MAN IN SAN AN by Martin Makepeace

Ibiza Cricket Club stalwart and all round nice bloke Dave ‘Benno’ Bennett achieved legendary status yesterday after he was captured on Live TV catching the cricket ball in the stands of the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua whilst watching the West Indies v England One Day International. 

Ben Stokes unleashed a huge 6 and as the camera panned to the crowd a tanned man with a Notts CC shirt, an old Ibiza CC cap and huge gleaming smile pouched the ball with pure theatrical nonchalance. 

The crowd went mad and most of Nottingham and San Antonio looked on in amazement as our very own Benno with his glamorous wife Pam sat next to him took a catch better than any in his long and distinguished Ibiza Cricket Club career.

Always the showman Benno doffed his cap to the adoring crowd and received plaudits from all around including the Sky Sports commentators who pronounced “Well done Sir”. 

Within minutes social media went mad with memes popping up all over the place, his proud son Tom who has recently moved to the USA said with suitable understatement “Well done Dad”. 

WELL DONE BENNO! 

FULL VIDEO HERE: Benno the Dreamcatcher

It’s only 6 weeks away from the start of ‘summer’ and 2017 is already shaping up to be the biggest in Ibiza’s relatively short hedonistic history. If you haven’t done so already, here’s 10 REASONS why you should start planning your Ibiza trip today.

1. COXY’S BACK: Forget his long drawn out, tearful exit from the club formerly known as Space, when one of the biggest names in electronic music announces a couple of ‘gigs’ at the worlds biggest club on the worlds biggest party island then you have to sit up and take notice. Expect a festival atmosphere and one of the worlds biggest parties under a hot tin roof. That’s a lot of ‘worlds biggests’ btw!

2. HÏ IBIZA OPENING: The King is dead, long live the King! Space Ibiza has gone (for now) and we all need to move on and there’s a new kid in town. There’s no denying what Ushuaia has bought to the island so a new super club backed up with their deep pockets could be another game changer. Watch this space (pun intended).

3. DEFECTED AT EDEN, SAN ANTONIO: The recent announcement has many foaming at the mouth of what should be a natural fit and something that San An has been waiting for: a big club night in a big club.  Sunday will be the new Saturday on the west coast as Defected do their funky thing at the newly kitted out Eden with pre-parties galore. If you haven’t been then go,  you will be surprised.

4. CRAIG DAVID AT IBIZA ROCKS: With a comeback only bettered by Lazarus (and possibly David Beckham) the cheesy 90s hipster is now a fully fledged world star and is back on the island at Ibiza Rocks Hotel for his weekly TS5 Pool Party, this time on a Thursday running from 20 July until 21 September. If you haven’t seen him perform then you haven’t seen anything so prepare to start worshipping at the church of David.

5. DAY IS THE NEW NIGHT: The relentless shift towards daytime partIes shows no signs of wavering and there’s plenty of choice for some fun in the sun. Ushuaia and Ocean Beach will continue to dominate their respective areas but expect a few upstarts to begin to make ground. Sintillate’s move at Nikki Beach is one to watch out for and should be great fun and as Craig David and Tinie Tempah have proven there’s always a breakout pool party every summer.

6. IMS10: Hard to believe that it’s 10 years since Messrs Whittle, Turner & Tong started the International Music Summit with the simple objective of bringing all the music industry’s main players under 1 ‘roof’ for a few days of networking and partying. Fast forward 10 years and it’s now one of the most important dates in the industry calendar plus the D’alt Villa party is arguably THE island party of the year with its breathtaking backdrop, it doesn’t get anymore Ibiza than this.

7. FLIGHTS, FLIGHTS AND MORE FLIGHTS!: One of the positives of everyone wanting a piece of the Ibiza pie is the proliferation of flight availability in and out of the island. Ryanair and EasyJet have more flights than ever and BA has announced a major expansion of routes into the island. Check websites for surprisingly cheap deals especially in the low and shoulder months when the White Isle is at its best.

