Thinking of selling up in the UK and buying a business in Spain

KWD · #1 (**permalink**) 25th June 2012, 05:29 PM

Hi all, I am a single guy in my mid forties running my own recruitment business which is going through very hard times due to the global slowdown. I am thinking on selling up in the UK and moving out to Spain and buying a restuarant. I have some experience in the catering trade from when I was in my early 20s. I am mad?

Stravinsky · #2 (**permalink**) 25th June 2012, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KWD

Hi all, I am a single guy in my mid forties running my own recruitment business which is going through very hard times due to the global slowdown. I am thinking on selling up in the UK and moving out to Spain and buying a restuarant. I have some experience in the catering trade from when I was in my early 20s. I am mad?

Yes

mrypg9 · #3 (**permalink**) 25th June 2012, 05:55 PM

Certifiably so, I'm afraid...

.

An awful lot of restaurants and cafes/bars of all types, from the posh to the greasy spoon, have closed around here and I have no reason to believe things are different elsewhere.

Stravinsky · #4 (**permalink**) 25th June 2012, 05:56 PM

To quantify that ... you mentioned yourself, a global slow down

I'm not saying it would be where you would choose, but I visited Benidorm a few days back. I walked down the pedestrian street from the top down to the Levante beach. I counted 20 bars and restaurants boarded up and for sale. Thats less than half a mile or so

Spain is suffering at the moment. menu del Dias hereabouts have gone down from €9 - €10 each to €7-€8. A lot of the restaurants are quieter than they were a few years back, and we are approaching the holiday time.

Only you can really know if you want to take the risk at a time like this. The only thing I can tell you is that you will find plenty of places up for sale with people trying to sell up and get out

XTreme · #5 (**permalink**) 25th June 2012, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KWD

I am thinking on selling up in the UK and moving out to Spain and buying a restuarant.

You should check out Businesses For Sale in Spain.....lot of options there!

Solwriter · #6 (**permalink**) 25th June 2012, 08:59 PM

Hi KWD,
I have seen a lot of UK recruitment agencies shut down over the last couple of years, so I do have an idea of your concerns right now, but I don't think that moving to Spain and buying a restuarant is the answer.
In the same vein, neither do I think that setting up a restaurant in the UK right now is the answer.

I know that once you are self-employed it is hard to go back to working for an employer, but have you thought about doing some networking and marketing your considerable recruitment skills with a view to working for a larger company?
As you have been running a recruitment agency for some time, I'm sure you could find a way to present your skills and experience in a favourable way to prospective employers.

I'm not saying this will be easy, but it is probably a better alternative to selling up and trying to start a consumer-related business in Spain right now.

djfwells · #7 (**permalink**) 25th June 2012, 09:41 PM

Of course not !
The Global recession hasn't affected us here in Spain yet and the streets are all paved with gold.

jojo · #8 (**permalink**) 25th June 2012, 10:09 PM

Buy a restaurant in the UK first - much easier rules, regulations, permits and no language barrier. Once you've done that and gained a bit more experience, you can look towards Spain. By then the recession will hopefully be over

Jo xxx

nigele2 · #9 (**permalink**) 25th June 2012, 10:26 PM

To be honest I'd go for it. The market in spain has hit rock bottom and you could buy cheap. And English cuisine is well sort after. I mean "cod and chips" sounds so much better than "Merluza frita"

To be fair I jest you maybe entering a recovering market and as Europe recovers you may prosper

Stravinsky · #10 (**permalink**) 26th June 2012, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nigele2

To be honest I'd go for it. The market in spain has hit rock bottom and you could buy cheap. And English cuisine is well sort after. I mean "cod and chips" sounds so much better than "Merluza frita"

To be fair I jest you maybe entering a recovering market and as Europe recovers you may prosper

It IS nice to see someone offering encouragement for a change.
Putting myself in the OPs place, I just dont think I could entertain the idea, but I guess not every business fails in Spain, and thats down to research.

I juice bar opened in Gandia some years back. No one thought it would work. There were loads of bars around. But it worked, because the owners worked out (not difficult) that there were NO bars just selling natural juices in that are of Gandia. They are rushed off their feet asnd have done very well