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The
British Gazette
20th February 2020 - 20th March 2020
Free Monthly Issue No 62
Body of Grandad found months after vanishing S on Benidorm holiday
Local News By Elise Jones adly, the body of a missing Somerset grandad has been found in Benidorm, after he disappeared five months ago while on holiday, as reported in this newspaper. Phil Pearce, from Bridgwater, vanished after leaving a police station in Benidorm during the early hours of September 10 last year. Son Lee confirmed the tragic news through a public statement on social media. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
2 LOCAL NEWS
British man arrested in cigarette factory raid was on the run from UK
Local News By Scott Taylor
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ne of the British men arrested in a raid carried out on an illegal tobacco factory last week
was an escaped convict from Yorkshire, authorities have said. Daniel Dobbs, from Malton in North Yorkshire, was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in January 2014 after
he was convicted of trafficking heroin and amphetamines. He was arrested by Guardia Civil as part of a raid carried out on the illegal factory which could produce 3500 illegal cigarettes an hour.
Number of coronavirus cases rises in Spain to Seventeen Local News By Scott Taylor
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in Barcelona. A 22-year-old woman from Tenerife who had recently been to Milan has also tested positive for the virus.
he number of Covid-19 cases reported in Spain has risen One of those in Madrid is currently in in the last 24-hours to seven- a serious condition in hospital. teen – including two already discharged after undergoing treatTwelve of the 15 cases of coronavirus ment. that have been confirmed in Spain Two people were diagnosed in are understood to have originated in Madrid, one in Valencia and one Italy.
THE LEGAL STUFF NOMBRE DE LA EDICIÓN: The British Gazette
EDITOR: C Taylor
NUMERO Y FECHA DE EDICIÓN:
February 2020
DEPÓSITO LEGAL:
A449-2014
EDITADO EN ESPAÑA:
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Body of Grandad found Local News By Front Page CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 He said: “With our saddest regrets we can confirm that our dad Phil Pearce has been found deceased in Benidorm. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everybody for the support you have given to our family.” He added: “Can I please ask that our family is left to grieve at this very sad and very hard time.” His father was last seen when he was taken by a concerned member of the public to a police station. Missing posters put up around the time the 68-yearold went missing described him as “friendly but confused and disorientated". He was said to have been drinking in the Rambo bar in Benidorm’s old town the night he vanished. His family had previously said Phil had early onset dementia and suffered from memory loss. He went missing during a period of storms and flash floods in the area, although it is not believed to have been raining heavily in the Spanish resort on the night
he disappeared. In January, his family criticised Spanish police over their failure to release CCTV showing him leaving the police station. Lee said he had been told he must go to court to obtain the footage. The BBC quoted him as saying: “Spanish police have been a big let-down. “They have told me data protection rules mean we can’t get the CCTV. They say we need to go to court. “ Avon & Somerset Police have been brilliant, and have helped us since day one, but the Spanish police have put the phone down on them and haven’t replied to their emails.” No further details of the death have so far been released.
Tributes paid after railway worker dies in bridge fall Local News By Scott Taylor
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ributes have been paid to a railway worker who died on Saturday after falling off of a bridge in Calp.
The 41-year-old man died after he fell off a railway bridge in Mascarat. It’s understood he was taking photographic surveys of works recently completed in the area when the incident happened. Emergency services were called at around 11am on Saturday morning, however the man was declared dead at the scene.
4 LOCAL NEWS
Benidorm gets new types of road sign
Local News By Scott Taylor
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rivers in Benidorm have been introduced to a new type of speed warning sign on their travels, which provides feedback on drivers speed using smiling or frowning faces.
NEWS
The emoticon roadsign will give drivers a visual clue as to if they are driving at a safe speed or not.
LOCAL
The new sign was unveiled by José Ramón González de Zárate..
Benidorm star Crissy Rock quarantined amid health concerns on cruise
head straight to Australia and passengers on board will not leave until they arrive on February 18. The Benidorm star is hoping to return to the UK before filming commitments at the end of February.
Local News By Elise Jones
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Cunard Cruises released a statement, saying: "We are working around the clock with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Public Health England to implement control measures for our ships.
enidorm star Crissy Rock is being quarantined onboard her honeymoon cruise ship over fears of a coronavirus outbreak. She is being held in quarantine onboard the Queen Mary 2 cruise ship. The actress hasn't been able to leave the ship as it has been banned from docking at several ports over fears of a coronavirus outbreak. The Benidorm star was set to enjoy her honeymoon on the luxury vessel, Queen Mary 2, after boarding in Dubai on January 31. Crissy took off on the cruise ship, to celebrate her 2018 wedding to Julian Buck. However, things soon took a turn for the worse as she
hasn't been able to leave the "We hope everyon e on board returns safely inship since boarding. cluding Crissy, who's been reSpeaking to the Mirror Online, ally worried." a representative for Ms Rock said the star has been "really The luxury cruise trip was expected to dock in Malaysia, worried". Singapore, Hong Kong, VietHer manager said: "We can nam and Phuket. confirm Crissy Rock is on the Queen Mary 2. "Crissy boarded However, since the coronavirus the ship in Dubai on January outbreak has spread to some 31st and has been on the ves- of the planned destinations, the cruise will skip these locasel since. tions in what the company de"The ship has been unable to scried as a “vital” measure. dock due to locations on the schedule being hit by the coro- According to MailOnline, the navirus outbreak. huge liner is now expected to
"Due to this, we've had to make changes (though we appreciate this is disappointing, but unfortunately vital) to the itinerary." The quarantine comes after Dr Paweł Grzesiowski, an immunologist from the Medical Centre of Postgraduate Education in Warsaw, Poland, warned the Chinese epidemic could go international. Since the virus first emerged in China’s Wuhan City, Hubei Province, nearly 30 other countries have confirmed coronavirus infections.
