Meet Jane Grimshaw: You can’t beat the Costa del Sol for so many things…

Ask Jane Grimshaw from Grimebusters what brought her to the Costa del Sol and she will tell you, without hesitation: “February 5^th 1983, my family and I turned up in Marbella in a converted ambulance, laden with all our belongings and a budgerigar… and we’ve never looked back!”

Originally from Accrington, Jane and her family and soon to be husband David, bought a traditional guest house in the centre of Marbella and became one of the first non-Spanish families to own tourist accommodation in the town. “It was very traditional in those days for these businesses to be handed down the family line, rarely were they sold outside of the family, especially not to foreigners, so we were really very lucky.”

In 1988 Jane and David Grimshaw left her parents to run the guest house and set up Grimebusters, the Coast’s leading Marble Floor Restoration Company…

What changes to Marbella and the Coast have you seen over the years?

We’ve seen both good and bad changes. Definitely the types of people that move to the Costa del Sol have changed. In the early days, everybody that came here had money. Now we see a real mix of money, retired couples and families with working parents. It’s become really diverse.

Obviously the infrastructure has improved immensely, although there is still room for improvement!

Do you speak Spanish? Could you personally get by without it? 

Yes I do. Although I have never had a single lesson and my grammar leaves a lot to be desired! But I couldn’t deal with all our trade contacts if I didn’t. I need to be able to brief a job and brief it well, and to co-ordinate everyone so they all know what they should be doing and when, because it’s our job to keep on top of things.

Plus if I didn’t speak Spanish I couldn’t argue with the Electricity company when my bill is wrong!

What motivates you?

Seeing a job through to the end. Or just knowing that I did good today. In nearly 25 years in business, we have only ever pulled out of two jobs. If we say we’ll do it, we’ll do it and that both motivates and satisfies me.

What’s your favourite time of year in southern Spain?

Definitely the summer. I love the heat and I love the fact that at midnight I can be sipping wine at my favourite beach bar with family and friends, having spent the day on the beach and I haven’t had to go home and get changed. The weather is so wonderful that you can go from day to evening and still be in your beachwear!

What’s your favourite beach bar on the Costa del Sol?

If I told you that, I’d have to kill you afterwards! No seriously, we adore Restaurante Fernando & Encarni, which is situated in between El Rosario and Elviria, in East Marbella. We have been eating there since we moved to Marbella, we have watched their kids grow up and their grandchildren born and their food and hospitality have always been superb.

Have you travelled much around Spain? 

Yes, but to be honest, you generally can’t beat the Costa del Sol. The other Costa regions just aren’t a patch on here, for so many reasons: choice of restaurants, attractions, shopping, lifestyle – the Costa del Sol is where my heart is. We really do take for granted all that the Coast has to offer. But, if I had to choose another area of Spain that I loved, then Mallorca is a lovely spot for a break.

What do you love most about Spanish people?

I absolutely love the Spanish! When you go back to the UK and I do travel back quite a bit, you just realise how non-aggressive the Spanish are, they are happy-go-lucky, peaceful and generally more accommodating than us Brits!

Anything you miss about the UK?

Very little actually, but there is one thing and that’s the pub culture. Coming from a small town, most of life was centred around the local pub or bar. You knew that on a Friday night, if you visited one of the locals, you would most likely see a group of friends and that was without making plans. It used to be more like that here, but it’s changed quite a bit.

And finally, what’s your top survival tip for living on the Costa del Sol?

Don’t expect everything to go right overnight and definitely, don’t keep saying “In the UK it works like this…” or “In the UK this wouldn’t happen…”. You aren’t in the UK, you’re in Spain. It’s not better, it’s not worse, it’s just different.

Jane Grimshaw is co-owner of Grimebusters – the Coast’s leading specialists in marble floor polishing and restoration and carpets, curtains and upholstery cleaning.  Grimebusters are VIVA RECOMMENDS Corporate Partners. Visit their microsite in the VIVA Recommends Directory or call them directly on 952 832 777.