British bar owners are facing financial ruin this summer after their local Spanish mayor launched an unexpected crackdown on live music. 

Under the new rules, sprung on businesses just three weeks ago, venues across the municipality of Manilva can only have 12 days of live performers between June 1 and August 30. 

In the bustling port of La Duquesa, which is loved by tourists and expats for its live music, it is already proving devastating, with jobs set to be axed and dozens of performers cancelled.

An online petition dubbed ‘save summer entertainment in Manilva’ has already been launched and signed by more than 1,600 people.

Lisa and Ray Curin, who have run the Quays Irish Pub in the port for the past seven years, told the Spanish Eye the knock-on effects are catastrophic. 

‘So many customers have told us they come here for the live music, and that without it they will go somewhere else. 

‘We will probably have to lose three or four staff members, and performers who had been booked throughout the year are being cancelled all over the place, it’s ridiculous.

‘And then there are the local drinks suppliers and taxi drivers, the ripple effects are huge.’ 

Lisa revealed that the police are already enforcing the new laws and are taking no prisoners. 

‘We had an acoustic guitar playing at a wedding reception and the police ran over shouting ‘no music, no music!’, so they are definitely enforcing it.’ 

The measures have been brought in by Mario Jimenez Rodriguez, who was reinstated as Mayor of Manilva last year following a vote of no confidence in his predecessor Jose Manuel Fernandez. 

‘Everything was great under Fernandez, we all want him back in,’ added Ray, who said British residents cannot wait to make their voice heard at next year’s local elections – in which they are allowed to vote. 

Locals in Duquesa told the Spanish Eye that Rodriguez won some favour earlier this year after driving out a group of Moroccan squatters who had allegedly sexually assaulted a young female cafe worker in the port. 

But shortly afterwards, he called a meeting at the town hall with business owners under the guise of discussing security measures, during which he ‘dropped the bomb’ regarding the live music crackdown. 

But confusion reigns over who is behind the alleged slew of complaints, especially as ‘99%’ of the bars religiously stop playing music by midnight. 

Karen Wager, owner of the popular Kinsale bar, told the Spanish Eye: ‘We were in shock when he told us.

‘I wish I had known beforehand because I would have taken music performers with me to let them explain what effects this was going to have.

‘We’re all here just trying to stay afloat, especially after the really tough start to the year due to the constant bad weather, the timing couldn’t be worse.’

Both Karen and Ray and Lisa said they believe one bar in the port has ‘ruined it for everyone’ by playing music late into the night and disturbing local residents – although they agree it hardly justifies introducing such drastic sweeping measures. 

In addition to the limit of 12 live performances, each event requires an individual licence application, along with supporting documentation such as proof of public liability insurance, payment of fees, and an acoustic sound report. 

Karen added: ‘We have already been forced to cancel a number of previously scheduled entertainers… these are professional musicians who rely on the summer season for the majority of their income.

‘The loss of these bookings is not just disappointing – it has a real financial impact on performers who plan their schedules months in advance. This also risks damaging long-standing relationships between venues and artists and may discourage entertainers from returning to the area in the future.

‘Live music is not just entertainment – it is a vital part of attracting visitors, increasing footfall, and sustaining jobs.

‘Reduced footfall will inevitably affect staffing levels, with employees likely to lose working hours during what should be the busiest and most profitable time of the year. This adds further pressure not only on businesses, but on the livelihoods of those who depend on the hospitality sector.

‘Without flexibility or support, there is a real concern that this could become one of the most challenging summer seasons the port has faced.

‘If Duquesa loses its atmosphere, it loses its visitors – and that’s something none of us can afford.’

Simon Dearing, owner of the Rose and Thistle in nearby Sabinillas, is also affected by the rules.

He told the Spanish Eye: ‘We’ve had to pre-select our 12 dates for the summer months. Which doesn’t actually equate to one a week as we have to miss one day in August.

‘The reasoning we’ve been given is due to many complaints previously for excessive noise and too late at night.

‘The backlash is I’m hearing tourists are going elsewhere this year with entertainment and artists I know of are thinking of moving away as they cannot make a living now. There’s a big knock on effect.’

The Spanish Eye has contacted Manilva town hall for comment.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.