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6 LOCAL NEWS Increase in budget allocated for collection of waste and keeping Benidorm clean
Clamp down on Benidorm motorhome parking
Local News By Charlotte Taylor Local News By Charlotte Taylor
LOCAL
NEWS
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t has been reported that there has been an increase in the annual budget allocated for the collection of waste and keeping Benidorm’s streets clean.
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The budget has been in- brand new replacement creased by approximate- vehicles. ly 1.8 million euros. The contracted service will The work carried out by continue with the coma contracted company pany in situ, although the across the town, will see contract had ceased, they repair work carried out will continue to provide on rubbish collection the current planned servicand street cleaning ve- es outlined. hicles and also introduce
n area of land located along Avenida de Ciudad Real in the Rincon de Loix saw many motorhome users access the land and use the facility to park their vehicles. As some of the vehicles moved on, the local council issued notices to those that were still located and using the area advising them to park in permitted motorhome parking areas and to contact the nearby tourist information office. The area along the Avenida de Ciudad Real is not permitted for the parking of motorhome vehicles and is surrounded by many local campsites. The regulations identify that across Benidorm ‘housing vehicles’ used for camping are only permitted in authorized campsites.
La Nucia to host 2020 under 19s
Local News By Charlotte Taylor
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t has been announced that the football Under 19 Elite Tournament will be held at La Nucia’s Estadio Olimpico Camilo Cano Stadium. The tournament will see Spain’s Under 19’s squad play at the stadium in the qualifying rounds for the 2021 Under 19’s European Championship. The under 19’s national team are reportedly set to play Belgium, Bulgaria and Macedonia throughout the month of March 2020.
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8 LOCAL NEWS
No wonder we love this country! Local News By Elise Jones
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aybe it’s something in the gazpacho or paella, but Spain has just surpassed Italy to become the world’s healthiest country.
NEWS
That’s according to the latest edition of the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index, which ranks 169 economies according to factors that contribute to overall health. Spain placed sixth in the previous gauge, published in 2017.
LOCAL
Four additional European nations were placed among the top 10: Iceland (third place), Switzerland (fifth), Sweden (sixth) and Norway (ninth). Japan was the healthiest Asian nation,
jumping three places from the 2017 survey into fourth and replacing Singapore, which dropped to eighth. Australia and Israel rounded out the top 10 at seventh and 10th place.
ton’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
"Primary care is essentially provided by public providers,
The index grades nations based on variables including life expectancy while imposing penalties on risks such as tobacco use and obesity. It also takes into consideration environmental factors including access to clean water and sanitation. Spain has the highest life expectancy at birth among European Union nations, and trails only Japan and Switzerland globally, United Nations data show. Spain by 2040 is forecast to have the highest lifespan, at almost 86 years, followed by Japan, Singapore specialized family doctors and and Switzerland, according staff nurses, who provide preto the University of Washing- ventive services to children,
Government launches Brexit helpline
Local News By Scott Taylor
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he Spanish Government have launched a new service for British residents living in Spain, and Spanish residents living in the UK, who have concerns about Brexit. The new telephone service will provide updates from the Spanish embassy in London. Those with questions or concerns can call 91 836 2248 Monday to Thursday 9 – 4 UK time, and 9 – 2 on Friday UK time.
women and elderly patients, and acute and chronic care," according to the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies 2018 review of Spain, noting a decline the past decade in cardiovascular diseases and deaths from cancer. Researchers say eating habits may provide clues to health levels enjoyed by Spain and Italy, as a “Mediterranean diet, supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or nuts, had a lower rate of major cardiovascular events than those assigned to a reduced-fat diet,” according to a study led by the University of Navarra Medical School. Meanwhile in North America, Canada’s 16th-place ranking far surpassed the U.S. and Mexico, both of which dropped slightly to 35th and 53rd. Life expectancy in the U.S. has been trending lower due to deaths from drug overdoses and suicides. The UK took 19th place in the survey.
