British Connection

A grave in the main Huelva cemetery holds the body of a man who changed the course of the Second World War. The strange thing is, his identity is still debated.

Caroline Neele moved to Spain in her mid-twenties after marrying Antonio, the drummer of the popular sixties band Los Mustang. In her forties she moved to Andalusia and lived in San Pedro, Ronda and Aracena. She immersed herself in the local culture wherever she went.

Guy Hunter-Watts, walking expert and prolific author of walking guides who has led countless groups on walks through the breathtaking landscapes of Andalucia, has found his adopted home in Andalucia,

The founder of Cudeca, Joan Hunt, who died in 2021 at the age of 92, was one of the most inspirational pioneers in the field of palliative care in Southern Spain. She arrived in Málaga in 1984 with the idea of retiring with her husband, Fred, but unbeknown to her at that time, this would be the beginning of a new era for both Joan and the Costa del Sol.

For centuries, the allure of Andalucia, has transcended geographical boundaries. Its sun-drenched shores, vibrant culture, and captivating history have captivated hearts from across the globe, with the British holding a particularly noteworthy place in this enduring connection.

Described by the tabloids as 'indecently charming and deliciously wicked’, Shelagh Tennant, the ‘60s wild child noted for being the person who helped bring The Beatles to Spain, became one of the most important characters in the history of Torremolinos. The former model and owner of Shelagh's Bar - one of the first English pubs in Torremolinos – died in 2018, but she left a legacy that is still talked about in the town today.

The first interesting connection between John Lennon and Andalucía was his trip to Torremolinos with The Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, in the summer of 1963. They spent two weeks there on holiday together, partly because Torremolinos was more accepting of gay people like Epstein, than Liverpool was at the time.

Lady Mary Herbert de Powis was a remarkable women who led a long and interesting life. In 1727 she emigrated to Spain and, like many expats who followed her, the motivation was to seek new adventures.

Lord Byron's visit to Andalucia was brief, a matter of days, but the impact it left on him and the legacy he left behind were significant. In 1809, not long after leaving Cambridge, George Gordon, Lord Byron, arrived in the Iberian pennisula.

George Borrow is the epitome of the English eccentric traveller, a man who undertook the quixotic task of trying to sell Protestant bibles to a very Catholic Spain amidst the chaos and confusion of the nineteenth century Carlist Wars.

I met Don Lorenzo (aka Lawrence Bohme, English writer and former resident of Montefrio, a hilltop village in Granada province) on the Internet. That does not sound remarkable, but actually it was, taking into account that we're talking about way back in 1993.

Laurie Lee was a poet and novelist, best-known for his autobiographical trilogy Cider with Rosie (1959), As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning (1969), and A Moment of War (1991). The trilogy depicts Lee's boyhood in the country, his journey to London to seek his fortune, and his experiences in the Spanish Civil War.

His early childhood was spent in India and South Africa before he continued his formal education in England. Brenan initially attended Radley College and then the Military Academy at Sandhurst. Independently, he studied art, poetry, and philosophy with the help of John Hope-Johnstone.

Whilst many tourists come to Spain for the tapas, tinto de verano, chorizo, gambas al ajillo and the never-ending supply of fish and seafood, others do not have the palate for pescado. It is also not uncommon for an expat living in Andalucía to simply have a hankering for a taste of home, and especially during the cooler winter months, there is nothing better than a traditional English Sunday roast.

There is no reason why, when you're on holiday, you shouldn´t enjoy the same pleasures as at the weekend at home - aside from a cloudless sky and brilliant sunshine of course. On a Sunday morning, or any day for that matter, you can wake up with a craving for a full English breakfast - especially if you've had a big night out; a full English can seem like the only cure.

We are well aware of the wealth of local Spanish delights on offer in Andalucía: solomillo, presa iberica, chorizo, Serrano ham... the list is endless. But sometimes you just fancy a tender juicy steak, or a succulent burger on the barbeque.

Even though Andalucia has a vast and rich gastronomic offering, some times living in Andalucia, or coming here on holiday, expats and visitors crave the home comforts such as ye olde fish’n’chips. The coastal areas of southern Spain, in particular the Costa del Sol, has numerous establishments offering everything from cod and chips, haddock and chips, scampi and chips, and fish cakes, to burgers.

What many British expats miss most about living in Andalucia is a good curry. But don’t worry – you can find plenty of Indian restaurants on the Costa del Sol. So if you need a little more heat than your Andalucian gambas pil-pil, then take a trip to one of the curry houses along Andalucia’s coast, and beyond.

You can find a number of British grocers on the Costa del Sol and in Gibraltar, to satisfy that hankering for Branston Pickle, Jammy Dodgers, or crumpets. There are five branches of Iceland (referred to as Overseas): in Puerto Banus - Centro Comercial La Alzambra opposite Puerto Banus, in Mijas - Parque Empresarial Miramar, in Pueblo Nuevo just opposite Sotogrande, plus smaller 'express' stores in Guadalmina and Calahonda.

Fortified wines were first exported to England from Jerez as long ago as the 14th century; some British Catholics fled here in the 16th century and started up as wine-traders. Later, in the 17th century, others opened their own bodegas (Garvey, Duff-Gordon, Wisdom & Warter).