17 Sponsored by: ll about A GIBRALTAR Vol. 10 Issue 235 www.theolivepress.es March 16th - March 29th 2016 It’s still the place to buy British... but these days Gibraltar offers the best high-street brands alongside Where have all smaller family-run businesses, writes Tom Powell the queues gone? More than THE go-slow and restrictive checks by Spanish Customs offi- cials have been greatly reduced over the last year. The stop and start horror stories of three summers ago have all but dissipated and getting in and out is much easier these days. Marmite at The frontier has been upgraded, new lanes have been added and, generally, with the exception of rush hour - going in between 8am to 10am and coming out after 4pm - you can get across the bor- der in around 10 minutes. If you are still concerned, you Morrisons can also keep an eye on the exit into Spain by checking the online webfeed: www.frontierqueue.gi and you can also check what the estimated queuing times are at @gibraltarborder or #gibfrontier TIMELESS: Main street has always HERE was a time when British expats in Spain worth the trip to ‘Britain in the Sun’ during the late del Sol while Gibraltar has developed into an alto- been an important commercial merely relied on the Rock for their home com- 20th century, when Morrisons supermarket virtually gether more sophisticated shopping experience. hive and (below) is crammed full of forts. achieved tourist attraction status. The downtown area has undergone a spectacular historic, attractive buildings Gibraltar was a Godsend where foreigners In fact, even the biggest names from the glory days regeneration, complete with floral hanging baskets Tcould get their fix of British classics to chase away of the Costa del Crime raved about the convenience and smart black and gold signposts. any homesick blues. of being able to nip over the border for a pork pie In convivial Casemates Square, chilled cafes set up Yorkshire tea bags, cheddar cheese, Marmite and and a tin of Ovaltine. inside the battlement walls spill out onto an expan- Heinz baked beans were just some of the favourites Nowadays, you can buy British all along the Costa sive, sunlit plaza while bustling Main Street boasts shops to rival any traditional British high street, with Mediterranean sunshine thrown in. Just don’t walk more than three abreast along this narrow, cobbled thoroughfare, especially when there’s a cruise ship - or three - in port! Here you will find big name brands such as Marks & Spencer, BHS and The Early Learning Centre, as well as Next, Pandora, Boux Avenue, Holland and Barrett, Dorothy Perkins and F&F. SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE But they are interspersed with locally-owned and WITH its mix of high-street brands and in- new Bistro 292 opposite. family-run emporiums selling everything from duty- dependent, family-run stores, Gibraltar has Take time to walk up some of the lanes and free perfumes and cameras to cuddly toy monkeys. something for everyone. side streets off Main Street to explore. It’s Clone town it is not. Shops like Stagnetto’s have one of the best a different world up there. You never know The recent opening of high-end jewellery store Ca- selections of wines, spirits and cigars you what you might find. denza is a clear indicator of where Gibraltar is head- will find anywhere in the world. Engineers Lane, Bell Lane or Irish Town ed (Oxford Street-sur-Med), with no less than Chief They know the owners of the vineyards and are all less crowded and are the preferred Minister, Fabian Picardo, cutting the ceremonial red distilleries personally and customers come routes taken by locals who want to get from tape. to visit from all over the world. one end of town to the other in a hurry. Of course, a fully-stocked Morrison’s still has some Stuck for ideas on what present to buy? After a morning wandering down Main Street specific treats the Costa del Sol cannot keep up with, Look no further than All Wrapped Up, which why not drop into one of the restaurants for while Eroski has recently started offering an extend- is just after Marks & Spencer going towards some coffee or a light lunch. In Irish Town, Corks ed range of Waitrose products. the law courts. and Sacarello’s, which has brewed coffee The obvious draw for shoppers is Gibraltar’s VAT-free The Jury’s is unsurprisingly a favourite for 150 years, are local institutions, while status and we’re not just talking about tobacco and hang out for barristers and their cli- Cafe Solo and Lord Nelson in Casemates alcohol. You