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EAT & DRINK FOOD & DRINK
10 FOOD & DRINK
Eating Out By Scott Taylor
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here’s nothing we like to do more than finding a spot on a terrace to share a drink and something to eat in good company. If it’s something we enjoy in our own town, on holiday in a new town it feels twice as good. If you are reading this article it’s because you have already booked your holiday in Benidorm or are thinking of doing so, maybe looking for terraces, bars or restaurants that meet your expectations.
refreshing drink whilst overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Eat around the Castle area of Benidorm One of the most attractive corners of Benidorm is the area of ‘ El Castillo’, also called the Mediterranean Balcony. The essence of Mediterranean coastal town can be felt more here than from any other point in the town. Sitting on a terrace in this place is one of the most pleasant experiences, where you can listen to the sea and feel the cool sea breeze whilst contemplating the Benidorm skyline, both Levante and Poniente.
Well you’ve found the best place for it, , the town of skyscrapers has a great selection prepared to satisfy all tastes and meet your needs in each area. Do you need recommendations for bars in Benidorm? Do you want to know about some of the best terraces in Benidorm? Are you looking for restaurants in Benidorm? Keep reading!
Where to eat in La Cala of Benidorm and La Cala of Finestrat The Cala of Benidorm is one of the quietest areas of the town. For this reason a lot of the Benidorm locals go there to enjoy long days at the beach. As well as the beach many people visit to enjoy the good restaurants that the area has to offer
Eating on the Levante Beach Benidorm
Eating out in the Old Town
The Levante beach seafront is one of the busiest areas when the sun is up high and also when it goes down.
In Benidorm Old Town, the more you walk the more options you are going to find. . El Paseo de la Carretera, la calle Alameda y Martínez Alejos and the streets that lead from them are where you can find most atmosphere.
On an evening, the discos that are on the seafront, open their terraces and you can enjoy a
THE BRITISH GAZETTE 11
The History of Pizza
Eating Out By Scott Taylor
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ne of the most popular dishes in the world today is without a doubt a pizza. Its long history spans centuries and millennia's, unifying the countries of Europe and later on continents and entire world. As we look further back to the past we can see the origins of the pizza in the 1st century BC as a sort of flattened bread that was used by several European civilizations. The first major breakthrough in the history of pizza happened in 16th century with the arrival of tomatoes from the New World. Often thought as a poor man's vegetable, sauces made from potato soon became integral part of the Italian pizza and which later spread across the entire world. The earliest known home of ancient pizza comes from the island of Sicily, where archeologist found remains of the 3000 years old flattened breads and tool for their manufacture. The similar kind of dishes papered in the surrounding European areas in the following centuries. One of the earliest mentioning's of pizza came from the historical writings of the Darius, the Great conquest of Europe. It mentions the habit of his soldiers to bake flattened bread on their shields, which were later covered with cheese and dates. Roman Empire and especially the area around the Naples and Pompeii were famous for their use of pizzas as everyday meals. There are several historical writings from those times that mention their skill in making flattened breads that were afterward seasoned with various toppings. The most famous mention of pizza from that period was one in poet Virgil poem The Aeneid". The volcano disaster that stoke Roman city of Pompeii left immeasurable amount of important archeological artifact for the modern historians. Among the ruins of the preserved city, archeologist found many signs that proved the common existence of pizzas in Roman Empire - street stands where pizza was sold, bakeries where they were made and even equipment that baker used. The other parts of Eu-
rope continued to make variations of flattened bread dishes, with many of them surviving even to today (coca from Catalonia and Valencia, Greek Pita, Turkish Pide, Lepinja or Solmun in Balkans). The moment whitch solidified popularity of Pizza in Italy happened in 1889, when famous Naples pizza chef Raffaele Esposito made three pizzas for Umberto I King of Italy and his wife Queen Margherita di Savoia. His successful pizza presentation made his designs part of an Italian food culture, and consummation of pizza continued to spread across Italy. America became acquainted with pizzas in late 19th century, when many Italians colonized several US cities. Concentrated Italian presence in Chicago, New York City, and Philadelphia became one of the first areas where pizza was sold in United States.
12 FOOD & DRINK cream, which we topped with strawberry jam and the individual homemade light and fluffy cream sponge cakes topped with fresh fruit. Daringly delicious we all thoroughly enjoyed the array of tasty food served at It’s a Piece of Cake afternoon tea, with charming presentation and fantastic service.
EAT & DRINK FOOD & DRINK
FOOD REVIEW 1 PIECE OF CAKE LA CALA AFTERNOON TEA MENU
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his month my family and I visited It’s a Piece of Cake located just out of Benidorm in the beautiful setting of La Cala Bay.
fully set table.
My Husband and I enjoyed a glass of cava, as the piping hot pots of tea were served, along with homemade tea We were all looking forward pot shaped delicious shortto visiting the eatery on a bread biscuits. fantastic sunny February afternoon for their renowned As we chatted over our tea and biscuits an impressive afternoon tea.
were eager to tuck into. We enjoyed petite quiches, and sausage rolls with light and crispy pastry along with a selection of fresh sandwiches loaded with tasty traditional sandwich fillings.
