Marbella puts Ranchon Cubano back on the beach: Eco campaigners want it stopped

Marbella's mayor, Angeles Munoz, has put a new chiringuito called Ranchon Cubano back on Real de Zaragoza beach. This move comes after the previous bar shut down last year. The council first approved the Ranchon Cubano in 2017, but it was shut down shortly after. The new bar is expected to be about 200 meters further north and will cover approximately 180 square meters, including a dining room, kitchen, bar, store, terrace, and toilets.

The project has been criticized by eco campaigners, who argue that the location is already "very degraded" and has called for a proper environmental study. They also want fewer plastics, renewable power, noise limits, wildlife safeguards, and dune repair. The new bar will operate for seven years at a yearly fee of €52,000, with a potential extension to 15 years until 2047.

The tender price is expected to be around €325,000. Builders will have a year to start work and nine months to finish. Marbella's San Juan beach also has strict rules for bonfires and chiringuitos. Ecologistas Malaka, an environmental group, has lodged a legal complaint asking the council to scrap the specification and freeze the award until dune protection is secured.