It looks as if the chiringuitos dispute has finally been settled, at least for the time being. Representatives of the Costa del Sol beach bars and the Government came to an agreement on Monday whereby no changes will be made to the chiringuitos' sardine and terrace areas, providing that these do not exceed 100 square metres. They will be allowed to stay open at least until the end of the year. Similarly, all the cases against beach bar owners for licence or space irregularities are to be reviewed.

"Closing down the restaurants and bringing everything to a halt on October 15th is to be a thing of the past," enthused the president of the business association for the sector, Miguel Arrabal.

The Central Government representative in Malaga, Hilario López Luna, explained that all cases against bar owners are to be reviewed, but warned that that did not necessarily mean that they would all be shelved. López Luna explained that beach bars which do not have an opening licence will be dealt with separately, with Juan Carlos Martín Fragueiro, Secretary General for the Sea, expected to propose a definitive solution for all of the bars in question in the region of Andalucía at the end of the month.