The ¡Estupendo! Blog Site

Francis McDonald first got in touch with Estupendo, Puerto del Carmen in January 2008 regarding relocation advice and plans of buying a bar in the sun. Like many this was the first step of a long journey with many questions and our support, we feel its so important to keep in touch with our clients, to offer free help and advice from start to finish of a relocation.

After many emails and questions it was over a year later when we finally got to meet the McDonald family which includes wife Diane and kids Joe and Olivia. Whilst they were in Puerto Del Carmen I spent time with them to show them around some local businesses and give them an idea of what was available. They also spent time with Veronica who showed the family a selection of long term rental accommodation and answered their questions about relocating to Lanzarote.

Sadly although the McDonalds had made the decision to move they had to return to the UK to sell their own bar, situated in the busy town center of Stockport before they could realise their dream and return to Lanzarote. After many many more emails they had a sale on their bar and it was time to finally make the big move, in July 2009 some 18 months after their first contact, Lanzarote became their new home.

Veronica worked hard to find them the right type of property for the family to live in and soon they were settled into their new home. Once the family had their local address I helped to register the children to start at the local Spanish primary school. Next on the agenda was to find a bar for Francis to run. Francis had already worked the stress and long hours of the UK pub trade and decided he wanted something easily manageable, which would also allowed him shorter working hours so that he could have some quality time with his family, their whole reason for the move.

After looking at several bars we came up with a firm favorite, this bar was ideally situated close to their home and also offered what Francis was looking for. Formerly called the Hanging Monkey the bar was small, dark and to be honest uninviting but it ticked all of the boxes for potential.

The bar was in need of a full project and electrical installation which we gladly helped to arrange right through to completion. The McDonalds are now the proud owners of the renamed bar the "19th Hole" situated in Calle Teide, which is just a small walk up from the harbour in Puerto Del Carmen. The inside of the bar was also totally revamped with a new interior including some fantastic sports canvas pictures supplied by Neil at Canvaslanz and with new lighting the bar was transformed and has already started to trade, with many of the clients in favour of the new look and owners.

If its a warm friendly welcome and a good pint of beer you are looking for then look no further, Francis is always on hand to make his customers feel welcome. Francis  and Diane have had years of being in the UK pub trade, which is plainly obvious from their natural relaxed manner and friendly banter with the customers.

Francis said " We cannot thank Estupendo enough for the help and advice along the way to actually achieve our dream! Its been a long time coming but now we are here and we can’t thank the local community enough, they’ve all helped to make us feel welcome and even chipped in to help paint the bar especially our neighbours - Martin and Pat from the San Francisco II pool bar.

The kids are settled at school and the quality of life is just a million miles from the UK with the kids going swimming everyday after school and Joe especially has made lots of friends to play football with which is why he is missing from the photos!

At the bar we are offering a "Free" shot to anyone who brings in a golf ball and we are also the only bar in the area with Victoria beer which is going down very well with both the locals and holidaymakers. We are also offering competitively low prices as the normal from 6.30pm every evening except Sundays and soon we‘re looking to incorporate Golfing holidays with the bar once we find our feet ."