Tag: blogpost

Top Takeaways from Ibiza 2025

NIGHT CLUBS ARE BACK BABY

In truth they’ve never been away however 2025 has solidified Ibiza as the clubbing capital of the world (stop crying your heart out Las Vegas et al).

UNVRS has raised the bar with sheer size and production and other clubs have benefitted on the back of it by offering more old school nights.

For example, Chinois in Ibiza Town has been consistently going about its business and has started to reap the fruits of its labour.

While other destinations spend millions trying to reinvent the EDM genre, decades of unforgettable summers, legendary nights and word-of-mouth stories created a self-reinforcing myth with people coming to Ibiza expecting the best party of their life – and the island consistently delivers.

Ibiza doesn’t just host club nights, it invented the blueprint, perfected it and, as we have seen in 2025, never stops evolving.

BARS ARE HAVING A TOUGH TIME

There are some notable exceptions to the rule but the humble Ibiza bar that had its heyday in 80/90/00s aren’t having a great time in the not so roaring 20s.

Daytime clubs are thriving, and with some strong new additions such as Clap House and Soho Farmhouse the sector is getting busier and attracting a more cross section of people with a plenty of choice.

The Ibiza club scene is ‘best in class’ so perched between day & night is your traditional Ibiza bar which is steadily losing its audience.

Zero spontaneity from the Instagram herd means that if a bar isn’t on the to-do list because of some gimmick then it’s more than likely going to be struggling during peak season, relying only on shoulder months for footfall.

INFRASTRUCTURE IMAGES

The October storms were a wake-up call for the Balearic Government with urgent improvements long overdue.

The Island bounced back quickly but despite the political manoeuvring and blame game plenty of questions remain as the early warning system sounded late, homes and businesses were inundated, tunnels were flooded and many roads were closed.

There’s lots of work to be done and what exactly is the tourist tax for? With a rumoured $400M unspent in the kitty if it’s not for improving the customer and resident experience then what’s the point of continuing to charge our biggest commodity?

PIKES / 528 BREAKOUT

The creators of Manumission and Ibiza Rocks have struck gold again with 528 Ibiza which was arguably the breakout venue of the summer (UNVRS notwithstanding).

The legendary Pikes has been on the circuit for a few summers and has become more mainstream through its sheer popularity and now with the addition of 528 in the San Antonio hills, the shackles have been thrown off and some incredible artists have revelled in the open air amphitheatre.

It’s been a slow burner for a couple of years but it’s now well and truly on the map. The ‘older’ crowd has never had it so good.

GEN Z – THE NEW WEEKEND WARRIORS

Generation Z are setting the Ibiza agenda with 3 nights now the official average stay on the White Isle. It hits the the sweet spot with a pre-planned itinerary that includes a beach club, a big club night, a recovery day and a final blow-out. Anything longer equals rapidly diminishing returns for their money.

Trips are now planned around Specific DJs, beach club and nightclub days/nights and content for their TikTok and Instagram accounts.

Gen Z’s philosophy is that they can capture the Ibiza experience in a long weekend with a high-intensity, fast-paced experience. A short, stacked trip feels more exciting than stretching it out.

So it’s Ibiza Thurs–Sun then another city later in the year. Great for the big venues but not so much for the small family businesses that have relied on mass tourism for decades.

THE CHANGING FACE OF SAN ANTONIO

For years San Antonio has been undervalued compared to Ibiza Town and Santa Eulalia because of image not fundamentals but the biggest long-term gains come from perception change, not perfection.

Ibiza Town is already priced for excellence whereas San Antonio is being re-priced upward.

The local government crackdown on cheap alcohol and bar crawls is a clear message against low-spend mass tourism. The noise has been reduced but the spend per visitor has increased – in other words fewer tourists, more money.

On an island that has been saturated, San An is where the value is especially as Gen Z & younger Millennials fit the new mould perfectly.

Whisper it loudly because the haters won’t believe you but San Antonio isn’t becoming another Ibiza Town it’s repositioning itself as Ibiza’s west-coast lifestyle and music district.

Have a great festive season, thanks to everyone who read my blog posts and listened to my podcasts in 2025.

The Curious Case of ‘Frank the Stagman’

Where do we start with ‘Frank the Stagman’?

You may or may not have heard of him, the eponymous hero of his own story, the clue is in the self titled name. He made his reputation on the notorious stag and hen circuit in Benidorm offering tailor made packages and running his own travel agency and bar, parading around town in his hi-vis supercar, happily posing for photos with whoever wants one.

Frank clearly understands the power of social media and, as many do, he likes to document his life online. A no holds barred blitz of verbal diarrhoea documenting his thoughts, ideas and wishes including, rather bizarrely, details of his partner Jade who performs a live sex show much to his delight. As he says himself he loves ‘watching her get railed’. Each to their own and they are consenting adults so it’s none of anyone else’s business whatever sexual fetish they so choose to partake in. It’s all part of the strange make up of this couple and maybe to some, part of the attraction.

Where the story becomes relevant to this self titled ‘Man in San An’ is Frank’s quest to conquer San Antonio’s West End through his alleged ‘purchase’ of the Lux nightclub formerly known as Play 2, home of a thousand memories for those lucky enough to be in San Antonio during the glory days of the 90’s and 00’s.

Judging from the online comments (and private Whatsapp messages) it’s safe to say that Frank is a marmite figure but he has a loyal following back in Benidorm and plays to his strengths and his adoring crowd. Where this tale becomes slightly more dramatic is his online strategy of pronouncing himself to be the chosen one sent to ‘save’ the West End, the infamous street stretching a couple of hundred metres in the urban centre of San Antonio.

Watching and listening to his online posts was a mixture of high octane energy mixed in with a touch of delusion and a rounded off with some ‘Jackanory’ (look it up kids) but who doesn’t like to spin a tale on social media these days especially when you’re trying to sell something. Some might say he’s another online narcissist hooked on the attention that only social media can shine a light on but I couldn’t possibly comment and maybe people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, but these platforms can work both ways and it’s a brave decision to become such a vocal disruptor in an already busy street with plenty of characters, petty jealousies and egos.

San Antonio veterans like myself and my social circle have seen it all before, a bravado performance lacking a little in self awareness and asking for trouble. A high stakes game that can make or break a reputation.

Needless to say Frank’s quest to ‘save the West End’ didn’t end well. I had September in the sweepstake so when he packed up his his bright yellow sports car and legged it back to the mainland before the end of July I was annoyed that I hadn’t been braver with my prediction.

It turns out that the West End doesn’t need ‘saving’ after all. It has its challenges, it needs evolution and new ideas and brave decisions but it doesn’t need those looking for a quick buck who don’t understand the dynamic of an area consistently in the spotlight. After retreating to his safe space Frank finally owned up to his ‘failure’ and unsurprisingly it was everyone’s else’s fault except his own.

What is reassuring about this story is that Ibiza is still an incredibly difficult nut to crack especially when you’re trying to bring a bit of Benidorm into the mix. The island has moved on in so many ways and any business needs investment. Not just money but time, effort and real graft rather than a few social media posts promising the world but ultimately delivering very little.

I don’t know Frank or Jade and hold no ill will for him or his modus operandi and at least they ‘had a go’ even if they did leave with their tails firmly between their legs but Ibiza isn’t Benidorm or anywhere else in the world for that matter. I hope he continues to be successful wherever he chooses to operate but let the Stagman’s tale be a cautionary one for those looking to reinvent the wheel and make some quick euros on the White Isle. As the old saying goes….you don’t choose Ibiza, Ibiza chooses you.