The eatery offers a full menu alongside their well-known homemade sweet treats. You can enjoy breakfast options including build your own breakfast, light bites to hearty main meals including traditional Sunday roasts. Linda and Connie also welcome you to their ‘Sing – a -long Sunday’
where you can enjoy an afternoon of great food and of course drinks including their
My children were thrilled with the selection of delightful
tempting cocktail menu, selection of ‘G and Tea’ with a selection of traditional and flavoured gins served in a teapot and jugs of sangria.
We were all greeted with a warm welcome from Linda and Connie on our arrival and were seated at a delight-
three-tiered cake stand was served loaded with delightful cakes, sandwiches and pastries that my family and I
sweet treats, that looked and tasted delicious, alongside piping hot cups of English tea. We all tucked into the homemade scones, oozing with
We thoroughly enjoyed our family afternoon at It’s a Piece of Cake and will definitely be returning again soon, call by and visit the team at Avenida Marina Baixa 3, Local 2, La Cala, see their advert in the British Gazette and take a look on social media at ‘It’s a Piece of Cake’ on their Facebook page.
THE BRITISH GAZETTE 13
Top Spanish Foods to try in Benidorm
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ome of the most famous chefs in the world hail from Spain. There are restaurants in the Basque Country and Catalonia which you have to book a year, rather than a month in advance. But posh nosh aside, discover the top ten traditional Spanish foods to try in Benidorm Patatas Bravas Whilst the Spanish are keen on spices, they're not so hot for spicy food. One of the few exceptions to the rule is this famous Spanish dish and nationwide favourite, patatas bravas. Here a fiery red sauce, varying in composition from province to province, accompanies humble spuds which have been peeled, cubed, and fried. Paella One of the most famous Spanish dishes is, of course, paella. For an authentic paella, visit Valencia, it was here in the mid-19th century, on the shores of Lake Albufera, that the dish was born. In a Valencian paella, the key ingredients are chicken and
rabbit although the seafood versions are considered traditional in more coastal areas. Gazpacho Nothing cools you down more on a hot summers day, aside from a cold shower than a starter of this chilled soup. Which explains why this Spanish dish hails from mainland Spain's most southerly region, Andalucia. Combining pestle-and-mortared cucumber, garlic, onion, pepper, and tomato with olive oil, salt, water and wine vinegar, the gazpacho receives a happy finish of chopped cucumber, onion, pepper, and tomato.
Calamari There is an argument that anything tastes good deep-fried. What is beyond doubt is the scrumptious crunchmeets-chewy gastronomic experience of battered squid. Especially when doused in freshly-squeezed lemon.
Tortilla Española Another traditional Spanish tapas dish, Spanish omelette, is nothing like the version which used to appear in British kitchens with judicious use of chunky pepper. Tortilla Española is also known as "tortilla de patatas" where pre-fried potatoes are the main ingredients after eggs. Chopped onion is Jamón Ibérico sometimes added to the Walk into any bar, let recipe which often sparks alone restaurant, in any controversial conversapart of Spain and you'll tions with Spaniards. always see a leg of ham. One of the bar staff will, Chorizo on request, slice the You'll certainly know ham into succulent slic- when you've sampled this es to create one of the traditional Spanish dish, country's most distinc- as the taste lingers forsetive taste sensations. A veral hours after you eat popular Spanish tapas this spicy and sweet saudish, Spain produces sage. Especially as whoa massive 40 million ever's made it would have hams a year. probably gone heavy on the garlic.
14 FOOD & DRINK your perfect tortilla wrap. There were helpings of grated mixed cheese, fiery salsa, guacamole, sour cream, jalapenos to spice up dish and even a portion of chilli to add to the wraps. These really are the best fajita wraps I’ve eaten here in Benidorm!
EAT & DRINK FOOD & DRINK
FOOD REVIEW 2 SGT PEPPERS BENIDORM
My Husband and I were also served a sharing plate of Sgt Peppers succulent bbq ribs, where the tender meat fell from the bone in a delicious sticky sauce. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals; in fact we struggled to finish the very generous portions of food and had no room left for dessert.
on the spacious terrace were tucking into their meals and drinks. Our meals were served, and what can we say……they looked amazing!
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his month my Husband and I enjoyed an afternoon lunch date at Sgt Peppers Bar and Grill, located just off Avenida del Mediterraneo, along Avenida Filipinas the road that leads through to Levante Beach. This was our first visit to the eatery and were looking forward to sampling some fantastic dishes from their menu.
There really is something for everyone here on the menu at Sgt Peppers from a selection of salads, club sandwiches, wraps and paninis, a selection of ‘big’ burgers and hot dogs, tex mex dishes, house favourites and of course their renowned grill dishes. There are dishes that can be adapted to suit every diners taste, and for the little ones there are a variety of dishes
My Husband’s dish was a large slate platter, loaded with a succulent sirloin steak cooked to perfection, well done as he had ordered, crispy cooked chips and onion rings, a portion
We thoroughly enjoyed our meals here at Sgt Peppers of creamy coleslaw and a fresh crisp side salad. There was also a fiery peppercorn sauce to accompany the piece of quality meat. The faijtas that I had ordered were also of great portion size, a large sizzling serving platter of succulent strips of chicken breast, mixed with wedges of peppers and onions in a smoky tex mex sauce.
