Events for July

MABS Mazarron summer barbeque, tickets available now

Friday 30th of July 2010
Event type: Evening

MABS Mazarron, Donations of unwanted items urgently needed for Totana shop

The MABS Mazarron Cancer support group will be hosting a Summer barbeque on Friday 30^th July at the Sensol Golf Club as part of their ongoing fundraising efforts.

Tickets cost just 15 euros each and entertainment is to be provided by popular local duo, Clifford and Julia.

Tickets are available from Sue on 679 871 593.

MABS Mazarron have also asked for donations of any unwanted clothes or bric a brac for sale in their Totana shop, which has been extremely busy since it opened earlier this year, in fact so much so, that they're running low on stock.

Residents in the Mazarron area can drop off bedding, clothes or bric-a brac at the Alley Palais entertainment centre on Camposol, or the shop , which is located in the main Square in Totana is happy to accept donations directly.

For more info, call the General Enquiry Line on 620 582 418.

Mariposa Hotel, Martin Ross of the Beagles, Live music night

Friday 30th of July 2010
Event type: Evening

The Mariposa Hotel in the heart of the Sierra Espuna runs regular live music nights throughout the year which offer a fantastic night of entertainment for those who are happy to drive into the countryside, or top value overnight packages for those who'd rather make a real night out of it.

For those staying overnight they are offering a nights accommodation in a double en-suite room for 2 people, 2 evening bar meals, music/entertainment and breakfast for 2, for a total price of 65 euros.... If the date is marked with a blue Ω  then the price is 75€ per room(Or upgrade to a 4 course meal for an extra 10€ per person) I know, its hard to believe isn´t it....but its true, Booking is essential!!.

{image2}Extras that are available, 4 course menu del dia on Saturday lunchtime at 10 euros per person, Sunday lunchtime meal  at 15 euros per person.

They also operate quad tours in the Sierra Espuna for all ages which can be taken with or without accommodation, and cater for groups, families or individuals.

They're a family run business which means that personal attention and a sense of belonging come as standard when guests book for any of the activities or accommodation they offer.

{image3}You're guaranteed the warmest of welcomes at the hotel, as well as a beautiful location, right on the edge of the natural park, which offers extensive walking and picknicking opportunities or just somewhere cool and beautiful to head to when the heat on the beach gets a bit too much. 

Here's the entertainments programme, just in case you fancy treating yourself to a night away during the year:

30th July, Martin Ross of the Beagles, don't miss this!! Ω

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6th August, "Bien" Chris and Sue will keep you entertained with their live music and singing.

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20th August, Barrington...... Ω

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28th August, Steve Fisher as ROD STEWERT. Ω

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04 September, Martin ross. Ω

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10th September, Steve Fisher as Rod Stewert. Ω

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{image4}17th September, "BIEN", Chris is a DJ with a local radio stn and Sue is Chris's wife, they make a great duo with their blend of live music and singing.

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For our 2 or 3 day Christmas special we only have 3 rooms left, please phone for details.

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For our 2 or 3 day New year special we only have 2 rooms left, please phone for details.

If the date is marked with a Ω then the price is 75€ per room per night.

Music night package including accommodation, details available below.

We are offering a nights accommodation in a double en-suite room for 2 people, 2 evening bar meals, music/entertainment and breakfast for 2, for a total price of 65 euros.... If the date is marked with a blue Ω  then the price is 75€ per room(Or upgrade to a 4 course meal for an extra 10€ per person) I know, its hard to believe isn´t it....but its true, Booking is essential!!.

{image5}Extras that are available, 4 course menu del dia on Saturday lunchtime at 10 euros per person, Sunday lunch at 15 euros per person.

Quad biking on the Saturday or the Sunday can be pre booked

Click here for more information about the Mariposa Hotel

Click here for more information about Quadbiking tours.

The Arches, Los Alcazares, Free entertainment,Pat Martin, sounds of the 60's

Friday 30th of July 2010
Event type: Evening

The Arches Café Bar at Los Alcazares has a vast selection of events throughout the coming month, all of them free and all offering fantastic entertainment. There really is something to suit all tastes, with comedy, rock and roll, classic rock, country and western, sounds of the 60's and several excellent female vocalists.