can also save 21% on luxury items like ents, but if there is no space try the Square take some beating. perfume and designer sunglasses. And with zero import duty on electronic goods, computer software, DVDs and CDs and reduced duty for watches, jewel- Continues on Page 19 19 ll about Gibraltar A March 16th - March Top tips for SHop ‘til yOU DROP! shopping in From Page 17 Gibraltar lery, clothing and mobile phones, there are calls due this year. sational bargains to be had. Many Main Street shops are run by the di- views and Barbary macaques, of course. UROS are not legal tender Plus, as the currency is British Sterling – al- rect descendants of the families who found- St Michael’s Cave, Gibraltar’s spectacular in Gibraltar but virtually all though with specific notes – UK bank cards ed Gibraltar as a trading destination during stalagmite-strewn concert venue, and the Eshops will accept them. can be used without the 1800s, thanks to its strate- siege and wartime tunnels that riddle the But beware that if you pay in incurring exchange rate gic location. limestone rock like holes in Swiss cheese, euros you are accepting the ex- losses. In contrast to these old curiosi- are other boxes to tick. change rate charged by the trad- Meanwhile, although By cable-car, ty shops, the ICC Centre - where The neanderthals at the Gibraltar Museum, er and this may be very different Spanish as well as Eng- you will find the excellent Aimee the leafy Alameda Gardens, historic Trafal- from the rate used by banks. lish and the local ‘llanito’ taxi or Shanks’s Jay shop - offers undercover gar cemetery, the ghosts at the Moorish There is no legislation to gov- patois are all spoken, pony, a trip to the mall shopping, spread over two Castle… they are all other great excuses to ern this and traders are free to opening times aren’t floors, with multi-storey parking leave the ladies to their spending spree and charge whatever rate they like. at the mercy of the si- top of the Rock on top. escape, if shopping is not your bag! Therefore, it would be better to esta in the same way as But what truly turns shopping And if ye olde British pub is more your style, change any euros into sterling Spain’s. is a must in Gibraltar into a star attrac- you’ll find plenty of those on and off Main at a bank locally or at one of the Most shops open on tion are the extra-curricular Street and in Casemates Square selling many exchange kiosks on Main Sundays, especially activities. draught lager and bitter and traditional pub Street. HM BIN CLEANER: The when there is a cruise ship in town - an in- Whether by cable-car, taxi or Shanks's pony, grub. If you pay in euros your change bins even get cleaned on creasingly frequent occurrence, with 227 a trip to the top of the Rock is a must for sen- For something a little more Mediterranean, will be in sterling. Main Street immaculate Ocean Village over UK sterling is legal tender in the road from Casemates boasts Gibraltar, but beware, Gibraltar more waterfront restaurants than pounds are NOT legal tender in you can shake a knife and fork the UK. A family day out on the Rock at, along with the opportunity to If you are going to a restaurant dine at swanky La Sala Gibraltar and want to pay in euros, ask aboard the Sunborn Yacht Hotel. what the exchange rate is BE- Afterwards, you can doze off FORE you order your food. Moorish lunch in front of your favourite If you think the rate is too high Castle English movie at King’s Bastion then you can choose to go Leisure Centre or, if you still have elsewhere or go and change THE medieval for- energy, challenge the family to a some money into sterling. Most tification known as lively game of 10-pin bowling. bars and restaurants offer a the Moorish Castle Alternatively, leave the kids at reasonable exchange rate but looms over Case- home and save the money you don’t be caught out. It is too mates Square like an didn’t spend on that new pair of late once you have eaten your ancient watchman, jeans for the Admiral Casino. food and you are presented and is particularly at- Gibraltar may no longer be the with a bill charging you a rate tractive when lit up at quintessential Yorkshire tea shop of €1.50 to the £1. You could night. A trip around that first attracted Costa del Sol’s also pay by credit card although the Tower of Hom- expats but it’s comforting to know sometimes there is a minimum age and Gate House you can still get it, along with trol- charge so again, check before make for a fascinat- ley loads of family fun! you place your order.