Britons flock to Spain in their millions every year and many even decide to retire there.
However, according to an expat, Spain is changing “rapidly”, meaning the country Britons have always known and love may be slightly different to how they remember it.
James and Yoly from Spain Revealed, shared some big changes for people who are keen to travel to Spain as a tourist – or move there for good.
James, who has been living in Spain for 12 years, said that “tapas culture is disappearing”.
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The expat explained that tapas is the ‘lifeblood of Spanish communities’
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James described tapas as the “lifeblood of Spanish communities – or what traditionally was the lifeblood of Spanish communities”.
However, he revealed that over the past few years, these beloved tapas bars have decreased.
He said there were 10 per cent less traditional bars than there were 10 years ago. However, the number of restaurants in Spain is rising.
James said that this might be down to changing attitudes post-pandemic. After Covid people were drawn to cosy setups rather than busy places.
While tapas bars are all about the hustle and bustle, restaurants provide a more relaxing environment.
Another reason tapas bars might be decreasing in Spain is because there is more variety nowadays when it comes to eateries, offering lots of different cuisines.
For those who still enjoy a busy tapas bar, expat James explained that getting into them sometimes proves to be tricky. Places you could once walk into spontaneously are now requiring patrons to book a table.
In addition to the disappearance of Spanish tapas bars, family-run restaurants are also struggling in Spain, said Yoly – James’ Spanish wife.
Nowadays, traditional tapas restaurants in Spain are few and far between
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In rural areas, depopulation means there are fewer people to visit these restaurants. Family-run establishments in the city struggle for a different reason – rent prices are “going through the roof”.
Franchises, on the other hand, can afford to pay the rent which means more of these pop up.
While James loves living in Spain, no place is perfect and there are some aspects of it that he “hates”.
He revealed that he cannot stand a popular dish, stating that if he had an “arch nemesis”, it would be this. There is also a Spanish custom that drives him “crazy”.
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