During the winter the events are held indoors, but now that the summer evenings are such a pleasure, the events have all moved outside.
The Arches will continue to offer superb value meals and drinks, with all the regular favourites such as chicken and chips or barbequed spare ribs, as well as a full selection of drinks.

The Arches is located  on the Oasis centre, just around the corner from the English Butchers. Click here for full information, a map and details of the food they offer, Click The Arches

     
30th  Friday  Pat Martin Sounds of the 80,s
     
31st Saturday Lyndon "B"  Comedy Tribute 

Concerts in Jumilla Castle, 30th July

Friday 30th of July 2010
Event type: Evening

For more information about the events or about the Jumilla area in general, contact the tourist office on 968 78 02 37

 Concerts in the Castle

Throughout June and July, there will be a series of evening concerts in the Patio de Armas (Cultural Space) within the newly reopened Jumilla Castle.

  Friday 30th July

22.00 Mentes Irascibles (rap).  Tickets 3 euros.

Tickets are on sale at the Oficina de la Concejalia de Cultura, Ayuntamiento de Jumilla.  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only, between 12 and 2.
Or book online at www.ticketmaster.es.

Please note that you need a permit from the tourist office to drive your car up to the castle; however there is a free bus service, beginning 1½ hours before the start of each event, leaving from the castle gates.

As the above events start fairly late, you may want to book a room at one of the reasonably priced hotels in Jumilla - Hotel Pio XII or Hotel Monreal.

Free guided tours of Murcia, Sat 31st July

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Daytime

Free guided tours of Murcia

Every Saturday a free guided tour of what's known as "Classical Murcia" takes place, which is a guided tour showing the best of the more popular tourist sites in Murcia City.

The tour is designed very much  an introduction to Murcia for those who have perhaps not really explored it before and is a good way to orientate yourself around the most interesting parts of the city.

The idea is to give you a taste of what Murcia has to offer, so the visit takes in quite a few locations, in the hope that you will go back on your own and spend a bit more time exploring the things that interest you.

The tour is in Spanish, but most of the guides who work the city tours speak English, so make sure you let them know you would appreciate a bit of info in English, and they'll do their best to accommodate you, depending on the group size.

Most of the places you go to will have English language literature available to collect.

The tours leave from the Plaza Belluga Tourist Information Office at 11am and to book a place, call 968 358 749 from Monday to Friday, 10am-1pm and 5pm-7pm

The best parking for Plaza Belluga is in the underground car park right on the waterfront opposite the Glorieta de Espana. As you drive in to central Murcia along the riverbank, you'll find it on the right hand side just past the big bridge entering the old quarter of Murcia. Click Plaza Belluga for map

Guided tour of Begastri archaeological site, Sat and Sun 31st July and 1st August

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Daytime

Cehegin, North Murcia, Begastri site open to the public 

 The archaeological site at Begastri, Cehegin is open every Saturday and Sunday from 9am-1.30pm.

This is an interesting site in the North of Murcia which is currently undergoing works to construct a new visitor centre which will enable visitors to discover more information about the site without the need for a guide. Until that happens, visitors are able to visit this site on a saturday and sunday morning to view the progress being made in these excavations.

{image2}The Begastri archaeological site has been the subject of archaeological excavations for many years now and covers  an extensive area, 2km from Cehegin in an elevated position in an area known as Cabezo Roenas , close to the course of the Rio Quipar.

The site sits on a rocky outcrop, and the town would have been protected by a 5mtr thick wall surrounding the settlement.

Strong evidence exists of the original Iberic settlement, but it was the arrival of the Romans who converted the town into an important defensive outpost and constructed substantial public buildings, the town of res publica begastresium cultivating international trading links with the greeks and roman settlements throughout Europe, evidence existing of substantial wealth and international trade.

{image3}The era of Visgoth occupation saw the town increasing in importance and size, and during the 7^th and 8^th centuries became the centre of muslim power in the area, but following a series of revolts in the 8^th and 9^th centuries, it fell into a slow decline and there is clear evidence that by the 13^th century it had been completely deserted.

