One restaurant was found to have gone beyond the allotted area where to set up tables outside and 11 decided to use promenades without seeking any permits whatsoever, figures show.

Malta Tourism Authority figures show that 400 inspections were carried out so far this year. One restaurant was reprimanded for setting up tables and chairs beyond the encroachment area it had been allotted. Another 11 simply decided to take up parcels of promenades even though they were not meant to have any tables outside at all.

An MTA spokesman said the regulator was taking legal measures against some 25 non-compliant restaurants. He said the MTA had given the catering establishments a time window during which to rectify their position but they had repeatedly ignored the watchdog.

Read more in the Times of Malta.