Well it does finally seem to be happening and a new democratic government of sorts is being formed. However it seems their primary stated intention, as opposed to the unstated money grab, is to change the constitution so that Wacky Tacky can return and continue to plunder the country. A new constitution is on the cards we are told. Maybe it should include a simple clause that says ‘holders of public office are entitled to an arrangement fee for any contract for which they are responsible and such fees will be tax free’. That way the country can save the cost of all those toothless anti corruption agencies. And presumably salaries could then be done away with; I mean they never have been enough to justify all the assets of current and ex-public office holders!
I suppose the only interesting point is that most Thais seem united in the view that Samak is their least favourite choice as PM, although it is still probable he will indeed hold that rank! The general consensus is that the most pressing issues are the economy and reconciliation and not the return of WT. Sadly there is little optimism among Thais or farangs that Samak, and his government, will do any more than exploit the divide between the middle classes of Bangkok and the south and the masses of Issan.
The oft stated position of Thai tourism, by both politicians and TAT, is that the most desirable tourism is the five star market, and that the least wanted are the sex tourists. Therefore I find the situation in mid-December confusing. For two weekends there was an alcohol ban because of the elections. I know if I had been staying at a top hotel, paying those rates, and had been told I could not even get a glass of wine with my dinner I would have been a little more than miffed. However at the other end of the scale a go gos were allowed to open but not sell alcohol, but they could sell bar fines (read sex). And as we know there were plenty of places where alcohol could be bought although I fear not at a good hotel or, legally, in a decent restaurant. So, on those facts alone, it would suggest that Thailand is more interested in its sex tourists than its high end visitors!
I am not surprised when people say they avoid the Nana Plaza because they believe it is a fire hazard. It clearly would be difficult to escape in the event of a blaze because of its one small entrance/exit. Now the plaza's 'management' appear to be happy with a situation that makes it difficult for customers to even get into the place, let alone make a panic driven exit.
After negotiating the increasing number of beggars and hustlers near the entrance, I was shocked to find about 20 motorcycles double-parked from the entrance to the area near the broken escalator. Most appeared to belong to mangdas who hang round the entrance drinking
Meanwhile, paying customers are forced to negotiate the obstacle course either side of the motorcycles if they want to spend their money in the declining entertainment area. A security guard was trying to move the most obstructive motorbikes near the entrance, but he was fighting a losing battle. No wonder so many people are avoiding the place.
On my visit on a Friday evening in high season, most of the ground floor beer bars were devoid of customers. It was a similar story in most of the gogo bars. Only the usual suspects - the Rainbow bars and Angelwitch - appeared to be making money.
Up the road in Soi Cowboy business was brisk in some bars – mainly, I thought, the ones that have not pushed their prices up. It does indeed seem people are voting with their feet. Of course bar owners are entitled to charge what they like but customers do not have to accept those charges. The argument I have had with some owners about what you would pay elsewhere is not only irrelevant but it is now blatantly wrong. It may not be the bars owners’ fault but with the dollar at 33 Baht and the pound at 64 Baht that makes a 140 Baht beer (330ml) $4.25 and £2.18 respectively and a 150 Baht lady drink $4.50 and £2.35. The average price for a pint (564 ml) in London is £2.24 and the UK average is £2.05. I rest my case although I concede that the entertainment, in UK bars, does not include lots of little girls running around in a state of undress!
The revamp of Tilac has seen a genuine turnaround in business fortunes. The place was as packed on Friday as it was when it first opened. One interesting development is that they are now employing some coyote dancers whose job it is to dance only. They are the ones wearing shorts and actually dancing whilst the dancing girls wear skirts, little else, and risk the chill factor.
One bar I have never been that keen on, although it did lead the renaissance of Cowboy, is Dollhouse. However it seems to have matured over the years and under Tim it has a friendly no bullshit owner manager. I have been there several times in recent months and I now reckon it is one of the better and more relaxed gogos in Cowboy. And beer is still only 125 Baht.
I had no sooner finished writing the above than I received a text from Andy (Dollhouse’s original leading light) at Electric Blue, in Patpong 2, saying that they will be opening from 4 pm from February 1st. There will also be a happy hour early doors with a 2 for 1 offer. Of course as Rififi that site was always open in the afternoons and many a pleasant hour I have spent there prior to an afternoon lie down.
