About 30 years ago, while working for a Glasgow based agency, I got the chance to go and work in Spain for a period in a couple of bars owned by a Scottish comedian. Sounded like a blast and I was right up for it. For some reason, as the whole thing got nearer, I ‘shat my breeks’ and didn’t go. A pile of solo acts from the agency went over, and from what I heard had a right blast and some of them ended up staying for years and I think one or two are still there ! It was one of these things that always hung around in the back of my mind as a bit of a regret.
I went to Tenerife on holiday in January 2024 and, obviously, being the kind of place that it is, there is some amount of pub entertainment to see. Brought back memories of not doing it while I had the chance, and finding myself in a position where i’d jump at the chance of doing now, but, because of Brexit, you pretty much can’t
When I was in Tenerife in January 2025 I was having a chat to a well known local musician (and I guy I really rate), Mr Brian Wilson about the difficulties of being able to go there to work, post Brexit. (Thanks you bunch of brainless bastards who landed us here). He in turn, put me onto another local music maestro, Jack Bennett, who put me onto a Spanish regulation, “Order PCM/1238/2021 of November 20, 2021“. Basically it allows musicians and other people in the audio/visual sector to work in Spain for UP TO 90 DAYS VISA & WORK PERMIT FREE. If you look it up on Spanish Government websites, the MU and others, the whole thing looks really simple (on the face of it), but on closer inspection and asking around, it appears that maybe it’s not that simple after all, but I’m currently trying to work through the sticking points. If you happen to find yourself reading this and you know anything concrete about the practicalities of doing this, please feel free to get in touch.
I’m going back to Tenerife in January 2026 for three months, I have an NIE number and will find out then if it’s something that can really be done 🙂
If you happen to own a pub in Los Cristianos or Las Americas , see below !
