Is establishing a successful, thriving British bar/restaurant in a remote part of Spain a possibility? Buy two crumbling old farmhouses in a remote, rural part of Spain and open up as a British bar/restaurant? Are you mad?

These were just the thoughts running through the minds of John and Trish when a friend (and property developer) asked them to take time away from their well established busy, thriving bar/restaurant in the bustling town of Torrevieja, Alicante and drive out into the countryside of Murcia to view these properties.

John and Trish moved over to Spain in the years 1998 and 2000 respectively. Both disillusioned with life back in the UK, both decided to make the final break. Trish had previous worked as a Home Care Worker and John had worked as a sub contractor bricklayer and had had a Scaffolding and Plant Hire firm. His work had taken him all over the world: to Pakistan, Australia, Canada and he had spent thirteen years in Africa.  Unknown to each other at the time of moving to Spain, both started to settle into their new life abroad. Trish had opened a bar in Benidorm and John had bought a bar in Torrevieja. Their paths crossed one night in a bar in Benidorm and they have been together ever since.

Up until last year, they had established two successful bar/restaurants in the popular town of Torrevieja: The Underground and The Flower of Scotland and were quite settled into their life there: enjoying the lively atmosphere of the town and the hectic workload that their popular establishments brought with them.

In March 2005, Geoff, a friend (and property developer) approached John and Trish and asked them to take time away from their well established busy, thriving bar/restaurant and drive out into the country to view some old farmhouses that were on the market for sale which he thought would make an ideal bar/restaurant. Reluctantly, John and Trish agreed (they really were against the idea as they had no plans to sell up their existing business that they had worked so hard to establish). The old farmhouses (the two were joined together) were in a very poor state of repair. They were situated in a remote location - this was "real Spain" - bordering the nearby Sierra de la Pila nature reserve, surrounded by mountains, no immediate neighbours - just a few Spanish houses glimpsed in the distance.

After only one month of hard work reconfiguring the interior space, knocking down walls, laying new floors, putting in new kitchens, bathrooms, bars etc, etc, "The Celtic Cross," La Montañuela de la Peña, Jumilla, opened its doors to the public on the 15th April 2005. The bar restaurant now has a bar/lounge area, a separate dining room, an additional room (which usually turns into a dance floor on entertainment nights!), outside patio area (and accommodation is also available at the most competitive of prices!).

As to the reaction of the Spanish, John and Trish need not have worried. They have been "adopted" by the local Mayor and his family and are often invited to his home for fiestas, which include the killing of pigs and goats! John and Trish returned their generosity one evening and invited the Mayor and his family for supper - they turned up on the doorsteps with two goats as gifts!!! The neighbouring residents have also welcomed them into their community and are regular visitors to the bar. Some of the other gifts they have been given over the past months have been: Christmas Cake, Almond Cake, Wine (the more usual gifts) and Goat Bells, Pumpkin, Pure Alcohol and Lambs (the not so usual gifts!).