I am told there is much un-happiness among purveyors of the black stuff. Guinness retailers do not think they are getting a fair craic from the local importers. Over Christmas stocks of Kilkenny ran out and that beer is likely to be unavailable for a few weeks (see Prowler). Every year stocks of Guinness are insufficient to meet St Paddy’s Day demands. However it is not just that there is a feeling that there is little or no service being provided and problems and complaints are ignored. Paul Watson, owner of Tropical Murphy’s on Koh Samui and one of the biggest retailers of the stuff in Thailand, expressed total dissatisfaction with everything to do with the current distribution. ‘No service and nobody cares a damn either; I had a Guinness pump out of action for weeks and they would not send an engineer despite many calls to Bangkok’, he complained when I called him. What is even more galling is the Guinness sold here only comes from the next door country (Malaysia). Of course Guinness will tell you it is all the same wherever it is made. Try telling that to a man from Blarney if you served him a Malaysian Guinness in his home town. Things have got so bad that there is an effective committee of pissed off Guinness retailers who are lobbying Diageo in London asking for a change of distributors although Paul Watson said they had, as yet, had no reaction from the Guinness owners. It is rumoured that another brand of the black stuff may soon be available here. ‘It cannot be soon enough,’ was Paul’s comment when I asked him if he would replace Guinness with another stout brand. I find this all very unfortunate because it was Diethelm (the distributors) who persuaded the Customs here to reduce duty on beer promising much more revenue if they did so. Of course that argument has been won hands down as the explosion of imported beers demonstrates. So without Diethlem we probably would not have John Smith’s et al.
I will add one caveat and that is Guinness retailers in Bangkok do seem to have reasonable service. ET at Bully’s said he has never had a serious problem with Guinness services but by his own admission he makes certain they stay on their toes!
The Champagne Bar, once found above Bully’s is no more, it seems the luckless operator finally threw in the towel just after the New Year and moved out over night taking everything with him. Of course this area was the ill fated No Hands bar started by Thomas and unwittingly funded by Boss Hog. Bullys replaced the Blue Bar underneath, also operated by Thomas. When Thomas’s operations failed, Boss Hog had no option but to pick up the pieces hence Bullys which, under ET, has become a very successful pub restaurant.
I am not sure what the options for the first floor are. Entertainment places that involve going up, or down, are seldom successful. I suspect Boss Hog will shortly be on the scene trying to resolve the problem of the empty space. I understand a lease on the space is currently for sale as BH tries to re-coup some losses. When BH comes he will probably also want to look up Thomas as there is some unfinished business in that direction. I discovered, only the other day, that Thomas is one of the main partners in Magic Tables and The Ring on Sukhumvit 7/1. I have seen him there several times in recent months so it looks like he is back in action. No doubt anybody seeking an unwise investment in this town will be able to buy shares in these new operations. When I last saw Thomas he seemed to be entertaining suitable new shareholders. I suggest any would-be-investors first take up some reference with Boss Hog or even the Head Ice Cream!
From a reader Can anybody explain the music laws in Thailand? I have had a bar in Pattaya now 5 years yet in the past 8 months have had 4 visits from the so called copyright division. First time they said I played copyright on an ipod and wanted 50,000. They walked with 15,000 no receipt so then I arranged for 1 STOP music at the cost 3210 baht for music license so all ok up until Wednesday night. Now have another company walk in the bar from RKT PUBLISHING CO LTD removing 2 cashiers and so called ipod. They checked then said I have fast music song they refer to was black-eyed peas now they have said 1 STOP MUSIC for slow and their RKT for fast then they charge 30,000 baht plus 4500 for another license Also they went into the guest house I have and said I have copy DVDs What are we supposed to do when lawyers cannot understand the law
This seems like total rubbish to me: fast and slow? You have to be joking!
