A British couple whose London food truck had to close due to the pandemic moved to Spain before Brexit travel rules came into effect due to the pandemic and have now opened two successful restaurants. He said he is doing so.
Chef Michael Roman, 39, from London, and his partner Gemma Williams, 36, from Bristol, were able to easily and quickly obtain residency while the UK was still part of the European Union. and moved to Sitges, a picturesque seaside resort south of London. Barcelona.
“After enjoying our travels here in 2019, we were planning to move to Spain in search of a new adventure. With the start of coronavirus restrictions in March 2020, we decided to settle down before Brexit. The decision to move was accelerated by the fact that I was aiming to obtain a residence permit in Spain,” Williams said. I.
“Michael is of Latin American descent, has experience in cooking Latin American cuisine, and had already run a successful Mexican street food business in the UK. So we used this experience to launch something similar in Spain. It was reproduced in
Her partner opened two food trucks in Chiswick in 2015, one serving Mexican food and the other Lebanese food. Although initially successful, both were forced to close in 2020 due to the pandemic's impact on foot traffic.
Six Seis, two restaurants serving Mediterranean-Mexican cuisine currently operating in Spain, are doing well and are popular with local and foreign customers.
The couple opened their first store in Sitges in 2022, followed by a second store in nearby Villanova in 2023.
The restaurant combines Mexican cuisine with California and Latin American influences, using premium local Catalan ingredients.
“Villanova is full every Friday and Saturday night, and the Sitges restaurant is always full in the summer,” said Williams, who previously worked as a medicines management technician in the NHS pharmacy department.
He says it's still difficult to say whether the business was more profitable than food trucks in London. Food trucks in London cannot be compared as there is a huge difference in running costs. But the couple warns that moving to a warm Mediterranean country for a fresh start is not an easy process.
“Living in Spain has its benefits, including a good climate, affordable food and wine, and the ability to embrace new cultures. We have built a wonderful life for ourselves here,” says Roman. says Mr. “But starting a business here has its challenges, including bureaucracy, language barriers and higher taxes compared to the UK.”
They spent time researching the region and market, increasing their hospitality training and, in Williams' case, learning the local language.
“Michael already spoke the language, but for those who don't, the system for obtaining a trading license, for example, is all online and can be confusing for someone like me who doesn't speak either Catalan or Castellano. ” she says.
It is said that starting a business in Spain comes with various challenges. “If you're self-employed in Spain, you have to pay taxes and social security months before you make any money,” says Williams.
But the couple insist this is natural and ensure there is strong welfare and health support for the unemployed and sick.
Before immigrating, they consulted a lawyer to guide them through the process. The couple currently have a five-year work and residence visa, which can be renewed in 2025.
They bought a three-bedroom detached house in the nearby mountains of Sant Pere de Ribes with enchanting views of Garraf Park for €140,000 (£120,000). Their two dogs came with them from London.
The couple say their adventure has been positive, but this is not the case for all Brits and people should think carefully before moving to Spain. “Both locations have their pros and cons,” Williams said.
