Castro auctions four summer ice-cream kiosks

Castro-Urdiales City Council has opened a public auction for four seasonal ice-cream kiosks to operate on public land during the 2026 summer season, according to a municipal announcement published on May 21. The permits cover sites on the Ostende and Brazomar seafronts from June 1 to September 30, under a tender overseen by the municipality’s commerce and contracting area. The move gives private operators a short-window chance to secure fixed sales points in some of the town’s busiest beach zones. Local media and tender documents published alongside the announcement set out the locations, operating period and filing requirements. ### Which sites are included in the tender? The four sites are split between Ostende and Brazomar, two of Castro-Urdiales’ main beach areas. Tender documents list kiosk No. 1 on Paseo de Ostende near the Ángel García Basoco music center, kiosk No. 2 at the junction of Avenida de la Playa and Paseo Manuel Gutiérrez Elorza “Lolín,” kiosk No. 3 at the end of Brazomar beach at La Pérgola, and kiosk No. 4 on Paseo Manuel Gutiérrez Elorza after the junction with Muelle Don Luis, heading toward Brazomar and past the La Sardinera statue. (castropuntoradio.es) El Diario Montañés described the authorizations as allowing kiosks in Ostende and Brazomar between June 1 and September 30. That matches the location and season listed in the published tender terms. ### How long can the kiosks operate? The 2026 authorization runs from June 1 through September 30, according to the tender document. The same document says successful bidders may choose to shorten their actual installation period voluntarily, but any such decision would not trigger a refund of the amount bid for the site. (castropuntoradio.es) (eldiariomontanes.es) The permits are framed as a temporary summer authorization rather than a long-term concession. The kiosks are to remain fixed during the authorized period, with installation and removal handled at the operator’s expense. ### What do bidders have to provide? The tender terms say bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope at Castro-Urdiales City Council’s General Registry, marked as a proposal for the summer 2026 ice-cream kiosk auction. (castropuntoradio.es) The filing must include a signed and stamped offer, documentation showing the bidder is registered for the relevant business activity tax for 2026, acceptance of the tender conditions, and a descriptive memorandum of the kiosk to be installed, including its characteristics and dimensions. The published conditions also set a maximum occupied area of 8 square meters for each kiosk. Each stand must include enough waste containers for wrappers and refuse to keep the surrounding area clean, with installation, maintenance and dismantling costs borne by the successful bidder. ### Who in the town government is presenting the measure? (castropuntoradio.es) Alba Muro, the councillor responsible for commerce, hospitality, finance and contracting, said the measure was intended to offer an attractive option for residents and visitors during the summer. Castro Punto Radio quoted Muro as saying the council was backing “a city model” that is active, welcoming and full of possibilities. Municipal information on the council’s website identifies Muro as the councillor for those portfolios. (castropuntoradio.es) Susana Herrán is the mayor of Castro-Urdiales, according to the municipal government listing. Previous years’ notices show the town has used similar seasonal tenders for ice-cream kiosks, with the mayor’s office approving the auction terms by decree. ### Where does this fit in the town’s recent practice? Castro-Urdiales used the same mechanism in 2025 for four summer kiosks and in earlier years for four or five sites, according to municipal notices archived on the town website. (castropuntoradio.es) The 2025 notice said documentation would be available through the electronic headquarters and that the date and time of the auction session would be published later through municipal channels. (castro-urdiales.net) For 2026, the next step is the submission of sealed bids at the General Registry under the published tender conditions. The operative season begins on June 1 and runs until September 30, with the four authorized sites located on Paseo de Ostende, Avenida de la Playa, La Pérgola at Brazomar and the stretch near Muelle Don Luis. (castropuntoradio.es) (castro-urdiales.net)