In UK there used to be 2 copyright bodies but it now seems they have combined into one organisation MCPS.PRS. One represents the publishers (Performing Rights) and one the performers/producers etc. Each licence used to be about £100 a few years back. However now according to their website the combined licence for a music centre (radio/cd/tape) it is £207.38 (up to 120 sq meters). That is 13,272 Baht and I cannot believe rates here are more than the UK
Sounds like a total scam to me. My only suggestion would be you get a local lawyer and get him to deal with it; that means calling him as soon as somebody arrives. Or maybe just try calling the local Old Bill
From February 17th. there is new smoking ban that will cover all indoor bars and clubs as well as the restaurants that are already covered. The web boards have the usual comments about who cares? because it will not be enforced. However bar owners I have spoken too are less convinced and generally concede they may have to ban smoking in their bars. Unlike the earlier ban where all the operator had to do was put up no smoking signs, the operators will now be responsible for enforcement with a 20K fine for any establishment allowing smoking. Most smokers I have spoken too are not that concerned as they realise it will help them cut back. Since such a ban is now in place in most Western countries most tourists will not only accept it but welcome it. I have always defended the right of people to make their own choice on smoking. However some smokers take an arrogant view of their right to blow smoke all over anybody near them so I am tempted to look forward to the ban!
I suppose in the end bar owners, who smoke themselves, will be tempted to ignore the ban. However I suspect now that more people do not smoke than smoke, non smokers will start demanding operators enforce the law. Those that do not may face a serious loss of business if those nearby enforce the ban.
As to enforcement I thought the best comment I heard was to the effect that the ban will be selectively enforced in farang and tourist areas!
The first full edition of our new satirical magazine, the Sukhumvit Eye, is out early next week and is available by yearly/six monthly subscription from our website http://www.sukhumviteye.com. Or individually (at 100 Baht) from the following retailers.
RX Pharmacy Sukhumvit Rd between Soi 4 and Nana Post office Rattanasan Pharmacy - Soi 23 Next to Down Under Bar (RHS from Suk Rd.) 6 banthad Book Shop Eakamai -In Big C Entrance Hall Jr. Pharmacy Soi 4 - Opposite Nana Plaza Bookshop Soi 3 - LHS 50 yards from Suk Rd. Akane Pharmacy Sukhumvit Road between Soi 13-15 9 convenience store Soi 15 - 20 yrds from Sukhumvit LHS Promsuk. Soi 22 - RHS 50 Yards from Sukhumvit next to Srijinda mansion
Also at Upright Media Office Soi 4 in Omni Tower (over Cafe)
Wine tasting. The next Bangkok Wine Society tasting will be on Tuesday March 18th. at Jamesense Restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 16. Full details from http://www.bangkokwinesociety.com.
THE Soi Cowboy
experience More than just a gogo
From
the Baron www.BaronBonk.com
Shanos arrives but Angelwitch still the star
Angeles Shano’s needs more gogo
I was going to visit Angeles just for Christmas but bar closures sent me on my way a week early. So I was there for nearly two weeks instead of my customary week. I dropped in on Manila, staying in Burgos Street, Makati, at both ends of my trip. My recent view that Angeles flourishes whilst Manila, in particular Makati, languishes was confirmed.
I will say little about Burgos Street that was not said in an excellent article by Marauder which we published eighteen months ago. As a local he will say it is not too expensive if you follow the happy hours. Frankly that is far too complicated for a traveller dropping in for a couple of nights. The only bars I would recommend are Rogues which has some good promotions, especially free beer early doors on Wednesday, and Cathouse, both mentioned in detail by Marauder. Another lively bar, which at least has a show with a bit of oomph in it, is Billboard which is an agogo that really does gogo. However if anything condemns the stupid management that runs the vast majority of the bars, it is not just the empty bars, but the fact the street is now awash with freelancers. When I first went, there was always the odd ‘massage girl’ flashing a card (saying massage) and a smile. This time I was accosted every few feet as I wandered up the street; ‘massage’ they all started with and, as I shook my head, they said ‘sex’, and as I walked on it become ‘blow job’! Why are these girls not in the bars? Simple economics – they make more on the streets. Yes – Burgos Street shouts failure at every corner. Next time I really think I will stay elsewhere! It is a pity because I really enjoy the excellent La Tiende (43 Polaris Street),a Spanish restaurant, in the street parallel to Burgos.