We were greeted with a warm welcome from Elena when we arrived and decided on sitting inside the establishment as the late afternoon winter weather is a little colder now here in Benidorm.
If you can find room for dessert however, you can tuck into Sgt Peppers sweet things including a warm Alabama chocolate fudge cake and ultimate malted brownie.
and will certainly be returning with our family soon. The team will ensure that you have a great dining experi
to choose from on the children’s menu. My Husband decided on ordering a steak from the grill, whist I ordered the chicken fajitas.
We chatted away whist we Our drinks order was taken awaited our food, in a great promptly as we looked over relaxed environment, music was playing and people both the extensive grill menu. inside the restaurant and out
To accompany the chicken was fresh tortillas and a great selection of toppings to make
ence whilst enjoying excellent quality food and drink in the heart of Benidorm.
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16 FOOD & DRINK
THE BRITISH GAZETTE 17
The Great British Sunday Roast from Afganistan? Eating Out By Scott Taylor
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n Benidorm you can get a Sunday dinner every day of the week and It's been a British way of life for as long as most of us can remember and is one of the nation's favourite foods, appearing on top of countless top ten lists. But hardly any of the elements which make up a Sunday roast originated in Britain.
Previously known as ‘dripping pudding’, Yorkshires were once cooked underneath the meat roasting on a spit in order to capture the valuable and tasty juices dripping from the joint.
The pudding would pack out a meal in times when meat was expensive and there wasn’t much to go around. We assume that carrots were always orange but according to the graphic, carrots, which originated in Afghanistan 5,000 years ago, were almost all purple.
We tuck into carrots from Afghanistan, green beans which were first cultivated in Peru, and potatoes, now a firm fixture in a Sunday roast, were shunned when they first made their appearance in Britain
Seventeenth century Dutch growers took mutant strains of the carrot and in tribute to William of Orange, leader of the struggle for Dutch independence at the time, developed them into the orange varieties we grow and eat today .
First we look at green beans, which originated in Peru were first spread throughout southern and Central America by migrating Indian tribes.
Another commonplace vegetables which appears on the graphic is broccoli.
Spanish explorers stumbled upon them during their travels in the new world in the 16th century and shipped them back to Europe on long voyages.
Native to the Mediterranean, broccoli was originally engineered from cabbage in ancient Roman times in Italy, where it became very popular,
They then continued their journey to English shores in the packs of Spanish and Portugese traders, where they were eventually cultivated.
In contrast the vegetable remained relatively unknown in England until the 1700s when it was finally discovered and nicknamed Italian asparagus.
When it comes to the protein on our plate, all modern day cows are descended from a single herd of wild ox, which roamed across Europe and Asia 10,500 years ago.
And while we can't imagine a roast dinner without crispy roast potatoes, we Brits didn't really take to spuds when they first arrived on our shores.
Britain’s love of beef began during the reign of King Henry VII in 1485.
Potatoes were first cultivated by the Inca Indians around 5000 BC and were brought to Europe in 1536 by the Spanish when they conquered Peru.
The King’s royal guards would dine on roasted beef every Sunday after church. This then lead them to be known as Beefeaters. This tradition then spread to the population, who would drop off their beef at the local bakers on their way to church to be roasted until they returned. And while Yorkshire pudding is now a firm fixture on the main plate, it was originally served as an appetiser with gravy.
However in England potatoes were extremely unpopular and regarded with distaste. It wasn’t until 1795, when the ruling classes realised their potential to solve food shortages did they start to become popular. A huge campaign was launched by the Board of Agriculture to encourage the working classes to adopt them into their meals and potatoes
soon became a staple ingredient, where The Germans named them meerretthey still remain to this day. tich (sea radish) which then the British mispronounced as mareradish, which Horseradishes have long been treasured in turn led to what we call them today. for both their flavour and their health benefits, with many using them to treat By the late 17th century, horseradish conditions such as rheumatism and even was the standard accompaniment for act as an aphrodisiac. beef in England, with inns and coach stations growing them in large quanThe modern day horseradish can be tities to make cordials which would be traced back to central Europe where they drunk by exhausted travellers. were commonly found growing next to the sea.
18 THE BRITISH GAZETTE
Fraudster arrested in Benidorm
Local News By Charlotte Taylor
THE BRITISH GAZETTE 19
house key.
They entered the house and stole from the victim’s home, before travelling to n individual has been arrested Benidorm and using the stolen idenin Benidorm after they broke tity card attempted to withdraw cash into a vehicle located in the lo- from a bank. cal neighbouring town of Villajoysa. Agents of Judicial Police of Benidorm The individual of Spanish national- successfully carried out the arrest of ity allegedly broke into the vehicle the individual after using a tool to disand took the owners national iden- tinguish the location of the bank they tity card – D.N.I Card along with their accessed with the stolen identification.
