Latest news with #Benalmadena
Daily Mail
05-08-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
It's a bar brawl! Costa Del Sol pub named WeatherSpains vows to fight Wetherspoons after UK chain takes them to court
The owners of a pub in Costa del Sol called Weatherspains say they will not change the name after British chain J D Wetherspoon warned they could face legal action. The bar, based in the seaside resort town of Benalmadena, had been trading for years under the name, a clear nod to the budget-friendly UK chain popular among British holidaymakers. But now, the owners are facing a lawsuit from Wetherspoon, who claim the name breaches European trademark laws. The chain, which owns over 800 pubs across the UK, has hired a Spanish law firm in an attempt to shut down the use of the Weatherspains moniker, arguing it's too similar and could confuse customers. Despite mounting pressure, the pub's owners, Andy Inman and Mayka Sanchez, say they will challenge the legal threat head-on. They maintain their right to operate under a brand they say is fully registered and compliant with EU law. In the meantime, they've partially covered their signage and made temporary tweaks to menus and social media, but insist the fight is far from over. Earlier this year, it was reported that Sir Tim Martin, the founder and CEO of Wetherspoons, was looking to extend the pub's branches abroad. He is said to be drawing up plans that will see destinations popular with British tourists, such as Mallorca, Benidorm, and Alicante, get their own Wetherspoon pubs. In an interview, he said: ' We are looking at it. We think there are probably 100 to 200 franchise partnerships in the UK. Now it's a question of going abroad, and it's a possibility.' A decision on the plans is expected to be made later this year.
The Sun
04-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Brit holiday pub locked in legal battle with Wetherspoons because of its jokey name WeatherSPAINS
A BRIT holiday pub is facing legal action from Wetherspoons over its jokey name WEATHERSPAINS. But the landlord of the popular Costa del Sol boozer has vowed to fight the pub goliath. 6 6 6 Andy Inman, 61, who co-owns Weatherspains in Benalmadena with Spanish partner Mayka Sanchez, 51, says J D Wetherspoons has accused them of breaching European copyright law. The British pub chain has even asked a Spanish judge to prevent Weatherspains from trading under its name and threatened to launch a full-on legal battle. Andy and Mayka, who have run the popular boozer without issue for seven years, have now been forced to cover up part of the sign outside until the dispute is resolved. But speaking to The Sun from their pub overlooking the Med, Newcastle-born Andy vowed to fight on. He said: 'We've dealt with everything Wetherspoons have thrown at us and won't give up.' While Malaga-born Mayka, raged: 'We have to defend ourselves from what Wetherspoons are saying. 'I own the Weatherspains brand and the trademark is registered here and in Europe and we have no intention of changing the name. 'I'm confident the judge will not agree with the British pub chain's demands and stop us calling ourselves something we've copyrighted. 'And if this does go to a full lawsuit we've done our homework and we're ready for the fight.' Andy said the spat began last August when a man came into their bar claiming to rep Spoons. 'He left me a warning letter claiming we were infringing their trademarks and giving us a September deadline to rename the bar,' he said. 'He didn't leave a business card and the deadline came and went and nothing happened. 'When he came back in January Makya got our lawyers to talk to Wetherspoons and they've ended up hiring a Spanish law firm to launch the legal action they've decided to pursue.' The name above the door currently says just 'Spains' and the couple has suspended the boozer's Facebook account and tweaked the pub menu. 6 6 British tourists and expats who wash down (EUROS 12.50) £11 home-made chicken curries with (EUROS 3.50) £3 large glasses of sangria are now given menus that say 'The Weather of Spain' at the top. When approached by The Sun, J D Wetherspoons, which has over 800 UK pubs, claimed the dispute had been resolved after the owners of Weatherspains had agreed to permanently change the bar's name. But Newcastle-born Andy, 61, who ran an asbestos firm in the UK before moving to Spain 17 years ago, says that's just not true. In a statement J D Wetherspoons said: 'Wetherspoon is a registered trademark in the UK, EU and nine other countries, which prevents the use of identical or similar trade marks in these territories. 'A pub in Benalmadena, a popular holiday destination with British tourists, was trading under the name Weatherspains. 'J D Wetherspoon attempted to engage with the establishment on several occasions to request a change of name, prior to legal action being taken. 