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[title]Hola Madrid,
Back in March, Time Out changed its name to Time In. Overnight we went from having beers on sunny terraces to cocktails over video calls, lunch in restaurants to home delivery, and live music to sessions on YouTube or Spotify. Now it seems that the ‘new normal’ is getting closer, but safety measures implemented in recent weeks, like social distancing and capacity limits in places that are open for business, have come to stay. And although they’re necessary, they pose a risk for the survival of so many places in Madrid that make city life worth living.
The Time Out Madrid editors have been seeking out the best of city life since 2014. We know that Madrid is nothing without its restaurants, cafés, bars, theatres, music venues, nightclubs, cinemas, museums, art galleries – and all the other local, independently run places where people come together to eat, drink, laugh, think, create, cut loose and fall in love.
If we don’t take action right now, countless places like this will have to close their doors forever, and thousands of artists, musicians, actors, film-makers, designers and other creatives and makers will be left unable to earn a living. This is not an exaggeration. Many venues, already struggling to pay their bills, face a total collapse due to having been closed for months and limits put on them to adapt to social distancing measures applied in the various phases of de-escalation.
Without a doubt, the impact on local businesses and the food and drinks sector has been brutal. Decor shops in the Barrio de Las Letras, bars and restaurants hanging on in Lavapiés and Chamberí, small designer brands in Malasaña, corner shops, neighbourhood markets... all are places that make up the soul of the city and that Time Out has supported since we started out, and we’re determined to help now more than ever.
That’s why we’ve launched Love Local, a campaign that Time Outs around the world are joining in so we can officially lend our voice to crucial campaigns that are fighting to support local food, drink, culture and entertainment in cities worldwide. In Madrid we’re supporting Volveremos si tú vuelves (We’ll come back if you will), a platform that encompasses shops, bars and restaurants, and hotels in Madrid through which you can download vouchers and discount tickets to redeem in these spaces when we can visit them again.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see how we’ll be stepping up our campaign over the coming weeks. We’ll work together so we can continue creating as many good memories as we already have in the coming years, so that no one is left behind.
And finally, to the businesses going through a tough time right now: know that we’re with you. And when you return, we’ll be first in line.
Marta Bac
Editor-in-Chief
Time Out Madrid