MANY Brits dream of running a business on the Spanish coast.
But without a sound business mind the dream can soon become a nightmare.
That’s why former Benidorm landlord Duncan Hartley has written The Benidorm Experience, a book of advice for those thinking of following suit.
Duncan, who is back in Dalton after two years in the popular tourist destination, learned the hard way.
Mr Hartley and his wife, Linda, lost almost £80,000 running the Pig and Whistle in Benidorm’s old town between 2007 and 2009.
Running the English-themed sports bar was initially profitable for Duncan, a former manager at Timothy Wood ironmongery, Bradley Mills.
But when the credit crunch struck everything changed.
Duncan, 55, said: “In the second year with the recession people would buy these all-inclusive deals and sit in the hotel bar and wouldn’t spend money at any of the other bars. That’s still happening now”.
Mr Hartley, who has three grown-up children, added: “Running the bar and meeting different people from different countries was a fantastic experience. It just went sour.
“Worst was sitting in a bar for 10 hours and getting €10 all day long. That happened several times.”
Among his tips Duncan recommends you learn the language of the country you’re emigrating to and to buy rather than rent.
He said: “Not learning Spanish was the big mistake. Without it you can get by but I wouldn’t recommend it.
“The people who have succeeded have bought their bars.”
Duncan and Linda lost a lot of money but neither regrets the experience.
Mr Hartley said: “If it’s your dream, do it. If I could do it again I would but with the experience I’ve had I would do it very differently.
“There’s sun all the time and the lifestyle is much better. You’d wake up and look out at the sea and the views were brilliant in the morning.
“If we were millionaires we’d have stayed there!”
The Benidorm Experience is available from www.amazon.co.uk .
