English TV

Can a set top recorder box be purchased in Spain or do they need to be brought over from U.K. ?

If you just mean a recorder then you can buy them in Spain. Indeed, a USB stick will do the job.
If you mean one with satellite channels and a recorder built in then you can buy them in Spain.
If you mean one with Freesat and a recorder built in then you need one from UK although there are some sellers providing them here in Spain.

Friends & I subscribe to an IPTV package €80 for a year you just need to buy an IPTV box for about €35, gives 1000´s of channels including all UK TV, BT & Sky content + films, box sets.
Beauty is once set up you can use your box & TV package anywhere in the world.

If you tune in to a sat dish you will get all the English channels you want using 'freeveiw' eg.. Astra sat is good.
Gerry

not using freeview you wont Freesat is what is needed but you can use almost any sat box receiver and scan Astra 28.2