8. NATURAL BEAUTY: I’ve said it before and I will say it again but whilst other destinations flatter to deceive (Dubai, Las Vegas anyone?) Ibiza and its sister island Formentera have some of the best beaches and sunsets in the WORLD coupled with some of the best beach and sunset bars in the world. And that, quite simply ladies and gentlemen, is the difference.

9. QUALITY HOTELS AND VILLAS: Not just the obvious ones such as El Hotel, Hard Rock, Ibiza Gran and Ushuaia but also think Es Vive, Beach Star, Atzaro and Bellamar. Not big nameless corporations but quality boutique hotels and villas run by Ibiza people. More and more are popping up every year and although prices can be reassuringly expensive in the peak season check their special offers during quiet times for a 5 star experience at 2 star money.

10. ALL CHANGE AT PACHA GROUP: The purists aren’t happy but now that it’s changed hands a major investment has been promised plus an expansion of this world famous brand. Other places may be classed as more of a wow nowadays but Pacha is where it all began and gives the island its cool gravitas. Cabaret/restaurant/club Lío is still an island benchmark (those prices though!) and Destino is now fulfilling its promise but all eyes will be on the iconic club to see if there are any major changes.

SUMMER 2017 – WE CAN’T WAIT! 

It’s not telling us anything we didn’t know already but a new study presented to the Island Government has ‘revealed’ that Ibiza’s nightlife “differentiates” the island from other similar tourist destinations.

So whilst Costa del Sol has its golf courses, Benidorm has its value for money hotels and bars, Menorca has it’s natural beauty, Ibiza is famous the world over for it’s nocturnal pursuits which brings with it positives and negatives.

The new study entitled ‘The Pro’s and Cons of Leisure Tourism in Ibiza’ was presented by Josep Ramon of Ibiza’s University of Tourism and highlighted the positive impact that the nightlife sector brings to the island such as an ‘increased local economic resilience’ during the recent crisis and that without it Ibiza would be “a fairly common tourist product”.  

The study goes on to say that “if Ibiza stopped being a world reference in nightclubs, even if it maintained a nightlife offer equivalent to that of other destinations, it would lose its economic advantages” concluding that “it does not seem sensible to hamper a sector in which Ibiza is a leader”.

Companies in the night time entertainment sector invoice more than 400 million euros per year and employ around 8000 people. The study emphasises that this sector increases demand, prices and revenues for businesses on the island and that the type of clubbing tourist who visits Ibiza “can have a very high expenditure per person” whilst the companies dedicated to this sector generate a lot of interest on social media, giving popularity to the island as a holiday destination.

It wasn’t all good news though as the study also points out the disadvantages that comes with this type of tourism saying that if it doesn’t reduce these elements then it will decay and have a negative effect on the islands economy.  The report describes these as noise pollution that prevents the sleep of residents, traffic jams, parking problems, lack of public transport and customers who continue the party in the street.

The report also points to the concentration of people “under the effect of various substances” in and around these leisure facilities as one of the most disturbing aspects for local residents. Not only do they generate noise and litter but there are examples of some entering homes (whilst under the influence). The solution is a “police presence to discourage this behaviour” and Ramon used Las Vegas’s casinos as a comparison where “nothing is tolerated in the street.”

Sr Ramon acknowledged that finding a balance is difficult but said it is possible with greater control. The study admits that the nightlife sector is “a controversial activity” and points to two other obstacles to making it sustainable: the disagreements between the different entrepreneurs in the sector and the disparity of positions of the public administrations when it comes to taking measurements.

Ibiza’s director of tourism Vicente Torres ‘Benet’ said that the conclusions of these reports made you think and that they must always be taken into account.

Source: Diario de Ibiza

The build up to the summer is well on the way with plenty of Ibiza rumours however the respected music and clubbing brand ‘Defected’ has announced that it will run a weekly residency on Sundays at Eden in San Antonio kicking off on 21 May 2017. 

It’s a much needed boost for San An which has seen its 2 big clubs struggle over the last few years with competition on the island at an all time high with world class DJs playing most nights in all the big venues.

