Home Tags Posts tagged with "Bars"
Tag:

Bars

Destinations

The Problems and Challenges facing Professional Bar Owners in Pattaya

by Kim
written by Kim

The problems and challenges facing Professional Bar owners in Pattaya are a major test of sweat, blood and tears.

Pattaya Thailand, once a bustling tourism centre with arrivals figures that were the envy of many Countries around the world, with world class hotels, swanky shopping malls, vast attractions in addition to its more notorious beer bars and the GoGo establishment on Walking Street, offered something for a board cross section of people from around the world. The once vibrant city is now virtually shut down with all bars, restaurant, hotels etc shut down and boarded up. Some restrictions will be slowly lifted soon but it will be a long and challenging journey to see this city and others like it around the world, once again shine and fill with happy visitors.

  • The Problems and Challenges facing Professional Bar Owners in Pattaya 6
    Pattaya’s famous Walking Street
  • The Problems and Challenges facing Professional Bar Owners in Pattaya 7
    More than 3,000 bars in Pattaya

Since the R&R from the Vietnam War, westerners have been visiting and many stayed enjoying the great atmosphere, agreeable climate and being surrounded by the smiling faces of their Thai hosts. Many have stayed and made Thailand their home, opening businesses, marrying and raising families. For many the lure of running a bar with virtually inexhaustible supply of thirsty clients and employing bubbly young ladies to entice them onto the threshold was a dream. It is estimated that there were more than 3,000 bars in Pattaya and for many amateurs the dream soon ended in misery.

Others took a much more professional view and I am delighted that one such professional has opened up to to discuss the challenges that now lay ahead.

Phil first came to Thailand in 1996 gaining valuable work experience employed in the bar scene before breaking out in 2016 to open Le Pub. This is a friendly expat Pub located on Soi Diamond very close to the famous (infamous) Walking Street. Phil is a true landlord who runs a tight and professional ship, he greats each patron as he enters and knows everyone by name. The bar is relaxed, informal and offers high quality imbibement at sensible prices. Recently Phil reached out on Facebook, opening up on his plight and offering suggestions. I would like to forward this to all who are interested in the trials and tribulations of professional bar owners such as Phil,(a.k.a.MisterEgg) in Pattaya:- 

The Problems and Challenges facing Professional Bar Owners in Pattaya 8
Screenshot

“The government has announced a further extension of one month to the emergency lockdown measures. That means that the curfew is in place for another month. What this means for the bar is that these measures have to be met before I can open:


1: Easing of curfew
2: Reinstating sales of alcohol (provincial)
3: Easing of social distancing regulations

I have then heard that all entertainment venues will have to apply to the government to reopen.These are the measures to take to be able to open are just for JUST FOR EXPATS. Then, travel restrictions including lifting bans on foreigners traveling into the country have to be lifted before any sort of tourism can resume.

That, in black and white, is what I am facing before I can begin to see any sort of return to profitability for the business.

It’s a long road ahead.

I have a very good landlord, the best. He is giving me a rent holiday whilst I am closed. But I have six staff staying in the bar which incurs electric and water costs. I’m providing food for them, and I’ve been helped by some of my regular customers, for which we are all so grateful. Thank you.


I also have to pay legal fees such as social fund and tax, I’ve been told if I don’t pay some sort of income tax I won’t get my visa and work permit on renewal. 

A month ago, I took the decision that if I wasn’t open by June 1st I would turn off the water and electric in the bar and the staff would have to return to their family homes. I can see that date coming around and I’ll be in the same position as I am today.

I have stayed away from offering any opinion on all of this and just done what the government has told us. Together, we have got the numbers of new cases of the virus down to single figures nationally and zero for days in Chonburi province. But now I have to say that unless there is some sort of help from government to help us through the months and months I fear we must close, then there is just no point in me trying to keep the business going. 


Every day, I walk past rows upon rows of people waiting in line for charitable handouts of food and water from individuals and businesses. Thai people hungry. 


I have the appropriate visa and work permit, my company registers staff and pays social fund every month. My company pays tax every year on profits. The government seems happy to sacrifice the tourism industry to keep the numbers low.  Some of my staff have received the emergency handout to casual workers. Some have received some of their salaries paid by the government. Some social fund payments have been frozen.


