Closed! X-KLUSIV - Restaurant Benimar2 - Rojales Closed!

Sadly this has now closed they were moving things out yesterday.

On positve note the Welcome Inn next door but one is flurishing.

scubydoo wrote:Sadly this has now closed they were moving things out yesterday.

On positve note the Welcome Inn next door but one is flurishing.

Thank you for letting us know.

We went a couple of times when they should have been open and they were not..

We walked because we wanted a meal and a drink.... so each time it was a waste of time..

If they could not be reliable I am not surprised they have gone... It is a shame really as the people who owned it were really nice folk..

Next door is a "cowboy" bar.. has anyone tried it yet.. ?
..

We went a couple of times when they should have been open and they were not..

We walked because we wanted a meal and a drink.... so each time it was a waste of time..

I think this is a problem i've seen more than once & also very nearby.

Route 66 used to be owned by people more interested in going on the beach than working. When I asked why they were closed at lunch time, yet all other restaurants were busy - they said 'we just work evenings. They missed half of their summer trade - hey ho, I was right 6 months and out of business. New owner no so daft, opens breakfast, lunch and dinner......I've been there at lunch time & even now before easter, they are taking pretty good lunch bookings.

To run any business you have to work hard. We would rather work half days too..but know clients need service when they want it, not us - otherwise would not be answering phones 10-8 pm Monday - Saturday.

Bar owners (more than most) and restaurants need to budget to make most of their money in the summers, as soon as we hit winter / off season in expat areas, goes very quiet - keep open and your regulars coming in. Or go to the beach when you could be pulling money in as when it goes quiet, you best have budgeted accordingly.

Problem is, in many instances - bars are opened by dreamers - not business people. It has been my dream to quit my job and open up a bar in Spain - Why? Not for the inexperienced or underfunded (usually the case) - which is why 9 out of 10 fall over in the first 12 months, usually when they hit winter and go, 'why so quiet'....

You'll walk straight into the next bar which is open and serving food.....and the freeholders of the bar always end up laughing, as time after time people do up the bars, spend money on the trespaso / lease end up with nothing, but the bar owner has had a free makeover....Not good.

I would consider a bar in Spain, but ideally would need to own the property to avoid be stuffed by the typical landlord. You would probably need - a 500k budget, really well done up, good food, long hours, location, location, location - it would be easier to spend more than that. I would also state if I could lay my hands on 500k with ease, it would not be invested in a bar, as at that level there are much better and simpler investments.

A 10k-50k bar trespaso investment, which is where most of these little businesses / bars are at, you play the same tune as all those other bars around. Linking the word investment to bar, is probably a little deceptive too - as logic would dictate this would not be a good investment for most. Not unless you have deep pockets and know the game well.

However, for all of the above the simple truth of the matter is if you are prepared to work very hard and very long hours, you can survive running a small bar. But - SURVIVE. Usually people burn out as simply are not fit / young / prepared well enough to deal with the level of workload required to make a small income.

Paul - TV Techie wrote:

We went a couple of times when they should have been open and they were not..

We walked because we wanted a meal and a drink.... so each time it was a waste of time..

I think this is a problem i've seen more than once & also very nearby.

Route 66 used to be owned by people more interested in going on the beach than working. When I asked why they were closed at lunch time, yet all other restaurants were busy - they said 'we just work evenings. They missed half of their summer trade - hey ho, I was right 6 months and out of business. New owner no so daft, opens breakfast, lunch and dinner......I've been there at lunch time & even now before easter, they are taking pretty good lunch bookings.

To run any business you have to work hard. We would rather work half days too..but know clients need service when they want it, not us - otherwise would not be answering phones 10-8 pm Monday - Saturday.

Bar owners (more than most) and restaurants need to budget to make most of their money in the summers, as soon as we hit winter / off season in expat areas, goes very quiet - keep open and your regulars coming in. Or go to the beach when you could be pulling money in as when it goes quiet, you best have budgeted accordingly.

Problem is, in many instances - bars are opened by dreamers - not business people. It has been my dream to quit my job and open up a bar in Spain - Why? Not for the inexperienced or underfunded (usually the case) - which is why 9 out of 10 fall over in the first 12 months, usually when they hit winter and go, 'why so quiet'....

You'll walk straight into the next bar which is open and serving food.....and the freeholders of the bar always end up laughing, as time after time people do up the bars, spend money on the trespaso / lease end up with nothing, but the bar owner has had a free makeover....Not good.

I would consider a bar in Spain, but ideally would need to own the property to avoid be stuffed by the typical landlord. You would probably need - a 500k budget, really well done up, good food, long hours, location, location, location - it would be easier to spend more than that. I would also state if I could lay my hands on 500k with ease, it would not be invested in a bar, as at that level there are much better and simpler investments.

A 10k-50k bar trespaso investment, which is where most of these little businesses / bars are at, you play the same tune as all those other bars around. Linking the word investment to bar, is probably a little deceptive too - as logic would dictate this would not be a good investment for most. Not unless you have deep pockets and know the game well.

However, for all of the above the simple truth of the matter is if you are prepared to work very hard and very long hours, you can survive running a small bar. But - SURVIVE. Usually people burn out as simply are not fit / young / prepared well enough to deal with the level of workload required to make a small income.

100% spot on,

Other good examples of giving good customer service & working hard are Paul & Martin at Catorce Restaurant & Steve & Alec at Oasis. Both in Benijofar, we have known Paul & Martin since we brought in Spain back in 2005 and we often comment on the hard work they put in to make a success of their business.

Steve & Alec are another good example, they took over Oasis Bar a couple of years ago & quickly realised that they needed to make improvements to make their business a success. The bar is now open in the evenings where you will find Steve serving the tables & Steve doing the cooking.

Anyone thinking of starting a Business in Spain would do well to speak to these good people for advice

Thank you from both Stephen and Alex at Oasis Benijofar. It's very good of you to mention us in this way and of course our friends Martyn and Paul at Catorce. Your observations are absolutely spot on, you have to love what you are doing above all else and that means putting the hours in. We took over a thriving business, stuck to what the previous owners did so as not to alienate existing customers - who are now friends. Then through evolution and a lot of chatting to customers to ask what they wanted as well as adding our own touches, made changes to hours, menus, offerings, service and staff to make it what it is today - and its a lot of hard work. Martyn and Paul warned us it would be tough, I shrugged it off as I wasn't afraid of hard work, but it is different here. You are at the mercy of the weather, whether good or bad and of course your customers, who have far more choices than you do. Many friends tell us we should make time for ourselves and they are right. But the harsh reality is that as a business owner (anywhere) you can never really switch off, its the adrenaline that keeps you going and the passion you have for your business ensures you do it well.

Good luck