Reader’s Letters – October 2026

Our readers regularly send us messages and emails regarding Lanzarote, here are some of your thoughts that we printed in the October edition.

Readers are reminded that views and comments expressed within the Ed’s Postbag page are those of the contributors and may not necessarily reflect the opinions or standpoint of our staff. It should also be noted that we are an independent publication free from political persuasion or governmental censorship.

ARE LIFESAVERS THE PROBLEM?

Dear Gazette,

Following recent reports of the awful incidents in which children have drowned in hotel swimming pools, I’m wondering if the presence of lifesavers might be contributing to the problem.

I’m not blaming the lifesavers – it’s not easy to monitor a pool full of people, incidents can happen quickly and I know that some of them are expected to carry out other duties while on their shift.

But if it was made quite clear that pools were unsupervised, perhaps parents would not be lulled into a false sense of security.

Children die in pools every year, yet they hardly ever figure in drowning statistics in the sea. I see many children on Lanzarote’s beaches, but they are hardly ever unsupervised because the risks are obvious.

Yours, Jake Robertson

RECYCLING GAP?

Dear Ed,

Are there any local equivalents of the British Reuse centres here on Lanzarote? I’ve been to a couple of the Punto Limpios, where I’ve seen containers full of electrical items and skips with fairly decent furniture inside, but no one has been able to tell me what happens to them.

There seems to be an entire level of recycling usable items, which elsewhere would be covered by charity shops, missing on the island. I also sometimes notice such items left beside the rubbish containers, but this is apparently illegal.

Thanks, C. Devlin

Ed: There are a few charity shops, such as El Atico, El Trastero del Baifo and Caritas on the island, but the sector is nowhere near as prevalent as it is in the UK, for various reasons. Leaving items in the street is illegal for obvious reasons.

CAMEL COVER STAR

Dear Gazette,

What a great cover photograph last month of the little camel Martín and his owner Luis in front of the solar eclipse!

I’m pretty sure we met Martín at the Agricultural Fair in Teguise earlier this summer, where we saw his owner feeding him milk from a bottle. It was a great morning out and I’m wondering if there are any similar events planned?

Daniela

Ed: Most agricultural shows, such as the Yaiza Cheese Fair, the Uga Livestock Fair (where camels are the stars) and the big fair near Teguise take place in early summer. The next big event on the island is the Saborea Lanzarote Food Fair in Teguise at the end of November, although we can’t guarantee camels!

VIVA LA NOCHE

Dear Gazette,

What’s happened to the nightlife in Arrecife?

When I first came to the island in the 2000s, there were a bunch of great little clubs and bars in the capital. The Tambo, La Fabrica, the Rincon del Majo and others made for a great night out, where you could often catch a band or just hear AC/DC at full volume.

Now I don’t know where to go. There are still clubs, but it all seems like reggaeton stuff and everything’s just a bit more cheesy. I don’t mind going out in the resorts, either, but I miss clubs like 928 that played something a bit more specialist, and while I like tribute bands I’d also like to see something a bit different.

The festivals seem to be where all the live music is happening nowadays, but I’d really like to get some tips on good nights out where you can see groups in more intimate surroundings, and hear something that isn’t in the Top 40.

Cheers, Adam Knight

Ed: It may just be called “getting older”, Adam, but if anyone has any tips for nightlife off the beaten path, we’d love to hear your suggestions.