I am asking the government to consider the following.

* Consider entertainment venues with outdoor seating to open up to the curfew hours, if social distancing and hygiene standards are observed. (This is being considered in other countries)
* Defer all payments for entertainment licenses till we are open fully.
* If entertainment venues open without music, Government work with music licensees to offer refunds or discounts on future licenses.
* Consider government backed loans to registered businesses in the tourism/ entertainment sector to help is through the lockdown 
* Local government relax payments of signage tax


If the restrictions don’t ease soon and we can begin the road to opening that I have outlined above, I will have to conclude that I will be just throwing good money away.

I receive messages every day from customers old and new, many in Pattaya now, telling me that they can’t wait to get back to Thailand, come party in Pattaya and even come to my bar. I hope to be able to welcome them.
But, hope for this business and the nightlife in Pattaya is running out.”

  • The Problems and Challenges facing Professional Bar Owners in Pattaya 9
    Le Pub, Soi Diamond
  • The Problems and Challenges facing Professional Bar Owners in Pattaya 10
    Pool in Le Pub

You may either love, hate or just accept the nightlife in Pattaya. Whilst it is an integral part of the ‘charm’ of the resort, many feel that a lot should/could change if it is to continue, and the virus is providing the impetus for this. However, a few bars have already been providing higher cleanliness for their customers and LePub has always been one of the leaders.

It is not easy for Phil and his colleagues and, to be honest there remains very little light at the end of this long tunnel.

This article is not meant as a plea or as a judgement, purely the words from the heart of a truly professional bar owner in Pattaya. Phil I know that your many regular customers are rooting for you, for many there is not a lot they can do as they are stuck in their respective shutdowns, but you are not alone!

The Problems and Challenges facing Professional Bar Owners in Pattaya 11

Kim Waddoup

Founder

Kim Waddoup enjoyed a lifetime in the tourism business and is an active ‘Silver-Ager” living in Thailand. He writes for his age group with high varied articles covering subjects relevant to retirees living in, or visiting Thailand. Any questions or comments on this post? Please do feel free to contact me through our ‘Contact Form’ or directly kim@meanderingtales.com

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Food & Drink

What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area

by Kim
written by Kim

What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area?

What actually makes a good bar great and makes you wish to return? We all have our preferences and reasons but what really makes a few of these bars standout? Pattaya has an overabundance of bars in virtually every shape and form scattered throughout the city each plying for your custom and willing to relieve you of some of your hard-earned cash. The choice is vast from swanky roof tops, elite cocktail bars, entertainment venues, professional sports bars, neighbourhood bars, Gentlemen’s Clubs, live music venues, holes in the wall and Thailand’s omnipresent Beer Bars. What is your preference and what criteria should a bar provide to encourage your patronage?

  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 17
    Pattaya Roof top bar
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 18
    Pattaya Beer Bar
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 19
    Pattaya Cocktail Bar

Location: With a city the size of Pattaya, obviously location plays a large role, many will seek their ‘local’ generally located within a short staggering distance of home. However, Pattaya offers such an extensive range of areas each with their own distinctive features and character. From Naklua, to Beach Road, from Soi Buakhao to Walking Street, from the Darkside to Jomtien each region/area offers its own distinctive atmosphere and enjoyment. What are the main features/facilities that make a bar popular?

Ambience: What are you actually looking for in a bar? Good company, lovely ladies or just a quiet place to sit and watch the sport, chat with other locals or to watch the world go by? How loud should the music be? How comfortable the seating? Or just how quickly you get your cold beer. Some may like just to sit alone and peruse the day, some would prefer company with the recognised openings of ‘Where are you from? What is your name?’

  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 23
    Original Names
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 24
    Vast Choice on every street
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 25
    No money No Honey

Size & Decoration: Again, a great variety is available in Pattaya from modern, airconditioned gastro-pubs/sports bars to the rows of very basic beer bars many of which date back to the American R&R style that basically turned Pattaya from a sleepy fishing village to a major tourism hub. Many bars are well decorated, comfortably furnished with  screens and smart restrooms whilst many of the beer bars are just a row if horseshoe bars located under one roof. Each has it’s hopeful name trying to entice you to enter, if that fails the cries of “Welcome” from the indeterminate aged ladies is often enough to scare one away.

