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3rd edition of TapaFest inspired by the artists of the Benidorm Fest

TapaFest Benidorm

Valencian Community Tourism, through the Exquisite Mediterranean, collaborates in the third edition of TapaFest, the gastronomic competition parallel to the Benidorm Fest that began on January 24 and is held until February 2. An event that has the participation of 21 Benidorm hotel establishments that compete for the tapa with the fastest rhythm of the competition, and which has so far distributed around 6,000 tapas.

This is an event organised by the Association of Bars, Restaurants, Cafes and Nighttime Entertainment of Benidorm (ABRECA), in collaboration with the Generalitat, through L’Exquisit Mediterrani, the Benidorm City Council, Conhostur and the Repsol Guide, and which this Friday presented the awards for this 2025 edition.

The regional secretary of Tourism, José Manuel Camarero, wanted to highlight that “the Benidorm Fest has consolidated itself as an international platform that, in addition to showcasing musical talent, highlights local gastronomy with the parallel event Tapa Fest.”

Along these lines, he stressed that “through L’Exquisit Mediterrani, Benidorm has shown the world the quality of its products and the creativity of its chefs, fusing tradition, music and innovation in each award-winning tapa.”

In this context, José Manuel Camarero pointed out that “the Benidorm Fest and, in parallel, the Tapa Fest are being fundamental for the deseasonalisation and diversification of tourism, which is contributing to a notable increase in hotel occupancy and an increase in the turnover of the hospitality industry”. In this regard, he recalled that, in its 2024 edition, the Benidorm Fest achieved a direct economic impact of 2.5 million euro, 65% more than in its first edition, held in 2022.

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For the regional secretary of Tourism, “these results are the fruit of collaboration between the public and private sectors, an effort that continues to generate success in the city of Benidorm”. Finally, he congratulated the winners of the Tapa Fest 2025 “for their talent” and thanked all the participants “for making this event possible, which will continue to be a benchmark for gastronomic tourism in Benidorm”, he added.

The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez; the president of Abreca, Javier del Castillo, and the manager of the association, Irene Carreño, also participated in the awards ceremony.

Tapa Fest 2025 award winners

The ‘Flamenquín Deluxe’, from Taberna Andaluza, has been the star tapa of the III Tapa Fest Tapas Competition. The public, with their votes, has chosen this option as the best tapa among the proposals of the 21 participating establishments. This delicacy is a crispy roll of Iberian ham stuffed with cheese and dates, coated with breadcrumbs and quicos, accompanied by Pedro Ximénez and honey and mustard aioli.

The second prize went to Linaje de Castilla with its tapa ‘Las 3 bellotas’, and the third award went to DNI Ibéricos with ‘Nuestra Diva’.

This year, in addition, a special prize has been awarded by the jury made up of Antonio Crespo, Paco Juan, the two from the CdT Network, María Ritter from Guia Repsol and Julio Moreno from the Llar del Pescador, which went to the La Fava Restaurant for its ‘Coca Vasco-Valenciana’, an incredible mixture of coca with salmorreta jam, roasted garlic praline, confit cod and its pil-pil.

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To close the day, a double ticket has been raffled for the final gala of the Benidorm Fest, which will be held this Saturday, February 1st.

The 21 participating establishments in this edition of the Tapa Fest, which will continue to offer the best of our tapas until this Sunday, February 2, are: Cervecería L’Abadia, Linaje De Castilla, Terraza Bahía, Shija Sabores De Los Balcanes, Freiduría Los Peces , Pinocho Playa, La Cava Aragonesa, El Rincón De Ribera, Playa La Pinta, Malaespina, La Fava, Marisquería El Puerto, DNI Ibéricos, Restaurante El Mesón, Taberna Andaluza, La Tapería Grupo Aurrera, La Brasería Aurrera, El Bodegón Aurrera, Pintxos Aurrera, La Tabernita Del Sur and Arrocería La Marina.


