Cinema Closes

Benidorm's famous outdoor cinema, the Palafox, has had to close its doors to the public. The fresh air film theatre has been having problems due to the close proximity of the enormous Gran Hotel Bali in the next block.

The giant spotlights which illuminate the skyscraper hotel like daylight are playing havoc with the projection screen - let's face it even the most modern cinemas are still pitch black when the film's on! Add to this the racket when the hotel entertainment cranks up and not only can cinema clients see nothing, but they also can't hear anything.

So with not much point in going, people have been staying away in droves and the cinema has bowed to economic pressure and closed.

The pity of the situation is that the hotel is within the legal limits set by the authorities for acceptable noise levels.

19 July 2004 Stephen White.