Tucked away just off the “Strip” in Puerto del Carmen, Áine and Nathan have quickly made The Bucket List one of the most welcoming little bars on the island. As the bar approaches its second anniversary, we took a trip to No 5 Calle Anzuelo to discover its charm.
When asked where the name for the bar came from, ex-firefighter Nathan replies “Everyone can have a bucket list at any time of life and tick off your goals and dreams as you go. To move to Lanzarote and open a bar was on our bucket list: hence “The Bucket List”.
“We both worked on the Island initially for the first year, but we always wanted our own place here and were actively looking for many years before moving over.”
“That’s when “Spenders” came up for sale – a fantastic opportunity which meant that the dream of “The Bucket List” – a cosy little bar where you entered as a stranger but left as a friend – became reality.
“It was a daunting leap, but we’ve never regretted it.”
Two years later, The Bucket List is one of the most welcoming little bars in Puerto del Carmen, a place where you’re guaranteed a friendly welcome and a decent drink. “I’m from County Kerry in Ireland and Nathan is originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands and moved to Ireland with his family at the age of 11”, says Áine, “Our love affair with Lanzarote started many many years ago.”
Like every other business on the island, Áine and Nathan have had a lot to worry about over the last six months. “Finally we were able to open on May 11th, and welcome all our regulars. Some were waiting at the gate the day we opened. It was an emotional day seeing everyone for the first time in weeks and I shed a few tears that day,” Áine tells us.
“Being owner/operators has helped us a lot to get through the initial period after lock down” says Nathan. “We’ve been working hard – initially seven days a week – and now have some of our wonderful staff back which allows us to have a day off to enjoy this beautiful Island, which is bliss. We have a lot to adapt to, with the new laws that have forced us to close earlier and earlier as well as the strict regulations of wearing masks all day and ensuring customers are also following the regulations.”
“It’s important that people feel safe here,” adds Áine.
So what’s the first wish they’d like to tick off on the rest of their bucket list? Áine says “We just want to see people come back to the Island and see all our lovely regular visitors return to the bar, those who we’ve come to love and the new customers who are always welcome here.”
“Social media has shown us just how much people love this island and yearn to come back, and the recent months have also made us so grateful for what we’ve got.”
“We’d like to thank everyone who’s supported us, both the wonderful locals who live here and the visitors from England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Spain, Scandinavia etc whose faces we’re dying to see again.” Also, our wonderful staff for their support before, during, and after lockdown. All these people keep The Bucket List going and are one thing we never take for granted.
Nathan says “For obvious reasons we can’t have a big anniversary bash on October 20th, but we will celebrate, that’s for sure!
The Bucket List Lanzarote | Calle Anzuelo, 5, 35510 Lanzarote,
Monday to Sunday 15:00 till Close
Tel: 928 51 13 29 | e-mail: thebucketlistlanzarote@gmail.com
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