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Carnival time in Benidorm
Local News By Charlotte Taylor
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aturday 22nd February saw the beginning of Benidorm celebrating this year’s carnival fiesta in style! As the festivities began
in the Old Town of Benidorm, over 700 people donned fantastic, vibrant eye-catching costumes, for the first parade of the day. The initial children’s parade passed through the neighbouring streets lined with spectators engaging in the celebrations, along to the Plaza de Los Majestades los Reyes de Espana.
The carnival celebrations saw prizes awarded after the parade for the best attire amongst individuals and groups enjoying the fun filled morning. Festivities continued into the evening, at 21.00 the adults took to the streets wearing incredible cos-
tumes and paraded through the streets, revelling in the party atmosphere where they also concluded at the Plaza de Los Majestades los Reyes de Espana. A fantastic day here in Benidorm celebrating Carnival 2020.
20 LA CALA & FINESTRAT NEWS
Visiting Finestrat Village & La Cala Local News By News Desk
EAT & DRINK LA CALA & FINESTRAT
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he village of Finestrat and the beachside resort of Cala Finestrat are both located in the Marina Baixa region on the Costa Blanca, close to neighbouring Benidorm and around 40 kilometres from the city of Alicante and its International Airport. The village nestles on the mountainside of Puig Campana affording wonderful views to the mountains and out to the coast and Mediterranean. The charming village has a typical Moorish feel, with colourfully painted houses and narrow cobbled streets. Cala Finestrat on the other hand has increasingly become more and more popular and its development has made it almost an extension to Benidorm itself. Finestrat Village The village of Finestrat has retained much of its old school charm, with its Moorish feel and ancient monuments, including the 13th century Castell (Castle) de Finestrat, the 18th century Church of Saint Bartholomew, La Torre (the watch tower) and the Hermitage Crist de Remei. There is a scattering of bars and restaurants servicing typical Mediterranean and British cuisine and a few shops and amenities. Check out some of our advertisers while you are visiting this amazing village. La Cala Finestrat Cala Finestrat is a beach resort located just three kilometres away from busy Benidorm. The resort offers adequate amenities and facilities, a good selection of restaurants, bars and shops that you can find here in this section. Cala Finestrat is suitable for families and couples looking for a relaxed beach resort, yet close to lots of activities and amenities should you desire. During the summer months an arts and crafts market is held on the promenade dur-
ing the afternoon. Beaches The beach of La Cala is fairly quiet, as most wanting a more upbeat atmosphere head to the beaches surrounding Benidorm. The beach is a clean sweep of golden sand, ideal for children and safe for bathing. There are some delightful restaurants set along the promenade. Places to visit
Neighbouring Benidorm offers a vibrant and pulsating nightlife and excellent shopping facilities and the wonderful, cultural city of Alicante is just 40 kilometres away.
a round or two of golf during your holiday, you will be content at Finestrat, with the Real Faula golf club close by, which offers two excellent courses.
The Terra Mitica and Terra Natura theme parks, Aqualandia water park and Mundomar marine and exotic animal park are close by and all offer a fun day out for the whole family.
Both Finestrat and Cala Finestrat are relaxed destinations compared to some of their neighbouring resorts. Both offer a selection of local bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy good cuisine and a relaxed atmosphere.
If you are looking to enjoy
Eating out and nightlife
THE BRITISH GAZETTE 21
Tavern moves from Benidorm to La Cala Bay Local News By Charlotte Taylor
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ocated in the idyllic setting of La Cala Bay you will find the recently opened The Tavern. The establishment is located just 15 metres from the beautiful beach front of La Cala in the heart of the bay and offers a fantastic eating and dining experience on one of the best terraces in the area. The team at The Tavern in La Cala have relocated from the extremely popular Music Tavern Benidorm and now offer
a fantastic menu of home cooked food and drinks including a new children’s menu and gluten free options here in La Cala. The team will ensure you enjoy your meal in a perfect setting, relaxing on their large sunny terrace overlooking the beach. You can find all live sporting events shown here across their four large screens, in the heart of La Cala Bay. Located just out of Benidorm you can find The Tavern situated in the stunning La Cala Bay, and be sure to follow them on Facebook at The Tavern for updates on all sporting events being shown, premium and local drinks offers coupled with fabulous food.
Serena's- Finestrat's hidden gem
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erena’s café bar is located in the picturesque village of Finestrat, where you can enjoy fantastic food and drink. Owners John and Jacqueline ensure you receive a warm welcome to the establishment, offering a delicious home cooked menu including a range of tasty burgers, a selection of tex mex nachos, every Friday is ‘Fishy Friday’ with Serena’s scrumptious fish and chips and they offer the best Sunday lunches in town. With a large range of drinks on offer including draught, bottles and cocktails why not enjoy a cold pint of draught Guiness whilst watching the Rugby Six Nations, visit Serenas for their popular Quiz Night or enjoy a catch up with friends and
family over a game of pool. Serenas is definitely the place to vis-
it here in Finestrat, call by and see John and Jacqueline at Serenas located along Calle Puig Campana Fin-
estrat and follow them on Facebook at Bar Serenas Finestrat for updates and great deals on food and drink.