Now Angeles is the exact opposite! In spite of this I still meet people who have not been there for years saying it is a scruffy dying town. Well it is still reasonably scruffy but it certainly not dead; far from it. New bars and new hotels have appeared, and on the whole have flourished. A significant statistic is the number of hotel rooms. Not long ago there were 1,500 rooms in the Fields Avenue area catering to the visitors to that strip. Now there are 6,000 and according to one operator that is not enough. Certainly it is at best unwise, if not stupid, to turn up without a reservation, particularly at peak periods.
On the bar front there seem to be two distinct types of gogo operation. There are those bars where the girls are encouraged to dance and have fun and they include Angelwitch, Lollipop, and Checkers. Then there are those bars that simply pack the stage with girls who shuffle round with the occasional wiggle, assuming there is enough room, that are little more than meat markets; examples of these are Lancelot, Pasha, and Carousel. Needless to say the fun bars are looking for lady drinks as well as bar fines, as opposed to the meat marketeers who are primarily seeking bar fines. Of course the pack ‘em in and sell ‘em format can also be found in Bangkok with the Rainbow Bars operating that way. To a certain extent the King’s Group in Patpong also work on that basis although the constant hassle for lady drinks may persuade one otherwise.
From a personal perspective there is no competition as to which type of bar I like. I go to a bar to have fun first and foremost and therefore my bar of choice this year, as it was a couple of years ago, is Angelwitch. Scott, the partner manager, is normally in residence, and the girls are encouraged to dance by the excellent music that a dedicated DJ plays. An interesting addition at Angelwitch is the opening up of the side door and promotion of the Back Door Club; this is an idea that may be more appropriate at the Bangkok Angelwitch! Last time I enjoyed Checkers and did to an extent this visit. The girls are fun but sadly the music verges on a dirge of nothing pop that encourages little more than the odd two step. I am told it will get better – it needs to. Possibly the most improved bar was Lollipop where new management has put some much needed zip into the place. Voodoo, which used to be good little bar until some idiot turned it into an open air nothing spot has been re modelled yet again and is once again a happening place. The problem is that the happening is usually at about 4 am, which tends to ensure that what actually happened is little more than a blur to go with the headache! Yes Voodoo has reinvented itself as a 24 hour operation; absolutely lethal if it happens to be next door to one’s hotel – it is just too difficult to ignore the temptation of a final snifter!
I was recently bemoaning the difficulty of getting a decent drink in Bangkok. Most bars here seem to pass the bottle over the glass, rather than actually put some of the contents of the bottle in the glass. The opposite is true in Angeles and I found the difficulty was sometimes getting enough water to dilute the generous pour that has been served. In a gogo the price of a whisky (150 peso) maybe nearly twice the price of a beer (85 peso) but you do at least get good value for money! For the record lady drinks were usually 150 peso and bar fines 1,300 peso (plus 500 peso in the morning if you thought she was worth it!).
The big and I mean big addition this year is Shano’s which claims to be an Irish Bar. I am not sure which bit of it is Irish, or should I say Oirish or more correctly Ausish. I say this because this massive pub is named after and fronted by Shano who is Australian. On Christmas Day we had a few cocktails made to a recipe (that we had to amend) from the Australian book of cocktails. My problem with this pub was that it seemed to lack direction; there was an extensive menu but no decent wine, there was an insipid harmony group in the evening, and for a sports bar it did not have the right sports channels. On top of that the said Shano was never in residence when I visited. However it is new and I am told these failings are being addressed. On the plus side it had a nice big circular bar with large comfortable seats around it, and it certainly looked the part. If Shano’s can get going, which I think means it needs a proper manager, rather than a greeter who does XXXX, then it could well make a big impact on Angeles. Website
On the eating front most evenings I ate at the Azzuro Restaurant (above Lancelot and below the Dinosaur). I found this a friendly restaurant serving sensible food which makes it almost unique in that part of Fields Avenue. Just down the road I was surprised to see that Bourbon Street was still in business. It does not deserve to be as it is still appallingly managed.
So that is that: another action packed visit to Angles that now all seems a pleasant blur – it’s that damn Voodoo again!