  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 26
    Local Bar Restaurant
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 27
    Classy Sports Bar
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 28
    International

Drink Offers: Whilst the choice of many is the ubiquitous small bottle of beer that stands as company for many drinkers enveloped in it’s insulated ‘Condom’, the choice of drinks in most of the established bars is vast, from excellent draught beers, good wines, exciting cocktails and spirits from every corner of the world. 

A small bottle of beer in Thailand is 320 ml and a large bottle 640 ml, alcohol content ranges from 5 to 6.4% alcohol. Light beers have 97-123 calories and full strength from 130-165 calories per 320 ml and the cost of a small beer in a supermarket is THB.39. In simple establishments in Jomtien the going rate is around THB.50, cross Pratumnak Hill and the prices start to rise to THB.80 to THB.100, though in some establishment this rises to THB.150. Naturally there are many Happy Hour deals around and many bars also offer specials on certain days of the week. It does depend very much on your budget where you drink.

  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 29
    Happy Hour & more
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 30
    Happy Hour

Music: I am not a prude but as one advances in years sometimes with word “music’ becomes questionable! Some establishments appear to consider that a tinny concoction of repetitive, metallic sound at high volume through a poor sound system is synonymous with having a great time! Some may like this and good luck, but I personally steer away. Most of the better bars in the Pattaya have both a professional sound system and an understanding of the phycological aspect of music making customers feel content and most importantly consume. Some establishments even change their music at different stages of the day/night to encourage consumption. Pattaya is also blessed with a vast array of live music, some excellent and some rather poor. Exploration will find some excellent bands playing popular tunes often in combination with Thai or Isaan music.

Company: One does not need to stand alone in Pattaya! Many bars, particularly sports bars are regular haunts for the expat community that lives here. These are regular, convivial bars where one can easily strike up a conversation with your neighbour at the bar. A few Western managed establishments are also keen to introduce people to each other and many evenings can be pleasantly spent. Probably more that 70% of the bars in Pattaya have the added facility of female company or gay or even hybrid! Many visitors enjoy this attention, after all in their own countries how often are they approached by attractive, young ladies! Sorry to burst your egoistic bubble but naturally this attention is commercially founded. In beer bars the ladies earn a commission from every drink that they serve you, your kind offer to buy them a drink is also much appreciated. Sometimes these are regular drinks but these can also be Lady Drinks. Thailand has a great system of bills being added to a small pot on your table, you can always check the costs by looking at the slips. Generally, the rule is the better the bar and the more attractive the company, the higher the prices. 

  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 31
    Soi 8 Bars
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 32
    Bar Complex
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 33
    Much busier at night

Facilities: The quality of the bar generally indicates it’s standard. Most of the open beer bars sport a pool table though many are of a questionable vintage. Most of the Sports Bars offer high quality table, some of which are a joy to play. The more established bars offer some excellent food where the cheaper street bars can order food in for you. Especially in these enlightened days of the Covid-19 virus the quality of washrooms takes on a much higher priority. Many of the cheaper bars share a public toilet so you pay to consume the beer and you also have the pleasure of paying to dispose of it. Generally, sanitation in Thailand is not of the highest level, but you will note that some bars really go out of their way to provide hygienically clean facilities for their clients.

  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 34
    Meet new friends
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 35
    Exclusive if you wish
  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 36
    Simple and fun

Basically you can find whatever you are looking for in Pattaya and in future reports we will be looking closer at some selected establishments. Watch this space!

  • What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 37
    Maybe you want your own bar? Going cheap!
What makes a good bar? A guide to what you can expect in the Pattaya area 38

Kim Waddoup

Founder

Kim Waddoup enjoyed a lifetime in the tourism business and is an active ‘Silver-Ager” living in Thailand. He writes for his age group with high varied articles covering subjects relevant to retirees living in, or visiting Thailand. Any questions or comments on this post? Please do feel free to contact me through our ‘Contact Form’ or directly kim@meanderingtales.com

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
@2023 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Purple Prawn Design