22 LOCAL NEWS
NEWS
Local News By Phil Watson
Benidorm fake holiday rental A arrests
Tenerife hotel in lock-down after guest tests positive for Coronavirus
sons.
LOCAL
Once the victims agreed the rental and payment amount of the alleged holiday properties, they were provided with an online account number, where the funds were distributed to the pre-paid scam cards. To keep the operation undercover and not to appear suspicious the group used individuals who would use the cards at local cash points to withdraw and make purchases across local shops. The individuals were paid for their assistance.
Local News By Charlotte Taylor
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gents of the National Police of Benidorm have carried out arrests of a group who were operating fake holiday rental properties across Benidorm and scammed
more than 220,00 Euros from unsuspecting victims who had paid to use the fabricated rentals. The group of five people arrested operated via the internet, advertising the fake holiday rental properties and fraudulently used identification of other per-
It was when the guests arrived in Benidorm for their bookings that they found that these false holiday properties were not accessible, and they could not gain any contact with the people who they had booked the rental with. The operation revealed more that 100 people booked via this system, and around 20 people had their identification fraudulently used.
hotel with over 1000 guests is in lock down after one visitor tested positive for Coronavirus. The hotel – the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel – has been placed in quarantine, with the patient taken to the University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria. The mayor of Adeje, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, has appealed for calm. In a statement he also asked for people to follow official news sources and their updates on social media. According to health authorities, a man staying at the hotel – believed to be a doctor from Italy – has tested positive for the virus. Health officials are conducting tests on those who are staying at the hotel. It’s understood guests are being told to remain in their rooms.
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24 NATIONAL NEWS
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Two Policia Nacional officers hailed heroes
emergency in Valencia on Monday, where they found the baby was not breathing and suffering from cardiac arrest. The pair immediately performed CPR on the infant and called wo Policia Nacional officers for emergency support. have been hailed a hero after saving the life of a two-month- After twenty minutes the child was old baby that had stopped breath- rushed to hospital where it had reing. gained consciousness and is now understood to be in a serious but stable Officers were alerted to a medical condition.
Local News By News Desk
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Police arrest woman in connection with abandoned baby Local News By Scott Taylor
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olicia Nacional have arrested a 35-year-old woman in connection with the discovery of an abandoned newborn baby. The infant was discovered wrapped in
several layers of clothing and inside an open bag in a doorway in Orihuela ten days ago. Officers conducted door to door enquiries before discovering the mother and providing her medical help. The baby is understood to be fit and healthy despite the incident.
28 LIFESTYLE NEWS
Local News By Phil Watson
This Centuries-Old Skincare Ingredient Could Help Shrink Your Breakout Local News By Lifestyle News Desk
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LIFESTYLE
hen a zit takes up residence on our face, we tend to rush towards the best and fastest path to clear it up, open to new products and treatments in the name of restoring a clear complexion. Though, sometimes we'll learn that a trusty method has been sitting right under our noses—and has been for ages. calamine lotion. If you’ve ever used the thick pink cream, you likely associate it with remedying mosquito bites and rashes from poison ivy. The anti-inflammatory properties that make it a go-to for itchy bumps has transitioned into it sometimes being recommended for acne, too. But does it actually work? We asked top dermatologists to weigh in on using calamine lotion as a spot treatment. But First—What Is Calamine Lotion? The formula is actually quite simple—and a true skincare O.G. “Calamine lotion is a combination of zinc oxide (the same stuff found in diaper creams and sunscreen) and iron oxide (used to stop itching),” explains New York
City-based board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein. It imparts a cooling sensation as it dries, helping to soothe irritated skin even further. Does Calamine Lotion Treat Acne? Dermatologists won't recommend calamine lotion as a first, second, or third line of defense (or reactive treatment) against acne, but they say it likely won’t hurt either. But in today's skincare landscape, there are simply better options. Let’s dive in. Though calamine lotion is drying—a hallmark of spot treatments—dermatologists are quick to point out that it won’t proactively address any of the underlying causes of acne, which are often “hormonal with a combination of inflammation, [P. acnes] bacteria, and clogging of pores,” Marchbein says.
and medications that we do now, so people used calamine on everything,” Rabach says of the cream’s illustrious history. “It really doesn’t work as well as other over-the-counter medications that are readily available for acne like salPast generational use of cala- icylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, mine lotion on acne may have and retinols. been more so out of convenience than efficacy. Calamine Calamine for Inflammation lotion dates back centuries—in fact, according to New York While calamine lotion might City-based board-certified der- not address the root causes of matologist, Morgan Rabach acne, it could potentially treat of LM Medical, the "old school the symptoms of a blemish salve was one of the earliest (read: redness and a raised creams we had for the skin," bump). she explains. "Back then, we didn’t have all the good creams “There are reports of cala-
Using Calamine Lotion as a Spot Treatment
Rabach mirrors these sentiments: “Zinc oxide has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and may be helpful in calamine if applied on active pimples (ones that are inflamed and filled with pus),” she notes, but it’s simply not as scientifically effective as other over-the-counter medications, so it’s best reserved as a last resort .