For directions to the site, go to the

Oficina de Turismo

Plaza del Castillo 1

Cehegin

Tel 968 723 550

Santiago speaks excellent english and is very helpful and friendly. He is also able to arrange overnight accommodation if you are going to the north for an overnight stay.

Free guided tour of modernist, Cartagena, 31st July

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Daytime

Right throughout July and August, the MURAM, Regional Museum of Modern Art, are giving free guided tours of the interesting modernist buildings which give Cartagena its' characteristic elegance.

The modernist movement was fuelled by the expansion in wealth during the late 19^th century as industrial development worldwide consumed vast quantities of minerals, mined in the Cartagena area, from mines which were owned by the elite, who used their vast wealth to build houses in the latest style, the modernist style.

Cartagena is full of these elegant buildings, with their distinctive curves, dramatic wrought ironwork and designs which were daring and revolutionary, breaking the mould and creating something which had its own unique feel.The secret is in the detail, sensuous curves, carefully designed wrought iron, carving, moulding, glasswork, every detail counted.

Leading the architects in Cartagena was Victor Beltri, who produced several outstanding buildings throughout the city, and left his own distinct stamp on the face of modern Cartagena.

These tours will be held every Wednesday and Saturday throughout July and August, leaving at 10.30am and 12.30pm, and are completely free.

The MURAM are happy to accommodate English speaking visitors, but need a minimum of 10 people to book an English speaking tour guide, and want to try and keep the group size to about 15 people. The main MURAM guide does speak english, so if she's leading the tour she'll be able to help you and give some commentary in english on any day. Just make sure they know you're english when you book.

To book, contact Tel number 968 501 607 

Email  muramcartagena@gmail.com

For more info about the MURAM , click MURAM 

For more info about the current exhibition in the MURAM, by Jose Parraga, click here

Guided tour of the Cueva Victoria in Cartagena, one day only

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Daytime

The 1.2 million year old fossil remains of the Cueva Victoria, Cartagena Spain on public show for the first time ever.

On Saturday 31^st July, the general public have the opportunity to visit the archaeological site of the Cueva Victoria, situated alongside the Mar Menor at Cerro de San Ginés de la Jara, El estrecho de san Gines,  for the first time ever.

Some further open days are being planned for the future, as long term the Council of Cartagena would like to open up this interesting site for tourism visitors.

The site has been under excavation for a considerable number of years, and works to clear some of the debris from the entrance to the caves has been underway during this last year, with structural works undertaken to ensure that visitor safety is carefully examined before allowing members of the public into the caves.

It's a very interesting site, as some of the oldest pre-human remains ever found came from these caves, and Palaentologists have been working here for more than 25 years, uncovering vast quantities of fossil remains, including elephants, horses, hyenas, dolphins, and bird species which were not formerly thought to have lived in this area 1.2 million years ago.

The caves were formed by a geological movement nearly 3.5 million years ago, and during the 2 million years following their creation, they gradually filled with accumulated silt, washed in by the rains, creating a unique storehouse of fossils. At around 1.2 million years ago, they were inhabited by a prehistoric species of hyena, a much larger and more powerful animal than their modern descendants, which weighed in at around 120 kilos and had astonishingly powerful jaws. Many of the bones found bear teethmarks, which show that carcasses were dragged into the caves and devoured in this spot, and the huge accumulations and volume of bones found indicate that a considerable number of hyenas lived here over a long period of time.

The pre-human remains found in this cave date back to 1.2 million years ago, which makes them some of the oldest in existence and are believed to have belonged to a now defunct species, homo habilis, a species of human which crossed from Africa via the straits of Gibraltar. Homo habilis is known to have used and made tools, but died out completely as a species.

How the remains came to be in the cave is not known, but it is possible they were washed into the caves in silt deposits, and no evidence has ever been found to indicate that these pre-humans ever actually inhabited these caves.

The caves are enormous, stretching out underground for more than 3.5 kilometres, although many of the long underground galleries are inaccessible for general viewing, and the scientific team working on the site are excited about the possibilities that still lie undiscovered all around them.

Tragically, scientists estimate that 90% of the fossil remains were destroyed by mining activities in the early part of the 20^th century, as their interior is rich in magnesium, a much valued and saleable item, which can still be seen in the walls of the caves today.

