Palma dinner draws 100-plus after police clear terraces
More than 100 people gathered on Palma’s Born on Wednesday, 26 August, for the summer’s final sopar a la fresca — an outdoor communal dinner — after restaurant terraces were removed on police orders. Bars and restaurants took away their non-fixed furniture at about 19.00. After 20.00, people from Palma began filling the promenade with their own chairs, tables and pareos.
No tables or chairs were laid out for the event. Families, young people and older residents used the Born’s benches instead, while signs called for fewer terraces and more residents.
The citizen group Brunzzit has staged weekly outdoor dinners at prominent Palma locations over the past two summers. It says the events seek to reclaim city squares for residents and highlight discontent at life in a tourism-driven society.
Why the terraces were cleared
Palma City Council said the Spanish National Police had communicated the move as a preventive security measure. The event itself had been authorised by the Government Delegation in the Balearic Islands.
Police said removing the establishments’ non-fixed furniture was necessary to protect safety, reduce the risk of public-order problems and prevent possible vandalism or disturbances. The force pointed to events on 26 July, after a large demonstration against tourist overcrowding.
Brunzzit rejected the suggestion that its dinner could lead to trouble. The group said every previous sopar a la fresca had passed without arguments or violence.
Restaurants warn of lost takings
Juanmi Ferrer, president of CAEB Restauración Mallorca and owner of a restaurant on the Born, also opposed the order. He estimated the combined losses for businesses at 20,000 to 30,000 euros.
Ferrer said the public dinner could have gone ahead while terraces remained open. He also said he did not expect incidents or uncivil behaviour towards terrace customers.
Topics: Police · Protests · Tourism · Food & dining · Politics · Palma
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com