mini Marbella’.
Expats are becoming increasingly fed up by the rise in upmarket and ‘luxury’ venues in the resort, which typically bring higher prices.
One commenter said: ‘We remember how it (Playa Cristo) used to be 20 years ago, just a shack on the beach. Now, so many beach beds you can hardly see the sea.’
Another said: ‘That’s the new Super Estepona for you!’
‘Crazy I’ve never been charged for ice would have refused to pay’, another Brit said, while one chimed in: ‘Nowhere charges extra for ice cubes, most people have ice cubes in their coca colas, aqua con gas, zumos etc. Ridiculous!’
A few commenters suggested those not happy with the surcharge ‘go elsewhere’.
A spokesperson for Havana Beach Bar said: ‘You’re absolutely right that ice itself isn’t expensive, but what many don’t see is the real cost behind it.
‘We use a professional industrial ice machine that cost us over €9,800, and it consumes a significant amount of electricity daily.
‘On top of that, there’s the staff who prepare and serve the drinks, and the furniture and shaded seating we’ve invested in so our guests can enjoy their coffee comfortably right on the beach.
‘We understand it might seem minor, but in our setting where everything is brought close to the sea with comfort in mind small extras help cover the high operational costs.’