It's a fascinating place, and if you'd like to visit, phone 968 506 483 , between 10am and 2pm and 5pm-7pm.

The visits are taking place on Saturday 31^st July between 10am and 1pm and only 10 people per group are allowed into the cave, so if you want to go, RESERVATION IS ESSENTIAL.

We were privileged to visit the site a year ago, if you'd to see more photos, click here

MAP.

The caves are on the right hand side , just before arriving at Estrecho de San Gines. There are likely to be signs on this day. It's a short track from the main road, easily visible.

Click for map, Estrecho de san Gines

San Javier Jazz Festival, Carol Kidd and Paul Carrack

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Evening

The 13th edition of the San Javier Jazz Festival, which this year will honor the memory of the late Will Deville, offers a very attractive program for all blues and jazz lovers. The Festival comprises 21 concerts spread throughout 12 nights, beginning July 2nd and ending on July 31st.
The program includes some Jazz greats like guitarist and singer George Benson, Dianne Reeves, Chucho Valdés with his new ensemble The Afrocuban Messengers, the Bobby Hutcherson & Cedar Walton Quintet, and  the return to San Javier of the great accordionist Richard Galliano and his Tangaria Quartet.

Ticketing information.
To reserve or purchase tickets or season passes for the festival contact the festival offices at the following numbers:

0034 968 19 15 88 or 0034 968 19 15 68

or you may write to the following email address: festivales@sanjavier.es

Office Hours
Monday -Friday from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm and from 6.00 pm to 8.30 pm - Saturdays from 10.30 am to 1.30 pm
The San Javier Festival Offices are located on the groundfloor of the San Javier Municipal Hall building. If you wish to arrive by automobile you may use the underground pay parking located by Municipal Hall Square, or you may also use the Municipal Auditorium parking lot.
Click for map, San Javier Town Hall
 
You may also purchase your tickets at the following locations:

Discos Carrot's Cartagena, Tel 968 522 080

Servicaixa www.servicaixa.com

THE BIG BARGAIN, 10 NIGHT SEASON TICKET IS ONLY 100 EUROS(Excludes Chris Isaak and George Benson nights. )

For full programme, click  San Javier Jazz Festival

 
Programme for the San Javier Jazz Festival 2010  

Saturday 31st July
Carol Kidd and Paul Carrack, 9.30pm

Tickets 15 euros
Carol Kidd is the best ballad singer in British jazz. She has won the British Jazz Award for best vocalist on four occasions. Frank Sinatra said "she is the best kept secret in British Jazz", and Tony Bennett has also publicly expressed his admiration. Jazz San Javier has the honor of presenting her first concert in Spain in many years. This universal Scot, who many consider to be the great lady of European jazz, has gathered a sensational discography throughout the decades with the Scottish record label "Linn Records".
Paul Carrack, the British guitarist, pianist, singer, and composer from Sheffield, England, has formed part of groups like Ace, Roxy Music, Squeeze or Mike & The Mechanics. Throughout his solo career he has recorded fourteen albums and several compilations. He is a prolific composer with a special sensitivity for romantic ballads. Paul is also well versed in blue-eyed soul, and traditional British pop rock. This admired musician will display his wide range of musical styles during his performance, which will close the 2010 edition of the festival.

The Arches, Los Alcazares, Free entertainment, Lyndon B, Comedy Tribute

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Evening

The Arches Café Bar at Los Alcazares has a vast selection of events throughout the coming month, all of them free and all offering fantastic entertainment. There really is something to suit all tastes, with comedy, rock and roll, classic rock, country and western, sounds of the 60's and several excellent female vocalists.

During the winter the events are held indoors, but now that the summer evenings are such a pleasure, the events have all moved outside.
The Arches will continue to offer superb value meals and drinks, with all the regular favourites such as chicken and chips or barbequed spare ribs, as well as a full selection of drinks.

The Arches is located  on the Oasis centre, just around the corner from the English Butchers. Click here for full information, a map and details of the food they offer, Click The Arches

31st Saturday Lyndon "B"  Comedy Tribute 

Antonio Orozco in concert at aguilas

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Evening

The gravel voice of Antonio Orozco performs live in Aguilas

Antonio Orozco, one of the most powerful and distinctive voices of Spanish pop music is performing in Aguilas on the 31^st July. 

