During Easter, the seashore bars in Punta Prima, Cala Estaca, and Cala La Mosca in Orihuela will be closed. The objective is to be prepared in time for the summer’s reopening. The City Council has resubmitted this lot for tender, the sole one of the five that was not awarded in the tender that commenced in November 2023. The PP and Vox coalition had previously decided to divide the contract, which had been awarded to a single company that managed the restaurant and leisure services at the eleven Orihuela beaches.

Thus, all beach bars, with the exception of these three, commenced operations last year. The initial beach bars reopened at the end of April after being closed since January 2023, when the government team, which was composed of PSOE and Ciudadanos, decided not to renew the contract.

The tender is currently in progress, with a minimum annual fee of €82,240 for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 seasons. The parties may mutually agree to extend the fee for up to two additional annual installments.

The award is delayed for Easter and the first part of the service period, as the deadline for submitting bids is April 14th. The service was scheduled to commence in Cala Estaca (Flamenca beach) on March 15th, in Punta Prima on April 1st, and in Cala La Mosca on May 15th, all of which conclude on October 30th.

In reality, the terms and conditions stipulate that the charge will be prorated to the actual operating time provided if the contract is formalised after the dates specified in the operating plan, in accordance with the unit prices offered by the successful bidder in the economic bid.

In order to determine the fee, an estimated annual income of 137,000 euros has been determined for the successful vendor. The Cala Estaca beach bar is the most profitable, with a revenue of 55,200 euros. Punta Prima and Cala La Mosca are the next most profitable, with a revenue of 50,900 euros and 30,900 euros, respectively.

Sun loungers and umbrellas are included in the service. Transit and showering necessitate a six-meter buffer zone from the shore. Ensuring compliance is the contractor’s obligation. Beach restaurants will be situated at a minimum of 35 meters from the shore.

The area has contracted in recent years, making it challenging to comply with this boundary on beaches such as Punta Prima. In reality, the residents’ association of this beach requested that the City Council decrease the allocated area for sun loungers and umbrellas; however, this request has not been incorporated into the new tender.

The specifications specify a 20 square meter surface area for the beach bar, an additional 50 square meters for the terrace, and a 30 square meter area for parasols and loungers. In Cala Estaca and Cala La Mosca, the area is expanded to 120 square meters.

The toilet service, which is in high demand among consumers, is also included in the contract. The successful bidder is required to ensure that at least four cleanings are performed each day, with the initial cleaning occurring prior to the opening and the subsequent cleanings occurring at least three hours apart.

Additionally, they must adhere to accessibility regulations, which must be considered during the installation of the walkways. The walkways must be installed flush with one another to prevent any minor variations in elevation, thereby enabling individuals with reduced mobility to use them. Additionally, the successful bidder must possess a semi-automatic external defibrillator.

The City Council will furnish the beach bars, pergolas, lavatories, and walkways. The successful bidder will be responsible for the sweeping and cleaning of the facilities and their surroundings.

Taberna Garcana was the highest-rated bidder in the initial tender for this property, with Agustín Muñoz e Hijos, Hostelería Ghequiere, and Francisco Bernabé Antón following in that order. The Contracting Committee excluded them from the proposal due to their failure to submit the necessary documentation. Consequently, the bid was declared null and void. This resulted in the third and fourth companies appealing the Committee’s decision, citing alleged irregularities and “administrative arbitrariness.”

The company Adem Levante was awarded the beach establishments in Cala Cerrada, Cala Bosque (La Zenia), Cala Capitán (Cabo Roig), La Caleta (Cabo Roig), and Aguamarina last year. Café Olé & Friends emerged victorious in the seashore bars of La Glea, Barranco Rubio (both located in Campoamor), and Mil Palmeras. The tender for the motorised nautical facilities in Cala Bosque and La Glea was awarded to Recreativos Acuáticos Horadada.