'The bar has since changed its name to The Weather of Spain, which brings this matter to a satisfactory conclusion.' But Andy fumed: 'It's not true that we haven't engaged with Wetherspoons. I covered up the ' Weather ' part of Weatherspains on the sign outside the bar on Monday, but it's just a precaution. 'To be honest most customers haven't even picked up on it and I tell the ones that do that it's down to an electrical fault.' Sean Lolan, 52, from Bath, a regular who owns a nearby bar, said: 'It's a big fish trying to swallow a small fish. And for what reason? 6 'If Wetherspoons felt they had a good market here in Spain they would have gone for it. 'The name of this bar represents the country it's in. It's 'Weather' not ' Wether' and it's in Spain. 'Andy's a lovely guy who's helped me a lot with my business.' Holidaymaker Susan Black, 50, from Irvine in Scotland, said: 'The terrace of our Wetherspoons back home overlooks an Asda car park so the sea view from here is a lot nicer. 'I think Weatherspains is a clever play on words but that's all I see it as.' But tourist Athon Dorran, 18, moaned: 'I was hoping to get a v enom cocktail like the one Wetherspoons do back home which has got vodka, Southern Comfort, Blue WKD and orange juice in it, but sadly they don't do them here."
The Sun
09-07-2025
- The Sun
We were slapped with £407 bill & hauled to court for taking kids on hol in term time.. now we're having to pay even MORE
A MUM and dad who took their four children on a term-time holiday because it was quieter for their autistic son have been slapped with a £407 fine. Tammy and Daniel Lambert were hit with the eye-watering fee after they took their son Riley and three other kids to Benalmadena in Spain in April 2024. 1 The couple, from Trent Vale, refused to pay the fine and appealed the decision through the North Staffordshire Justice Centre. However, an unsuccessful plea means they now have to pay out even more. The court heard son Riley had been waiting for an autism assessment at the time the duo pulled their kids out of school during term time. Riley has since been diagnosed with the condition after two years on a waiting list. Tammy told the court: "We had to time meals and go later when it was quieter. We were around the pool in a quieter area and when it was quieter. "We had disability assistance on the plane and getting through the airport. "I sent in photographs of Riley walking through the airport wearing his dressing gown, and with his ear defenders and weighted blanket. "One of the reasons for going then was we were going with a family that understands the struggles we have. "We went with our friend and she has an autistic son. "He was on the waiting list for two years and has had a diagnosis of autism by a specialist - he was diagnosed about six weeks ago. They're also requesting he has an ADHD assessment as well. Drivers must follow the '75-yard' rule when parking in front of their neighbor's home – law is different for driveways "We put our hands up, we did do it the wrong way. The children have good attendance - Riley's is 97 per cent at the moment and the only time they are off is due to illness." The Lamberts conceded their four children were registered absent from school between April 25 and May 3, 2024. Following a £163 victim surcharge and £120 on top of the initial £407 fine, the couple now must fork out £690. A magistrate told the Lamberts: "It's important that children attend school, not only for their education but for their social skills. "If they are not in school they are being deprived of essential skills, notwithstanding the difficulties a disabled child will have. "While we have every sympathy and acknowledge the difficulties, from what you have told us, the difficulties of having a disabled child, the law is very clear. "Parents cannot take a child out of school without the prior authority of the child's headmaster. "You were issued with a fixed-penalty notice. You decided not to pay - that's why you are here." The Sun Online has reached out to the North Staffordshire Justice Centre for comment.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Trent Vale family fined £690 over school term time holiday