Still, it’s worth keeping a bottle of the old-school pink potion around. “Calamine can help dry out itchy blistering skin disorders like insect bites, bee stings, jellyfish stings, poison ivy, poison oak and chicken pox,” explains Rabach. So while it might not reduce the lifespan of your pimple, it's a worthwhile mainstay for other skin issues.
If you do choose to try calamine lotion for acne, Zeichner recommends using it like a mask to spot-treat. Due to the telltale pink hue, it’s best used at home (but do as you please, of course). In terms of makeup application, though, unlike more modern spot treatments, this isn’t one you can pop your concealer right on top of, so we recommend applying before bedtime. If the pink, drying consistency of calamine lotion is making you think of popular spot treatments like Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion, you're right in that you'll find it in these bottles—however, these types of products also contain “a ton of other anti-inflammatory ingredients like sulfur, niacinamide, lycine, and vitamin E,” Marchbein says, explaining that it’s all of these ingredients together, not calamine alone, that make it such a beloved product.
mine lotion helping to treat acne," explains New York Citybased board-certified dermatologist, Joshua Zeichner. "It may be helpful in treating red, angry pimples because of its astringent properties in drying out the pimple itself." As a more effective measure, though, Zeichner recommends traditional acne treatments that contain ingredients like salicylic acid or Calamine Lotion For Minor benzoyl peroxide. Skin Irritations
29 How to Prevent Your Nail Polish From Cracking and Peeling
Local News By News Desk
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anicures—what's not to love? Well, for one, taking the time and spending the money to get a picture-perfect nail job, only for it to chip within days, if not minutes, of leaving the salon (or your bathroom if you opt for DIY). While gel manicures are much less likely to chip, and therefore offer a great option for those who want to extend the life of their manicure, there are also ways to stretch the duration of classic polish. Buff Your Nail Plate Before Applying Polish It’s important to buff your nail plate to make sure you have a smooth surface for the polish to adhere to. Uneven surfaces on your nails lends to cracks more easily. After buffing, prep by swiping your nails with polish remover prior to painting, even when not wearing polish—this ensures you don't have any residual oil on your nails, which can
cause polish to not fully adhere.
Avoid Excessive Water Contact Looking for an excuse not to do chores? Protecting your mani is it. We recommend someone else doing the cleaning, washing your dog, bathing your child, even washing your hair too often can lead to premature chips. Your nails (and second-day hair) will glow. If, however, you can't avoid your daily duties or simply perform them wearing gloves to keep the water from affecting your picture-perfect manicure. Always Use Basecoat and Topcoat While starting and ending with base and topcoat tacks extra time onto a manicure, they're important steps that shouldn't be skipped. Applying base and topcoat is critical to preventing chipping or cracking for a lasting manicure. Basecoat is what allows the coats to adhere to your nails and topcoat is what seals it all in. Its recommended reapplying your topcoat every other day to prevent your
nail polish from cracking.
Don't Let Your Polish Touch Your Cuticles Many people often apply topcoat messily thinking that it doesn’t matter because it is clear. "Au contraire! Topcoat needs to fully cover your polish to ensure your polish is protected from chips and scuffs. It should not, however, touch your cuticles. Getting topcoat on your cuticles can cause your polish to lift off of your nail (whether it’s regular polish or gel polish). At the end of the day, while it takes more time to paint carefully, remember that any polish that is not covered in topcoat will chip more easily. Use Polish and Topcoat from the Same Brand You are likely having a collection of polishes from all different brands. While that's all good and well, it’s important to use polishes and topcoats from the same brand. The two formulas are specifically formulated to work together to give you your longest lasting manicure. Therefore, if you buy a new polish
colour, make sure you have a coordinating topcoat from the range. Otherwise it's like wearing two different socks—fine, but not ideal.
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'Fear of heights' claim exposed after riding Benidorm waterslide down the 108ft Verti-Go in Benidorm, Spain. Bardsley had brought a claim against Warrington Koi & Aquatics at Manchester County Court following the accident in July 2015 while the firm was digging the pond. As he inspected the work, Bardsley was struck by the bucket of the digger and was knocked into the pond.
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bodybuilder is facing a £14,000 legal bill after he
claimed an accident left him with a fear of heights - but was later filmed riding Europe’s tallest waterslide.
port, said falling into a koi carp pond in his back garden left him with vertigo but his personal injury claim was exposed when video footage Ben Bardsley, 38, from Stock- emerged of him careering
He also said the accident had led to psychological problems and that he now had an anxiety of heights.
Local News By News Desk
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he antitrust watchdog announced that it was opening disciplinary proceedings against several property websites this week that are suspected of using their algorithms to fix prices. Seven companies, including Spain’s biggest property platform, Idealista SA, have been named in the investigation. The findings are expected to take up to 18 months to be produced. All of the named businesses deny any wrongdoing.
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