Sun-seeking Irish holidaymakers have long been been drawn to the golden coastlines of Spain, with Alicante among the favourites for those dreaming of sandy beaches, laid-back living and a slice of Mediterranean charm. Whether it's the year-round sunshine, the warm hospitality, or the ease of hopping on a quick flight from Dublin, Alicante has become something of a home-from-home for countless Irish families.
And it's not just the Irish - Brits too have claimed their corner of the Costa Blanca. It's the kind of place where you can start the day with a full Irish and end it singing karaoke at a pub run by someone from Sligo.
So it's no surprise that Channel 4’s hit show A Place in the Sun, which follows hopeful buyers chasing their dream of a new life abroad, continues to shine its spotlight on the region. In one recent episode, it wasn’t just the sun that stole the show - but a pint-loving, karaoke-slaying, Merseyside man named Neil Williams.
Neil and his wife Jane set out in search of their perfect getaway in Gran Alacant - and picked up a bit of local fame along the way. Their daughter Kelly Williams, who works for our sister site Daily Star, has taken us behind the scenes of their whirlwind house-hunting adventure, revealing how a TV debut turned one unlikely Scouser into a seaside celebrity, and why this little corner of Spain is still the ultimate escape for families from Ireland and beyond. She writes:
When my dad broke the news that he was "gonna be on the telly," we all cringed with dread. Your typical Brit abroad, he's quite partial to a pint, a pie and killing Piano Man on karaoke - that should be enough of a clue as to where he ended up...yes, you guessed it, Alicante. Featuring on Channel 4's A Place in the Sun, my dad, Neil and stepmum, Jane told the presenter how they'd dreamt of a laid-back Mediterranean lifestyle, where they would join the local tennis club (we've yet to see it) and soak up Spanish life.
But ironically, the city suffered the worst wind and rain in almost a century as they filmed for the series, with several brollies - and Jane's hair - battling for survival against gale-force gusts. Just a few hours away on a plane, the idea was that they could "pop over" for a long weekend of playing golf and sipping Sangria and be back in work on Monday without too much fuss - or cost.
Then come summer, they could go over for longer stays, with us kids and grandkids taking it in turns to stay at the pad. To programme makers, their specifications were that it must be big enough for the family and within walking distance of the beach. So after being whisked off to several properties in the area, they made an offer on a three-bed house with our words ringing in their ears: "Don't be one of those annoying, time-wasting couples who have no intention of buying a property. You need to buy one so that we can all have cheap holidays."
Fast forward two years and the sun-kissed property in the seaside town of Gran Alicant is like a home from home. Just 10 minutes from the airport, the house can now comfortably sleep eight after some recent refurbishment, and boasts a patio and roof terrace and also access to a shared swimming pool. A stone's throw from Masa Square, the area is a haven for ex-pat Brits who have upped sticks from the UK in favour of warmer climes - but without sacrificing their home comforts.
At the square, you can enjoy a full English breakfast (as good as back home) or a roast dinner with all the trimmings. We enjoyed a lovely meal at The Belfry - a British-run pub where the carvery involved having about 15 slow cookers on the go - filled with all the homecooked accompaniments you could ever dream of. And of course, cheap pints and "holiday measure" spirits.
Each time we've been, we've been served by the same friendly staff - and with some fussy eaters among us, I'm often reminded of the egg and chips scene from the film, Shirley Valentine. That's not to say there aren't any traditional Spanish dishes on offer at the square, but put it this way, this area isn't where the Spanish locals tend to go.
At night, both the square and the nearby Commercial Centre come alive with people like my dad who suddenly think they can sing. I've lost count of how many times he's taken over the microphone from the Scottish bar singer, Kev at The Pub (its actual name) with cringeworthy renditions of Copacabana and Dignity (ironically).
But the like-minded audience lap it up and he's even become somewhat of a local celebrity - he's also started learning Spanish, which sounds weird with his Scouse accent. Much like its neighbour, Benidorm, Alicante is known for its appeal to British expats, but minus the stag and hen dos.
"We've always wanted to escape the grey British weather and Alicante felt like the perfect place to start this next chapter," dad and Jane told the show. "We love that we can enjoy the sunshine while still having a bit of Britain with us, it’s the best of both worlds."
When the programme aired, dad and Jane were thrown into the spotlight in the local news with headlines that they were "split" over which house to go for. Armed with a maximum budget of £110,000 (€128,400), it was presenter, Leah Charles-King who assisted their search for the perfect property in her bright green suit, which my dad joked: "looked like a fruit salad."
After an initial toss up between two possible contenders, dad and Jane finally settled on the townhouse we've all come to love. It was previously owned by another British ex-pat who'd planned to use it more as a long-term residency during his retirement. That was until the new Brexit rules meant Brits could only stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa.
Lucky for dad and Jane, the temperatures improved for a bright end to the episode as they snapped up the property - complete with all its furnishings - for a bargain £106,723 (€124,575).
In a catch up chat with the programme afterwards, Jane said: "I'm just blown away that we could get a whole house for our budget, I had only expected to get a flat." There’s also a feeling that it was meant to be as the previous owner had named the apartment "Casa Jaime".
The purchase was made possible with the inheritance from Jane's mum Pearl, who affectionately called her "Jai" so the house has been re-named "Casa Jai" in her memory. So if you're ever in Alicante and happen to spot them, whatever you do, don't ask my dad for any karaoke requests.
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