Welcome back to Patong, and following on from your post, on Friday evening I went out with four friends for a lovely meal at Blue Beach Café and Restaurant, and after that decided to explore Bangla Road, and it was very busy, probably the busiest I've seen it since before Covid!
To cut a long story short regarding my visit: –
– Bangla Road was very busy.
– Kangaroo Bar was packed to overflowing.
– Bar Funk was about 50% full, which was good considering its recent level of patronage.
– Soi Freedom was a mess and full of small bars and other spaces which didn't seem to know what they wanted to be – – bar/café/eating place/whatever, as well as average looking women and lady boys. A sad demise from previous times.
– Black Horse bar had a few people in it, mostly sitting outside, probably because the music was so loud and thumping.
– Ended up at Red Hot which was only about 30% full and also was shocked to be charged 230 baht for half glass of wine!!
Overall, as Patong2 has said, "things definitely looking busier....... ".
And I do remember the Kris Kristofferson song!