Nightclub owner challenges the government

Some days ago I wrote about the closing of Barcelona’s most famous nightclub: La Paloma. Just a week later the owner, Pau Sole, announces in the local press (La Vanguardia) that he will be opening the club tonight.

According to the newspaper, this is the owner’s way of challenging the government and protesting at the attitude they are taking with local nightclubs and bars [although he notes that this will probably lead to a definitive closing]. Pau Sole claims the closing and the sanctions are inconsistent; “They tell us to close, but at no point do they tell us what we need to do to solve the problem”. Pau Sole has even commissioned the prestigious acoustic specialist Higini Arau to solve all the soundproofing.

“We are not only prepared to soundproof our premises in any way or form that is demanded, but we are also willing to soundproof the neighbours apartments which are supposedly affected.” Anything with the sole aim to avoid this century old club being shut down forever. Pau Sole has more experience that most club/bar owners here in Barcelona, his other club Cibeles has been shut down for months awaiting a change of use into a luxury fitness centre.