Interview With Costa Del Sol Legend Paul Hickling

Paul Hickling deserves a section successful nan history of nan Costa del Sol. He arrived astatine Puerto Banús successful nan 70s aboard his yacht for illustration an English pirate, pinch his family successful tow and a parrot connected his shoulder, and pinch small thought of what he would create. But he became portion of nan cement and mortar of a region that would spell connected to animate thousands of others.

Owner of nan much-loved and now legendary Roman Oasis successful Manilva, now that he has deed 80, he has decided to waste up. The business has transformed from a Roman-themed show to a boutique edifice to a highly successful edifice to a thriving organization hub and mini-golf time out.

More than half a cardinal group person been done nan edifice since 1983, erstwhile it each began, and a batch of celebrated faces. Chef Keith Floyd, Frank Carson, Freddy Star, Cilla Black, Bob Hoskins, Helen Shapiro, Robert Carlisle, Anni-Frid of ABBA, and nan database goes on.

“I came complete present erstwhile I was 33, sold my location successful England and bought a boat, and sailed present pinch my wife, 2 kids and a parrot, arriving successful Puerto Banús, not reasoning astir doing anything. After a mates of years, a business partner and I opened a soft barroom successful Puerto Banús. I had heard astir these Roman baths adjacent Manilva, truthful I took a friend from England to sojourn them. “Roman baths and a Roman theme! ” he said. “We could do Roman-themed nights. Gladiators and worldly for illustration that! “So, for illustration a mug, I bought nan land, and we started this madness.”

EWN: You achieved a large sanction for yourself. You person had a batch of celebrated faces here.

“Well, it was a complete disaster astatine first. I mislaid a batch of money successful nan first months because cipher came. We had to salary gladiators, occurrence eaters, knife-throwers… It was for illustration a Cecil B. DeMille spectacular! Who came? F***ing nobody! [He laughs.] I went from being successful nan nightclub pinch my Versace shirts and crocodile tegument shoes and drinking Dom Perignon to being for illustration Manuel pinch piles of plates up to my shoulders while I was trying to make it work, which I did, turning it into 1 of nan busiest restaurants connected nan coast. That was up until COVID. Just earlier nan pandemic, I had decided to retire. I was stuck present locked in, which was a bully spot to be. I looked complete and thought I’d build a small nine-hole play course. It turned into an 18-hole. After COVID, we opened arsenic a minigolf people pinch much casual dining, and this is nan 4th season, and it’s doing awesome business.”

Paul reflects connected his reasons for trading up. “I’ll ne'er extremity moving until it’s sold. Today, I americium sitting down. You’ll usually spot maine present up a character pinch a chainsaw aliases something. I emotion doing everything, but connected nan different hand, I’m 80.”

EWN: How overmuch are you trading for?

“It’s connected nan marketplace for conscionable nether €3 million.” The tract is huge, fenced-off 30,000m2 of earthy beauty pinch a 4-bedroom Roman-style villa pinch an interior terrace, jacuzzi, rooftop swimming pool, tremendous kitchen, and nan bequest of cook Keith Floyd, who spent his past days penning his last book here.

As a business, it continues to grow. About 60 per cent of each customers are new, and nan remainder are religious regulars. “It’s a daytime business mostly. “We don’t person arsenic galore precocious nights for illustration we did pinch nan restaurant,” he tells me.

EWN: I ideate you’ve seen spectacular changes to nan Costa del Sol.

Paul: “I first came erstwhile I was a kid, pinch my dad. We flew into Gibraltar, and it took america much than 3 hours to thrust to Torremolinos. All Torremolinos was backmost past was 2 streets and a square, and location was thing betwixt location and Benalmadena. When I came backmost successful ’78, location were nary supermarkets, hardly immoderate roads. I had a yacht successful Puerto Banús. Mooring was conscionable £1,000 a year. Now, it’s lovely, but it’s been blood, sweat and tears to get here.”

EWN: What would you for illustration to hap to nan property?

“I’d for illustration personification to bargain it and to transportation it connected arsenic a business. There are truthful galore different aspects to nan site, truthful galore opportunities. Or personification who wanted to enlarge nan location and make it into a hotel. Or personification who wants to do thing pinch horses. Or personification who’s very rich | wants to bargain it and person a small backstage play course.”

The nosy continues while Paul and his squad remain. Thomas Henry is performing astatine nan International Buffet connected Friday, August 15, from 8pm (booking via email to romanoasis@outlook.com – €25).

Paul Hickling’s status astatine 80 is an end-of-an-era moment, but his people and joyful banter will unrecorded connected successful nan history of nan Costa del Sol forevermore.

Roman Oasis is connected Camino los Baños, km 3, Manilva. Call: 711 06 87 00.