The Tarragona marina, in decline for 15 years, wants to take advantage of the end of the concession of the sixty premises, most of them empty for a long time, to revitalize itself and change its model: end of nightlife venues. Just in March, the 30th anniversary of the old concession was completed, which allows us to open a period that aims to be one of profound renewal.
The Reial Club Nàutic de Tarragona, which has the concession to manage the marina and its premises, has obtained a 12-year extension from the Port Authority of Tarragona (APT). The next concession and the economic viability of the club, a historic local entity, will depend on the success of the transformation of the marina.
In the middle of this process, with the second phase of the works underway, the storm surge has arrived. A part of those who must now renew the concession of their premises, with new conditions and higher prices, made public their indignation yesterday and announced legal proceedings against the company that has the concession to manage the commercial premises, majority owned by the Reial. Nautical Club.
The gradual process of closing stores has meant that there are not many numerically those who denounce new “abusive and totally opaque” conditions. There are half a dozen concessionaires who assure that the new prices make unviable the restaurant or diving center businesses that continue to operate despite the still decaying appearance of the marina.
“The price increase in my case is up to 1,500%,” says Carlos Cavero, formerly with a restaurant (El Mesón del Mar). “They are forcing us to leave, they are kicking us out,” he adds. “We want a homogeneous and transparent negotiation,” asks Ángel Quiñones, also a localist, emerging as spokesperson.
One of its priority objectives is to publicly pressure to obtain the intermediation of the Port Authority of Tarragona. “They remain impassive and they are art and part, they have granted the extension of the concession and they have 35% of the shares of the company that manages the premises,” denounces Carlos Arriola, with the concession of another of the restaurant premises (Brisa) .
Among those who denounce what they consider to be a strategy to ensure that they do not renew their concessions and leave the premises vacant are also Sajjad Ali, with another restaurant business, and Josep Ferrando, owner of the Coco bar and formerly of the Sala Golfus, one of the most successful nightclubs, twenty years ago. Back then, 12,000 young people passed through the port every weekend.
Another of those affected is Marilen Selva, with a live music venue (Mojo Club). “I've been told I'm annoying,” she says.
The concessionaire company has not started marketing the new premises because the works to reorganize the urban space have just begun. The remodeling announced by Nàutic will be profound, with fewer stores and better services, which on paper will allow it to attract new businesses.
With discotheques ruled out, the objective is to attract, in addition to restaurants, activities linked above all to nautical activities and also companies and offices linked to the so-called blue economy, a model that has the support of the Port Authority of Tarragona and its president, Saül Garreta.