Tickets are only 18 euros if bought in advance, and can be purchased in several local outlets or online from ticketmaster. Online here they show the various local venues where you can buy them in person, so click for ticketmaster, Antonio Orozco Tickets.

There may be some on the gate, but it's not worth risking it really as he's such a phenomenon it's quite unlikely that there will be any tickets left by the concert date. 

He's promoting his latest album, Renovatio, which is a superb mix of great tracks, very Orozco, very much what you'd expect from him, but a must keep playing album that will stay top of the heap for quite some time.

If you don't know who he is, have a listen,  Es mi momento 

And if you do love his music, get those tickets and go to Aguilas, it's an intimate venue and you won't get much closer to him than this. 

The New Royal, Mazarron, FREE MUSIC, Paul de vino of the Roulettes

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Evening

Music in the Puerto de Mazarron, Free concerts on a saturday night, The New Royal 

The New Royal Bar and restaurant in the Puerto de Mazarron has a series of free music nights which will be taking place throughout the month of July, bringing live music to the seafront on a Saturday night.

The music is all carefully chosen to reflect ex-pat tastes and the music starts at 9pm, a little more in the comfort zone of the local population than some of the midnight start times of some other local venues.

The Royal is opposite the El Alamillo beach, so is a great place to watch the sunset with a cooling drink.

31^st July, Paul deVinci, Lead singer of 60's band The Roubettes, playing a mixture of popular songs.

{image2}The Royal is popular with local ex-pats due to its' Traditional British Pub ambience and realistically priced menu, which offers superb value and generous portions.

During the week it offers an excellent value evening meal at only 10 euros for 3 courses. Each night the theme is different and clients can choose from a number of options along a theme,a nd there are extra specials available at 15 euros, such as lamb shank on the meat night. It's advisable to book as spaces are limited:

Monday, Curry Night

Tuesday Meat Night

Thursday Pasta Night

Friday Fish Night

To see more information about The New Royal Bar, together with map and contact numbers, Click here.

Moratalla municipality, Encuentro de cuadrillas

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Evening

On Saturday 31st there's an event taking place in the campo of northern Murcia, called an Encuentro de Cuadrillas de Animeros.

Cuadrillas are musical groups, who perform at traditional community events and have done so for a considerable length of time. You'll find them at every religious event, such as the Romerias, playing simple, but melodic folk music on a variety of stringed instruments, often with percussion accompaniment.

The music is infectious and enjoyable, and is traditionally country Spanish as it's possible to get.

These encuentros are noisy affairs, with an invited number of Cuadrillas coming from across the region to play together and enjoy a night of music. The Cuadrillas often take turns to perform, or in some cases all disappear off to play in separate areas.

They're usually accompanied by a group of friends and family who bring plenty to eat and drink along with them and the evenings pass with a great deal of revelry.

 The best known gathering of these Cuadrillas takes place in Barranda during January when over 20,000 people gather to attend a gathering of Cuadrillas, performing music in the streets. It's a massive event and is the highlight of the regions' traditional ethnic music scene. Barranda is also the home of the regions' ethnical music collection and is a fascinating place to visit, in fact it was built in barranda specifically because of this major musical gathering.

Click museum of ethnic instruments, Barranda

The evening starts at 9pm and is in the Polideportivo( sports ground) on the Carreterra Barranda-Nerpio at km 19, Campo de San Juan, in the municipality of Moratalla.

We've had a good look on the map and if you are interested in attending this event would recommend contacting Moratalla tourist office, who speak English to confirm the location of this as it's not completely clear which is the number of the road in question.

Moratalla tourist office is on 968 730 208

Free choral music by th moonlight, cabo de palos lighthouse

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Evening

Habaneras a la luz de la luna, El Faro, Cabo de Palos

Each year a choral event takes place in the atmospheric setting of the Cabo de Palos lighthouse, timed to be when the moon is full, or nearly full, Habaneras a la luz de la luna.

Habaneras is a word which describes choral music, so this evening is about beautiful voices, performing a complete cross section of choral works, everything from the odd haunting piece of beautiful religious choral music, to Broadway hits and popular contemporary pop.

