The British on vacation at a popular resort in Marmaris is disappointed by the massive crackdown on nightlife in the area. Turkish Mediterranean coastal towns are loved by British tourists for their large number of beachside bars and eateries, and have recently seen dramatic changes.
As reported by Turkiye today, 14 of these establishments were forced to close their doors this week due to harassment complaints and documentation issues. Additionally, the midnight curfew requires a significant reduction in loud music with respect to the town's 28,000 residents.
Visitors say the rule has been in place for a few years now, but authorities seem to take it more seriously and close out those who broke it.
One of the British women known as the Lifefrotz of Tiktok posted a video showing the quiet surroundings of the city, in stark contrast to the once lively, bustling late-night atmosphere. “It's 12:20am – all the music goes off at 12pm and the lights are off so you can see the street,” she demonstrated in the video.
“People are still in the bar, but it looks like they're paying their bills – this is crazy – I've never seen them like this before.” Lifeoflottss also noted that police patrolled the area in the middle of the night, finding they were following the rules by passing bars that included the Chickle Brothers and Mad Boys.
“It's black and we haven't even had 12:30am yet,” added Lifeoflottss. “So these are the new rules – music off, light off – let's see how long it lasts. I hope it doesn't last.”
Another Tiktok user, Rebecca Eliza, admitted that she was “very sad” as she went through Marmaris's abandoned street. “The bar was closed until 12:30am by 12:30am,” she cursed. “We don't dance at the table, we don't have to be on top of the table, we don't have to be sparked or danced on our chairs. The sightseeing is over.”
LifeOflotts quickly went viral with over a million views a week, sparking a fierce debate among fellow Brits. Some said, “If there are no tourists, these places will become ghost towns.”
Another declaration: “Marmaris is over and I'm totally dead next year. I won't be back next year.” Meanwhile, a third Tiktok user predicted a potential knock-on effect.
But not everyone opposed curfew. A female Marmaris residents shared her perspective: “I live in Marmaris and I enforce the rules for them. The majority of the bars on the Armutarun and the beach front are mean and cheap.
She added: “It affects tourism, but only temporary. The majority of the bars are located in residential areas. Children must wake up early for school.
The second agreed, “It means it's their country, and they have a different culture. Holiday destinations are not always drinking and hangovers.
And the third praised the change. “Finally, the new mayor is listening to his residents. If people want to go out, they can go to Club Pasha or Bar Street. The locations in Spain and Cyprus have started the same thing!”