Nightmarch
More more is gogo dancers answer if you want them to gogo Overpriced and Underlayed: There was a time, about a decade ago, before the spread of the mobile phone and the rise of Internet cafes and the advent of email, when the dancing damsels of Fun Town were prepared to ‘work the room’ in an effort to not only obtain money from libations but would be prepared to offer their mattress dancing skills for a sensible remuneration. Of course there were always the so-called superstars who considered their baby-making factory was lined with gold and smelt like an orchid farm and consequently refused to depart their den of employ for anything less than the average Gross National Product of a minor African nation.
Seguel forward to the current high season and I am constantly being amazed by the amounts of the folding stuff people are prepared to part with in order to gain some misguided bragging right of saying they ‘shagged’ the best-looking chrome pole hugger in a particular den. Perhaps, more to the point, it’s how often they are willing to continue handing over enough wedge to choke an elephant to the same damsel in the misguided belief they are somehow also opening a path to what may pass for a heart in the vast majority of these mattress actresses.
I have no problem with many of the dens putting up their bar fines during the silly season to 1,000 baht or more. After all, they make their real money from selling booze, not from selling little shaven or partially-bushed felines. An empty den of dancers means an empty den of imbibers.
I don’t know what amazes me more, the amounts being demanded by the over-inflated egos of the shufflers or the willingness of so many sex-starved customers to part with so much moolah once their small head takes control of their brain. And it’s not the old farts who are necessarily coughing up the large amounts, most in excess of 3,000 baht for an evening of organ reciting, many of the younger visitors (aged between 20 and 30) seem to be so desperate to be seen parading about with a good sort on their arms they’re prepared to pay through the nose for the dubious privilege.
Of course, as I’ve always said, the job of the mattress actresses is to extract as much money as they possibly can from as many walking wallets in the shortest time possible for the least amount of effort. Good luck to them. If there are males out there who really think handing over large amounts of legal tender (in comparison to the real cost of living in Thailand, not Mayfair, London) to nubile young rice farmers daughters this will somehow endear themselves to the recipients then they’re living in a parallel universe to the real world.
Obsessed About Noise: It seems as if the latest in what appears to be a trend in opening packed-lunch-in-a-dress dens, this one called Obsessions (Pattayaland Soi 2), is upsetting the neighbours. Located in the Penthouse sleeping palace and next door to the Kittens gogo, the music coming out of the place is allegedly at a decibel level designed to send punters inside the place deaf, while making normal conversation in the open-air joints across the soi increasingly difficult. I received a complaint about the alleged noise from long-time Fun Town resident Terry, the operator of the popular Shamrock beer boozer and noshery, which is located diagonally opposite Obsessions. Terry claims repeated requests to turn the volume down to acceptable levels fall on deaf ears. Perhaps this is no surprise, they are probably asking long-term employees of the said den who are now reduced to lip reading. He also claims Thai staff physically assaulted more than one of Terry’s customers who have taken the trouble to go across and ask for the din to be declined. From all accounts both Obsessions and Kittens are not well patronised and so the staff from these venues have plenty of time on their idle hands.
A Place to Get Wasted: In the interests of promoting healthy livers and responsible drinking I shouldn’t really mention this, but the Taboo gogo (Soi 16, off Walking Street) has what they call sambuca Sundays and then follow-up with tequila Tuesdays. You’ve been warned.
Expanding the Waistline: A couple of months ago the ever-thinking management of the Heaven Above gogo (Soi Diamond) gave the interior of the den a few tweaks at the edges by pushing the wet bar back through a side wall and also made a separate booth for the DJ at the rear. This increased their seating capacity by about 10-15 percent, a major plus for the bar. On a recent chrome pole molesting inspection I have to say there was one lady of sullied virtue who, by any yardstick, rated a 10 out of 10, at least under UV lighting.
Two Years of X: Down in the Covent Garden Complex in Soi 16 the X-Zone gogo celebrated its second anniversary with a big party on 21 December. The den has a good happy hour with all libations at just 50 baht, apparently this includes imported bottles of amber liquid and breezers. After 2:00AM the bar fine for dancing damsels drops to just 300 baht, a move pioneered by the New Living Dolls 1 chrome pole palace (Walking Street) and since adopted by a few other places with, so I’m led to believe, quite good results.