A mum and dad who took their four children on a term-time holiday because it was quieter for their autistic son have been fined £ and Daniel Lambert had complained to local media after being fined £480 – £60 per parent per child – following the trip to Benalmadena in Spain in April couple, from Trent Vale, Stoke-on-Trent, refused to pay the fine and instead took their case to North Staffordshire Justice Centre – where they were told to pay the larger court heard that son Riley had been waiting for an autism assessment at the time of the holiday, and had since been diagnosed with the condition after two years on a waiting list. Mrs Lambert told the court they arranged meal times for when it was quieter and were around the pool in a quieter had disability assistance on the plane and getting through the airport, she said, where Riley wore ear defenders and a weighted blanket."One of the reasons for going then was we were going with a family that understands the struggles we have," she added: "We put our hands up, we did do it the wrong way."The children have good attendance – Riley's is 97% at the moment and the only time they are off is due to illness." 'Law is clear' The Lamberts admitted that their four children failed to attend school between 25 April and 3 May were fined a total of £407 and ordered to pay a combined £163 victim surcharge and £120 court granted a request for the Lamberts and their son to be named."It's important that children attend school, not only for their education but for their social skills," the couple were told by magistrates."If they are not in school they are being deprived of essential skills, not withstanding the difficulties a disabled child will have."While we have every sympathy and acknowledge the difficulties, from what you have told us, the difficulties of having a disabled child, the law is very clear."They said parents were not permitted to take a child out of school without the prior authority of the headmaster, and that they were in court due to not paying the fixed-penalty notice. This news has been gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- The Sun
Almost 200 holidaymakers locked inside Spanish hotel after cops barricade door as tough new rules for tourists revealed
NEARLY 200 holidaymakers at a Costa del Sol seafront hotel have been blocked from leaving through the front door. Spanish town hall bosses ordered cops to seal off the four-star hotel after discovering it was operating without proper licences. 5 5 5 Tourists at the Vivemar Hotel - previously called the Vistamar - now have to leave through a ground-floor garage. Police sealed the main entrance with steel cables and posted a large notice reading "Precintado" ('Sealed off') at the hotel in Benalmadena Costa, near Torremolinos. When asked if any British or Irish guests were staying there, a receptionist said this evening: 'I'm a bit rushed off my feet at the moment to check where our clients are from but I'd say there would be because we've got a bit of everything. 'There's almost 200 tourists staying here at the moment because we're nearly full. 'The police came this morning and sealed the front door. At the moment the only way in and out of the hotel for staff and guests is the garage car park.' She denied reports that guests were barred from using the swimming pool, insisting it was open as usual. Benalmadena Town Hall could not be reached for comment last night. But spokesperson Raul Campos told local paper Sur that they had instructed police to seal off the front entrance after discovering the hotel wasn't listed in the official regional tourist accommodation register. He said: 'We have asked in the Junta de Andalucia's Tourism Department and they say the company that operates the hotel is not in the official register. 'That means it can't be officially opened as it does not have the proper documentation.' 5 Dad-of-two placed into coma after Turkey holiday as chef, 55, 'caught rare disease from dirty 4-star hotel' Raul said council officials had warned the hotel in late March that cops would take action. Hotel manager Alberto Tusquellas has blamed things on a "red tape" hiccup. He told local press a Spanish firm called Vive Resort Management SL began operating the hotel around a year ago, but their sublease agreement has now been revoked. According to the building's owners, named locally as María Jose García Vargas, the sublease was the subject of ongoing civil and criminal court action. The owners reportedly found out that the company they contracted to run the hotel had sublet it to another firm without their knowledge. The hotel receptionist said: 'The swimming pool is still open and the guests can use it as normal. 'The car park the guests are having to enter and exit the hotel via is a closed building but it's on the ground floor.' The seafront Vivemar Hotel is described online as a 138-room hotel with modern facilities. Online travel websites say it has a 'lush garden' and guests can 'relax by the seasonal outdoor swimming pool'. One writes: 'The on-site restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine for dinner, complemented by a bar for refreshments. 'A buffet breakfast is available each morning, providing a perfect start to the day.' But a recent guest said in a review: 'The cleaning leaves much to be desired. Old room furniture and broken curtain fall out when you try to open the balcony door. I don't recommend it to my worst enemy.' 5
