‘Best English Newspaper in Spain’ - Olive Press ‘does it for the underdogs’
How Marbella’s little sister San Pedro came of age! See page 11
A focus on
October 2025
HEY LIT TLE SISTER
s
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Virgen del TRADITION: The to the Carmen is carried sea in San Pedro
was once liton AN Pedro Alcantara a dusty stop-off tle more than or Gibraltar. the way to Estepona but surely transBut it has slowly everyone wants the place their formed, into locals are turning to be. Even the called Marbellis. “No, noses up at being
S
OLIVE PRESS GIBRALTAR
has Marbella’s sibling glowfinally had her now up – and she’s the strutting down k Costa del Sol catwal nce with the confide of a supermodel By Dilip Kuner
PS our columnist Charlie has won an award too
fumes flared and exhaustwait for where tempers Drivers could past the s,” they say with choked the town. smug hour just to crawl no – we’re Sanpedreño got plenty to be more than an junction. If your air-con a grin. And they’ve dreaded Ronda were doomed. to live in,” about. packed up, youcame in the form of a tun-it part of Marbella Elsa “It’s the best homemaker The salvation under the town. Above or two about declares 52-year-old nel burrowed Hall splashed the cash on knows a thing Romero, who after decades in Germabe- Marbella Town boulevard. moving around ny and England and endless a gleaming new play the honking horns fore settling here. every- Out wentin came fountains, gardens, their “You’ve got queues, showing off teenagers thing – wonderful Cinderand like inter- areas tricks. It was ballgown. beaches, skateboarding for a national schools, ella swapping her rags had a heart, and San Pedro more glamorous fantastic dining,” moth- Suddenly, explains the who it was beating to a far er-of-three grabs attenrhythm. the shiny newness works in a lawyer’s and you’ll find none But while office. “But chaos tion, scratch the surfaceon. of the traffic Mar- plenty of history clinging and at either of Banus or And Stroll along the boulevardrelics of a very bella centre. You end you stumble across de Guadaiza Trapiche The the parking! a different time. the hamlet of El Ingenio, can always find old dismill and Honestly, sugarits protected cottages and space. Pedro’s orirea- with story of San agricultural that’s half the tillery, tell the modern son I stayed.” that gins as Spain’s most Not long ago, del Duero colony. the Marques Marquess sort of statement the had Back in 1860, would have their and his formidable wife, hectares into 5,000 people rolling of Revilla, turnedNearly two dozen mills eyes. two of them right San a sugar empire. For years, claim dotted the coast, with from Valenstreamed in Pedro’s the here. Workers to fame was jam, page Continues on next N-340 traffic park car a rolling
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Vol. 10 Issue 258
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SCAN here for the latest news October 9th - October 22nd 2025
See page 3
Eyes Out for All THE Olive Press is teaming up with one of the Costa del Sol’s leading hospitality groups to highlight the growing danger of spiking. We are relaunching our Smash the Spiking campaign alongside Sala Group Holdings to warn and protect revellers in the run up to the festive period. As well as encouraging other nightclub and entertainment organisations to take a stand, we hope local politicians and law enforcement agencies also support it. Aiming to unite them under one umbrella, our message is simple: ‘Eyes Out for all!’ Our appeal comes after hearing a string of stories of victims - both
The Olive Press is relaunching its ‘Smash the Spiking’ campaign with Sala Group Holdings to tackle the growing menace of drink spiking across the Costa del Sol By Jon Clarke
men and women - being attacked around Marbella, Fuengirola and Malaga, this summer. While we have been frustratingly unable to get clear, up-todate statistics from the authorities, we have received various reports from readers and fellow holidaymakers. Happening in front line Puerto Banus, nightclubs in Malaga and even five-star
SMASH the
SPIKING
hotels in Marbella, it is a very worrying crime. As well as slipping drugs in people’s drinks, it also sometimes involves pricking them with a syringe. Whether it is victims then having their watches snatched in a taxi queue, golfers falling out of a bar in Banus, or girls getting sexually assaulted on a beach, it is occurring far too often.
BACKING: From La Salas boss Ian Radford (below)
Responsibility
One of our journalists is even convinced his drink was spiked while on a night out in Ronda, while a female intern was previously assaulted in the UK. “I know as many as 20 people over the last five years who have been victims on the coast,” explained S a l a G r o u p boss Ian Radford.
Swedish rapper executed in Banus at midday See page 2
“Mostly for robbery, as opposed to the sexual side luckily. But that is far too often. “It is time to make a stop. We need to do something about it and as business owners we need to be responsible.” The 56-year-old, who owns La Sala restaurant, The Clubhouse and another beach club, is pledging to tackle the crime head on by training up all staff and making CCTV available to anyone who believes they may have been spiked. Staff will be trained to understand the ‘Ask Angela’ system that is big in the UK, as well as helping potential victims leave the venue
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safely, often by calling a taxi. Based in Marbella for nearly three decades, the father-ofthree adds: “We are committed to beating this problem. We will be looking out. Eyes out all the time and I urge all businesses in our sector to come and join us. “We need to raise awareness with the support of all local media and the authorities.” Have you been a victim? Have you got something to add? Contact us at newsdesk@theolivepress.es Opinion Page 6
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