I know X-Zone recruited a new mamasan and along with her came a clutch of professional pole dancers, but by the time you read this the ever-changing vagaries of the Fun Town bar scene may mean there’s a new mob bounding about the rather cavernous interior. Still, given the value of its happy hour it is probably worth at least a thirst-quencher or two to check it out.
A Stitch in Time: I have seen some strange occurrences in dens of the chrome pole, but recently the Baby Dolls establishment (Soi 15, off Walking Street) held a birthday/New Years party and, I swear this is true, one customer spent literally hours sat, mostly by himself, engaged in the fine art of knitting. Let me set the scene if I can. Here is a den, filled with happily slurping customers, where a platoon of chrome pole molesters are on the main stage wearing scarcely enough clothing to keep the chills of the air-conditioning at bay; where a squad of ladies armed with soft rubber implements are either reddening the exposed cheeks of other dancers or using their tongues to clean, cat-like, the intimate cavities of their sisters; where a trio of birthday-suited belles are engaged in both individual and collective ablutions in a Jacuzzi big enough to float a 12-metre racing yacht, and we have a man who spent his entire time knitting.
He reminded me of a cross between a Hobbit and a stereotypical pervert (and I mean this in the nicest way), so perhaps his stitch-one, pearl-one activities were some kind of therapy recommended by a Harley Street specialist as a way of overcoming an addiction to glossy stroke magazines featuring garishly-dressed female garden gnomes. Of course he could just have been trying to give up smoking and needed to keep his hands full. Personally, I could find a far more tactile and interesting method of keeping my hands full, and it wouldn’t mean there’d be any chance of dropping a stitch. He did manage to complete a minor creation: a light-blue crocheted brassiere, which he presented to the mamasan. Throughout all this he never removed a giant shoulder bag, which may well have contained all his worldly goods. Having presented the bra, he dug into his bag of goodies, pulled out another ball of wool and started work on a new ensemble.
Changing the subject slightly, if there is one complaint about Baby Dolls it’s the large television screen being located behind the Jacuzzi. How are socceraholics supposed to watch a match between, say, Accrington Stanley and Charlton Athletic, or Knobhead United and Wanchor City, when there are two or three young, sexy, fully-lathered ladies wearing nothing but eye-makeup as they fiddle with their interesting bits blocking their view? It’s enough to make you take up knitting.
Around the Poles: Located as it is in the depths of Soi BJ, off Walking Street, it’s no surprise to hear the E gogo, styled as a Goth chrome pole palace, doesn’t do much business in the early hours of the evening at least. If you are wondering about the location, just follow any male you see on Walking Street wearing black clothes, heavy silver jewellery, black eye make-up and lipstick.
The former Climax head-bangers beer boozer (Walking Street) has been remodelled and turned into a den of the chrome pole and named Magic Palace (because your money disappears faster than you can say som dtam perhaps?).
The Blue Angel gogo (Soi 7) has managed to stay open for far longer than many would have thought. I can’t really give much of an appraisal of the place because when I last looked in there were three or four bored-looking dancers of ample girth on the stage and it had all the ambience of a mortuary. Could have been an off night I guess, but the ‘blue’ in the name was certainly the impression it gave me.
In the same blue vein, the only other distaff gogo in the soi, Silver Star III, might boast a Jacuzzi (ho hum, another one), but its complement of dancers could certainly do with some radical dietary advice.
Piece of Pith: ‘Sometimes I fear going home to Boots and Woolworths and cafeterias, and I’d be a stranger now even in the White Horse.’ (taken from Our Man in Havana, Graham Greene)
Prowler
Bars blues as elections close down nighlife
GENERAL
December left a lot of bar owners licking their wounds and wondering just how bad can this high season get. Some places were closed for a total of six days due to the various elections and the King’s Birthday. The peak period of Christmas through to New Year did get very busy and the beaches were full. New Year was celebrated with a large fireworks display all along Patong Beach and Soi Bangla was one big all night party.
The death of Her Royal Highness. Princess Galyani Vadhana, resulted in a period of mourning being declared from 3rd to 16th and the entertainment areas were directed to tone down the level of noise and behaviour. This made things a little subdued but at least everything was open. Most tourists couldn't tell the difference anyway so their holidays have not been ruined.
