BEST BAR NONE? Meet empresario Paul Darwent of Allioli

Paul Darwent is from the UK, with the emphasis on the word from, for he has lived most of his life outside of the country.  He has spent all his life working and most of it enjoying work. After many years in Denmark he married a Danish girl and eventually the family moved to Spain for a couple of years. 23 years later they are still here and running a small bar in a small village in the Serranía de Ronda and are having a good time.

Secret Serranía:  So, Paul, where are you from originally?

Paul:  Sheffield UK.

Secret Serranía:  Where do you live now?

Paul: Estación de Jimera de Líbar.

Secret Serranía: How did you come to decide on Jimera de Líbar?

Paul: We came camping here for many months when we lived on the coast. Eventually we made the move inland.

Secret Serranía: What was it in the first place that attracted to you to move to Spain all those years ago?

Paul: Our kids were young and they had freedom here that is not possible in Northern Europe.

Secret Serranía: How would you describe your life here in Spain?

Paul: Interesting, never boring, lots of rewards, although not so much financially. It’s home.

Secret Serranía: You run Bar Allioli, which has a great reputation for live music, beer and burgers. Tell us more.

Paul: The bar focuses on these three things. We try to put on live music every week, the accent being on creative rather than straight copies of other people’s work. The beer, particularly Belgian, is popular. We have 10 beer taps and more than 90 different types of beer.  We serve a range of international tapas and specialise in home-made burgers. Each burger is styled around a country’s typical food and is a personal interpretation. Hence Peru – llama meat, South Africa – ostrich and Australia -kangaroo.

Secret Serranía: How has Covid-19 affected your business and your life in general?

Paul:  Obviously it has hit us hard and will continue to do so. What it has done is forced us to think outside the box and look at everything from a different angle. We will survive but it will be due to adapting.

Secret Serranía: In what ways have you adapted?

Paul:  One of the things we have had to do is start home deliveries, which are permissible under the regulations. Obviously we can’t get everywhere but we deliver to Montejaque, Benaoján, Cortes de la Frontera, Ronda and of course Jimera itself. As well as deliveries and opening the hours permitted I am spending a lot of time making short promo videos to raise the bar’s profile.

Secret Serranía: You are married. Do you have a family?

Paul: Yes, I’ve been married for 26 years to Synnøve. Our son, Rubén Pablo is living here now, but is due to depart for Denmark soon. Our daughter Vanessa already lives in Denmark.

Secret Serranía: How do you find the cost of living here compared to back in the UK?

Paul:  Can’t really answer that as the last time I lived there was in the ’80s.

Secret Serranía: With your knowledge of the language and the length of time you’ve lived in Spain, I would imagine you’ve found it easier than most to integrate.

Paul: Having lived most of my life outside the UK I am used to being an immigrant. I have never really tried to fully integrate because to do so would mean losing your identity. I love many things about here and, yes there are things that get annoying, but that’s everywhere. Language-wise I have reached that level of “sufficient confidence.”  Able to converse fully in normal day-to-day situations but unable to discuss philosophy, for example.

Secret Serranía: How about Synnøve, your wife – did she adjust well to life here?

Paul: She never really settled on the coast but has embraced living here in the mountains.

Secret Serranía: What about day-to-day living, healthcare, etc.?

Paul: Having paid into the system for 20-odd years we are covered by Social Security here.

Secret Serranía: When you first moved here, do you think you made any mistakes that looking back you can warn/advise others about?

Paul: Nothing specific comes to mind but I would say, don’t give up, look how things are done and adapt.

Secret Serranía:  What would your advice be to would-be expats looking to relocate to Spain?

Paul: First of all I prefer not to use the expression “ex-pat” as it has rather negative connotations. They are immigrants. And just think about how immigrants are regarded in the UK.

Secret Serranía: Finally, do you see yourself ever returning to the UK?

Paul: Duh!

For more information about what’s on at Bar Allioli go to www.allioli.eu or FB Bar Allioli