These habaneras perform everything.

The standard of choral music in this region is astonishingly high, virtually every town having at least one choir, sometimes several, usually in conjunction with schools of music, churches , housewives associations,or religious associations and there are competitions all over the region throughout the year, all of which are free to attend.

There are a couple of people we've met who went along to one of these competitions out of curiosity and have now become choral groupies, hunting down these performances with great enthusiasm, a whole new world of free concerts which has taken them all over the region, and they love it.

On this occasion, the choir is the Coral Polifonica Carthagonova, and they're accompanied by the Grupo Folklórico Ciudad de Cartagena de la Palma, the folklore group from La Palma, who are superb musicians, and take part in a diverse range of both dance and musical performance.

The concert takes place at 11pm in the shadow of the lighthouse at Cabo de Palos.

Adjusting to these late Spanish nights becomes a way of life. The normal procedure is to eat at 2pm, then go to sleep for about 3 hours . By 7pm, the body is full of beans and rearing to go, so by 9pm, it's wandering around hunting for a restaurant and by 11pm is looking for the party.

You can't beat the Spanish heat, only go with it. Cabo de palos is full of restaurants, tapas bars and ice cream parlours, so go and make a night of it.

Here's a report we prepared earlier about the lighthouse at Cabo de Palos, a great place for a biker ride out or focal point for somewhere to take the visitors. There's plenty of parking at the foot of the lighthouse.

Click, Cabo de Palos, El faro

Free concert in El Berro

Saturday 31st of July 2010
Event type: Evening

Throughout July and August in the outlying villages which fall under the jurisdiction of Alhama council, a series of free concerts take place on a Wednesday evening.

There are three concerts here, in Gebas, El Berro, El Canarico.

They're all in the open air, and are an enjoyable way to while away a warm summers evening.

31^st July

Duo Gala, 10pm

El Berro

 Click for map, El Berro

7^th August

Duo Aires Latinos, 10pm

El Canarico

 Click for map, El Canarico

14^th August

Duo, A las doce en punto, 10pm

Gebas

Click for map, Gebas

All of these concerts are in the heart of the Sierra Espuna, which is a stunningly beautiful protected area in the heart of the region, covered with pine forests and beautiful scenery. It's a lovely area to explore if you want to get off the beach for the night.

The Mariposa Hotel is right in the heartland of the area, so if you wanted a place to stay over, you might like to give it a try, they have a pool, great views and offer quad biking tours as well as accommodation. For more details click, Mariposa Hotel

Twist at Roldan, FREE MUSIC, Fire and water, classic music

Sunday 1st of August 2010
Event type: Evening

Twist at Roldan is an exciting music and entertainments venue which offers quality acts in comfortable and stylish surroundings, with regular catered events and the facilities for private functions and special occasions.

During the forthcoming months they are hosting a superb variety of quality acts, with something to suit all tastes.

All of our live events are FREE ENTRANCE starting at 9pm
 
 Advance bookings will guarantee you reserved tables for excellent show meals starting at 7.30pm
 
 HOUSE SPIRIT DRINKS AVAILABLE including mixer for only 3.50 Euros

Twist is located on the edge of the Poligono Industrial in Roldan, so is just a short drive away from the La Torre Golf Resort and in a central location to be reached very easily from most of southern Murcia. Look on the F21 and you'll see the Twist Bar marked.

Click here for a map or call 673 282 707 for more information

Tickets can be booked online via their website , click Twist Roldan or in person, and here are just some of the great acts coming up over the next few weeks: 

Sunday 1^st August

Fire and water,

A selection of classic pop tracks

Free entry to see show

Table reservation with 2 course show meal Adults 10 euros, Children 5 euros

Monday 2^nd August

Kids Party and Disco with Lawrence Magic Supreme

Karaoke, Games, with prizes, Magic show and disco

5 euros entrance, includes a free soft drink

Childrens meal available

Friday 6^th August

Shania Twain Tribute

Free entry to see the show

Table reservation with 2 course show meal, Adults 10 euros, Child 5 euros

Saturday 7^th August

Al Relente, Flamenco pop music with dancer

Free entry for the show

Table reservation with meal 10 euros adult, 5 euros child