Another strange phenomenon is that bars and restaurants are having difficulties finding staff. Some believe this is because all the new large hotels have snaffled up the available workforce. It used to be easy to find a new waitress or bartender but something has changed. I think it is more to do with the fact that Patong is an expensive place for a Thai to make ends meet. Fuel costs have had a knock on effect across the board and even the most basic Thai commodities are more expensive. I noticed the other night that there are far more girls walking home rather than travelling on their trusty Honda Dreams. For a young Thai to come to Phuket for a basic salary the streets are definitely not paved with gold.
NEW BREWS AVAILABLE
There is some good news for English beer and cider drinkers. Recently a Bangkok Beer Company expanded their operations to the South and have opened up offices in Koh Samui and Krabi . They make regular deliveries to Phuket and have been quick to go around the island introducing their drinks to bar owners. They supply a variety of English drinks previously not available in Phuket. They are offering Bulmers and Strongbow Ciders, Newcastle Brown Ale in both large and small bottles, Draught Strongbow Cider, and Draught John Smith’s Smooth. A good number of bars have been quick to get some of these in stock to expand their range. The Bulmers Cider is selling like hot cakes as it is a good thirst quencher in the hot weather.
THE BANGKOK RESIDENCE
This is one of the two new places that has now opened in the new block on the road leading from Sans Sabai to the market area. It is a large development offering a variety of rooms and a full bar and restaurant service. There is a very large restaurant area with plenty of seating on the ground floor. The only problem is that they cannot recruit enough staff to get it fully operational.
THE CHANG BEER GARDEN
This is the second new development at the end of the same block as the Bangkok Residence. This place has a large open air drinking area. They too are having recruitment difficulties.
VIP ASIA CLOSED
It did not take long to happen. The VIP Asia Club closed its doors and there is a for rent sign hanging outside. It may be a great location but this site has a long and sad history of failures and shady deals. No doubt someone will soon take on the place and it will undergo yet another make over.
SOI SANS SABAI
It is a sign of the times. Someone has opened a Family Mart outlet at the top end of Soi San Sabai. Now you can buy your condoms and beers in one place. This is a stroke of pure genius as there is no other shop in the entire Soi and there are more that ten guest houses and hotels within sight of it. These 24 hour shops can also turn out to be places to meet unattached ladies who are seeking company for the evening. I remember one of my friends used to do a lot of his late night shopping at a 7/11 opposite Bangla.
BANANA SOMBRERO
Also recently opened in San Sabai is a new Mexican Restaurant called Banana Sombrero. It is next door to Summer Breeze Hotel. The two young owners are of Mexican descent so do know their food. The place is sparsely furnished and the Thai staff were struggling to understand the Mexican menu but the food was good and the owner was on hand to talk to. At present they do not have a large menu but the meals are cheap and offer good value. The staff were friendly and the beers were cold so it is well worth a visit.
KILKENNY DISASTER
The distributor of Kilkenny Beer has dropped the ball. Since the start of January there have been no supplies of Kilkenny available on the island and the Irish bars are running dry. The local company are blaming the parent company in Bangkok. How could this happen in the busiest period of high season?? One disgusted bar owner who was a top seller of Kilkenny has terminated his contract and had the company remove the equipment from his bar. He is now switching over to John Smith’s draught.
MORE CONSTRUCTION
Some of the more cynical long term Ex Pats already believe that Patong is too busy and overbuilt. Somehow Thai developers must have a different outlook. The northern end of the Beach Road stretching from Graceland Hotel all the way north to the Kalim junction is all one big building site. There are four or five new apartment blocks and hotels in mid construction. In some of the older back streets old two storey buildings are being torn down and new six storey ones are replacing them. Here lies the question. If Patong gets to look like Benidorn will the tourists still want to be coming here?
MORE ELECTIONS LOOMING
It has been announced in the local press that there are to be more elections held on Phuket during February. This time it is for the senators post. How many more bar closing days are there going to be? (Ed note: Senators election look like being in March)
Any views or comments welcome please contact to Prowler on email
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