This new regulation could affect pubs and similar establishments in cities like Orihuela and Torrevieja, which exceed the established population threshold. The Ministry of Emergencies and Interior has drafted the text, which maintains current general hours but prohibits the combination of the two-hour extensions that these venues could previously request.
The project sets the general hours for cafes-theater, concert cafes, pubs, and karaoke bars between 00:00 and 03:30 AM. From there, municipalities can opt for a specific 30-minute extension (until 04:00 AM) or a general one-hour extension (until 04:30 AM), but not both simultaneously. The aim is to prevent these establishments from extending their activity until 05:00 AM, seeking to ensure neighborly rest.
The Ministry justifies the change by stating that the regulation's purpose is not to allow such late closing times. The extended hours can apply to the entire municipal area or specific zones and must be justified by circumstances such as local festivals, tourist influx, population characteristics, or noise control measures. This is particularly relevant for tourist municipalities like Torrevieja.
For towns with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants, the project establishes general hours from 00:00 to 04:00 AM for these establishments, differentiating treatment based on the municipality's size.
The rest of the sector's hours remain largely unchanged. Party rooms and nightclubs can operate from 5:00 PM to 7:30 AM, banquet halls will close at 03:30 AM, and lounge bars at 02:30 AM. Restaurants, bars, and cafes will have general hours from 06:30 AM to 01:30 AM, a group that now expressly includes horchaterias. Extraordinary extensions for special dates like New Year's Eve or Epiphany Eve are also maintained.
The new regulation project, which will replace the current order, is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