Eden changed ownership in 2015 and club principle Rinco Soesman and music director Dermot Condon have been steadily chipping away at raising the clubs credibility which is now bringing rich rewards.

Defected will bring fresh impetus to the towns clubbing map, San Antonio is viewed by many as the entry point for many music minded young Brits and Defected owner Simon Dunmore will be hoping to capitalise on having a big night right on their doorstep.

Defected have a little history with Eden when they moved their opening party there in 2013 due to issues at the short lived Booom nightclub. 

On paper this looks good for Defected, good for Eden and good for San An. 

Signed and sealed! After a little speculation it’s now official that the Pacha Group has been sold to Trilantic Capital Partners, a venture capital group with interests in Spain and Italy.

The price is around 350 million euros and includes all the assets of the Group: the Pacha nightclub, El Hotel, Lío Nightclub, Destino Pachá Ibiza Resort, international and national franchises, multimedia and everything else including Pacha Sitges.

Pacha founder Ricardo Urgell confirmed in October that negotiations were ongoing whilst  lamenting about selling the company he and his family built from nothing.

The new owners have already met with the Mayors of Ibiza Town and Santa Eulalia and have plans to significantly increase the workforce on the island. 

Ibiza is gearing up for its busiest ever summer and with Pacha changing hands and also brand new club Hï Ibiza opening things are warming up nicely.

Source: Diario de Ibiza

Cristiano Ronaldo, the ‘worlds best footballer’ (according to FIFA anyway) has formed a partnership with the Hotel group Pestana to open hotels under the ‘Pestana CR7 Lifestyle Hotels’ brand and are looking at possible ventures in Ibiza. 

The partnership already has projects on the go in Madeira and Lisbon plus another 2 under construction and have now turned their attention to the White Isle saying that it is a natural fit with the hotels hoping to attract a young, fashionable, affluent crowd.

Ronaldo is a big fan of the island and was spotted over the summer in the port of Ibiza Town and on a luxury yacht moored off the coast of Formentera.

Rumours that you will be obliged to wink and feign injury on arrival have so far been denied but the fake tanning salon is bound to be busy. 

Source: Nou Diari

Ibiza is constantly evolving and arguably the biggest change over that last few years has been the switch from nighttime to daytime parties.

This specific timeline can be traced back to Ushuaia Beach Hotel opening in 2011 bringing huge production values to a world class venue on the beachfront in Playa den Bossa, all financed by the richest and most powerful family on the island.

Just the mention of the word ‘Ushuaia’ will get many rolling their eyes but there’s no denying its attraction to the paying public and showed that 21st century tourists just want to have fun in the sun.

Like most things there’s always winners and losers and as the daytime parties prospered some nightclubs suffered as their usual customers weren’t in any fit state to go out at night after a full day of partying.

Tensions have been running high between Island venues for a while and it spilled over to an Ibiza Town courtroom last week when the Mayors of San Antonio and San Jose were called before a judge.

Why? Es Paradis and Privilege have jointly lodged a legal complaint against the 2 Mayors for “intentional abandonment” of noise control at certain daytime venues within their respective towns: namely Blue Marlin, Ushuaia, Ibiza Rocks and Ocean Beach.

In typical Ibiza fashion, rather than take a long hard look at their own product Es Paradis and Privilege are accusing the Mayors of turning a blind eye to noise pollution and are also suggesting that by not clamping down they are encouraging it.

It shouldn’t be lost on the story that both clubs started out as open air venues before noise laws forced them to put up a roof. 

In the preliminary proceedings Mayors Josep Mari of San Jose and Josep Tur of San Antonio protested their innocence providing documentation to show the actions they have brought against those who have breached noise regulations in their municipalities. 

Both Mayors appeared a little bewildered on the courtroom steps declaring to the waiting media that the lawsuit “does not make any sense”.

Mari said “The Council of San Jose has taken action many times and cannot be accused of doing nothing against certain premises” saying that he has provided “more than 200 closed files with sanctions filed in the last two years”. “To say that we do not act against noise is an absurdity that only highlights the interests of those who have brought this lawsuit….it has no meaning” insisted the mayor of San Jose.