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Costa Blanca

Hospitality and recreation establishments in Elche receive 36 infringement reports from local police

The Elche Local Police conducted an operation that involved inspecting thirteen hospitality and leisure outlets in various neighbourhoods, resulting in one arrest and 36 violations. The data was made public on Friday, 28th March, mainly as a reminder of the work that is being done. Councilman Juan de Dios Navarro gave the police top for their efforts.

According to local police inspector José Antonio Corrales, the majority of the infractions included drug usage and possession, including four for cocaine possession and seven for hashish, as well as improper company documentation. Additionally, there were two reports for disturbing the peace or disrespecting law enforcement, four for not following the minimum hygienic standards for food storage, one serious infraction for conducting the activity after hours and behind closed doors, and seven for irregularities found on the property, including improper documentation.

Additionally, officers found six infractions for permitting smoking in unapproved indoor locations, three for type “B” slot machine identification guide deficiencies, and one major infraction for emergency escape and door flaws. Additionally, a report was made about the selling of illegal tobacco at a pub, where 20 packets were confiscated and one individual was detained on court order and imprisoned.


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Visitor to Catral cemetery locked inside

Catral Local Police Cemetery

As nightfall approached on one of these soggy spring days in March, a young man decided it would be a good idea to visit a cousin or acquaintance’s grave and take a walk through the cemetery. Because the cemetery still closes its (automatic) gates at six o’clock at this time of year, but without the winter gloom that may discourage anyone from going.

However, the door was locked when he attempted to exit. The visitor didn’t seem to want to spend any more time among the cemeteries, despite the cemetery’s reputation as a particularly tranquil spot. Unaware of the placard bearing the mobile phone number for anyone needing help, he dashed out the gate. It was all on camera.

Joaquín Lucas, the mayor of Catral, maintains that this occurrence is unrelated to the privatisation of the cemetery works and feels that management by an outside company is an efficient approach to provide this service in a municipal office. He went on to say that the young man who who was locked in is from the nearby municipality of Dolores rather than Catral.

The local police took to social media and atacked the man’s “reckless” behaviour. He has been named in connection with “criminal proceedings for a crime against another’s property.” Nonetheless, the business will be liable for any damages brought on by the damaged door anchors.

In addition to clarifying that the business employs two workers—a gravedigger and a labourer who maintains the communal areas and restrooms—the Councillor for Services, Daniel Escudero, reaffirmed that the automatic door is an option offered by the company itself.

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Five arrested in Alicante and Murcia for shoplifting

Five individuals involved in grocery theft have been taken into custody by the Guardia Civil. In the regions of Alicante and Murcia, the thieves were stealing in a number of locations for a well-known supermarket company. The things that were stolen are worth over 8,000 euros in total.

The investigation started after the retail chain representative filed a complaint. The pattern was consistent across all cases: three or four people went into the store, and one of them loaded up a cart with expensive things like canned goods, extra virgin olive oil, sausages, or alcoholic drinks. The last one hurried out of the grocery without paying, and another diverted the attention of the staff.

It was discovered that the same people were responsible for the crimes in multiple towns in Alicante and Murcia after examining the security footage from the impacted businesses. Since the suspects did not live in the residences where they were registered and lacked a stable address, it was very difficult to find them.

Shortly after committing another theft at a store in a suburban neighbourhood of Rojales (Alicante), officers caught two of the suspects off guard and took them into custody. Many of the stolen goods were found at that time and brought back to the impacted business.

The other three were later taken into custody in the cities of Almoradí (Alicante) and Guardamar del Segura. The majority of the pilfered items were sold on. Additionally, the two cars that were utilised in the crimes were taken.

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Eleven thefts have been resolved as a consequence of the investigation conducted by the Novelda Civil Guard’s investigation section. The cities of Novelda, Torrevieja, Almoradí, Catral, and Rojales in Alicante as well as the municipalities of San Javier, Jumilla, San Pedro del Pinatar, Cartagena, Archena, and Caravaca de la Cruz in Murcia were the sites of these crimes.


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San Javier Airshow 2025
June 14, 2025 - June 15, 2025    
All Day
The AIRE 25 festival will take place on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th June 2025, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Eagle Patrol. On [...]
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San Javier Airshow 2025
14 Jun 25
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