Josep Tur of San Antonio said “As Mayor, I am not so important as to influence a commercial war between different places of leisure. We want all the premises to comply with the law……the accusations have no basis”.

Privilege and Es Paradís are sticking to their version of events saying that the Mayors “must know what happens in their municipalities” especially when it’s in a public space and the when the noise practically reverberates “throughout the whole town”.

Their formal complaint contained sonometric data and private detective reports on Ushuaia in Playa d’en Bossa, saying that the data means the Mayors must act against noise pollution by enforcing their own regulations.

Superclubs, noise, self interest, private detectives, jealousy, Mayors being taken to court for not doing their jobs properly?  As more daytime venues pop up this is a saga that is set to run and run.  There’s only 1 Ibiza!

The 2016 official population figures for Ibiza and Formentera have been published and have highlighted the diverse and cosmopolitan nature of the islands with non-nationals making up almost a third of inhabitants.

According to the National Institute of Statistics Ibiza’s official population in 2016 was 142,065, up less than 1% year on year.

The stats also revealed that 27% of Ibiza’s population are foreign nationals with the largest groups being Argentinian & Morrocan who both had 3841 inhabitants respectively.

Romania came next on the list with 3578 then the British with 2671 living full time on the island. EU nationals living in Ibiza is 16822.

In Formentera the 2016 numbers were as follows.

Population: 12124 (246 increase from 2015)

Foreign residents: 35%

Italian: 1022

German: 562

Argentina: 520

Morocco: 399

NOTE: Figures are for registered residents, Ibiza has a large transient population mainly during the summer months. 

Source: Diario de Ibiza

The extended Ibiza family is in shock with the sad news that Mo Chaudry, one of it’s favourite sons, passed away suddenly whilst on holiday in Sri Lanka with his twin daughters.

Mo made his name on the island with ‘Cream’ overseeing their rise to the top of the Ibiza clubbing tree, he was the driving force for many years solidifying their place where they still remain to this day. 

A Liverpool native, Mo was a dynamic personality who was always looking to bring new ideas to Ibiza, he loved to chat and was always willing to listen. He gave many their first break on the island. 

After Cream he worked for Privilege and then Space meaning that he was one of the very few to work for 3 of the big Superclubs which says a lot about the man. 

A true entrepreneur he tried his hand at many things, his knowledge of clubbing was second to none and his easy going nature coupled with a steely Scouse resolve usually got the deal over the line.  He counted world famous DJ’s amongst his many close friends.

Recently he had been focussing on special projects and outdoor festivals as well as spending more time with his daughters. 

Ibiza is richer for his presence but also a lot less interesting now he has been taken away so early.

RIP Mo.  Your legacy lives on.

Paul van Dyk: A true Ibiza legend and friend has passed away.. farewell Mo Chaudry. You will be missed…

Yousef: Genuinely gutted to hear of Mo Chaudry’s untimely passing. He became a good friend and ally in recent years. Condolences to his family x

Clara da Costa: Always very difficult when we lose one of the core island family. Mo, you will be missed so much by so many….there is an island energy full of love for you right now. Rest in peace amigo shining star in the night sky. 

Tribute and Obituary – The Ibizan

Ibiza’s council of Mayors yesterday unanimously voted against the Balearic governments plans to allow owners to rent residential apartments to tourists on a short term basis.

The rise of websites such as ‘Airbnb’ has seen several thousand Ibiza apartments come online offering short breaks for holidays which has led to a shortfall in housing for annual residents as well as sharply pushing up the monthly rental prices.

Ibiza Council President Vicent Torres, who headed the 4 hour meeting in San Antonio, said that there is unanimity against the proposed new law and that he would be speaking directly to the Balearic government. He also said that the final decision would be with the individual Mayors who are also able to decide on designated tourist zones within their municipality. 

This comes after it was reported last week that Ibiza now has the 3 most expensive municipalities in Spain for property not including provincial capitals such as Barcelona and Madrid.

Source: Diario de Ibiza/El Periódico