Is the closure of your favorite bar or restaurant imminent?

[Leaver]

56 minutes ago, kingdong said:

Do you honestly think the ruling classes,( not the underpaid foot soldiers)are happy with pattaya and its former image? The old,overweight farangs walking around with prostitutes half their age?have you ever spoken to normal decent thai women? I have and the moment you mention pattaya the conversation ends.the central government earns tax and vat from tourists,breking down my expenditure theres my airfare,bus fare to pattaya,baht bus to hotel,hotel about £100-£170 @ week apart from that and my food £7-£10 a day the rest  is spent on debauchery ( and the pursuit of) lady drinks (not many ) drinks,bar fines and the fee for services rendered,so i wouldn,t imagine they,re copping much out of me,unless the bar girls are registered for vat and tax reasons.the ruling classes are looking to the big brown envelope via the chinese in the future and if it all goes tits up like it did in shinoukville,que sera.they,re not going to give a tinkers cuss.

 

No argument from me that casinos is where the BIG Chinese money is at.  All the rest of the Chinese money is pretty much "zero baht tourism."  

 

However, until casinos are here, your average sex tourists spends more than a package holiday zero baht tourist, so why turn them away?

 

If "sex" isn't as lucrative as you say, how did it come to be a whole city catered for it, and prospered from it?  It sure wasn't Pattaya's lousy beach that attracted tourists to Pattaya.  

 

Look at all that "tea money" over the decades, going to the "ruling classes."  It sure made them a nice bank.  Not to mention, the Thai's that own commercial property here.  

 

You are just looking at what the sex trade makes for the Thai government in revenue for the Thai tax payer.  I am quiet sure the Thai government, in their role as leaders, couldn't care less, but as individuals, with business interests in the tourism and red light areas all across Thailand, I am sure they see the financial benefit to themselves to keep the sex trade here flourishing.   

[chrisandsu]

18 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

No argument from me that casinos is where the BIG Chinese money is at.  All the rest of the Chinese money is pretty much "zero baht tourism."  

 

However, until casinos are here, your average sex tourists spends more than a package holiday zero baht tourist, so why turn them away?

 

If "sex" isn't as lucrative as you say, how did it come to be a whole city catered for it, and prospered from it?  It sure wasn't Pattaya's lousy beach that attracted tourists to Pattaya.  

 

Look at all that "tea money" over the decades, going to the "ruling classes."  It sure made them a nice bank.  Not to mention, the Thai's that own commercial property here.  

 

You are just looking at what the sex trade makes for the Thai government in revenue for the Thai tax payer.  I am quiet sure the Thai government, in their role as leaders, couldn't care less, but as individuals, with business interests in the tourism and red light areas all across Thailand, I am sure they see the financial benefit to themselves to keep the sex trade here flourishing.   

Yep sex tourists are highly likely to buy a house/condo for their essarn beauty . Buy them a car and upkeep Somchai’s kids . Who are the big developers ? Who owns the car showrooms ? Who owns the private schools ? Who owns the hotels ? Who owns the water parks ? This is effecting everyone and their bills are a lot larger then terry and his shop house bar . The problem is even if the elite wanted to do something about the closures they cant as this is a world problem and the pressure would be too great for them just to open everything up . 

[Leaver]

19 minutes ago, chrisandsu said:

The problem is even if the elite wanted to do something about the closures they cant as this is a world problem and the pressure would be too great for them just to open everything up . 

 

I was commenting more on the idea that the Thai government wants to rid Pattaya / Thailand of its "sex tourism capital of the world" image, not the closures from covid.  

[chrisandsu]

27 minutes ago, Leaver said:

 

I was commenting more on the idea that the Thai government wants to rid Pattaya / Thailand of its "sex tourism capital of the world" image, not the closures from covid.  

Yeah I see what you are saying . The thing with most middle class bangkok Thais for example (my in laws) they just completely ignore that Pattaya is even a thing . They know what goes on there but don’t even mention it in much the same way the girls go back to the farms with an older guy and a bag of money ! No questions are asked . But they are happy to invest in the place to get tourist money

Edited January 25, 2021 by chrisandsu

[Nout]

Difficult to say with Covid..everywhere is shut really

[kingdong]

2 hours ago, Leaver said:

 

I was commenting more on the idea that the Thai government wants to rid Pattaya / Thailand of its "sex tourism capital of the world" image, not the closures from covid.  

And i was commenting on how the ruling classes are looking at the bigger picture in pattaya,they couldn,t care less about pattaya or its residents,they will cop a lot more from from ibackhanders from international developers and investors than trying to shake down bar girls and mongers.all i know i will continue to visit thailand( as long as i can split my trip 50/50 with vietnam,but if it gets anymore expensive will look elsewhere.

[jacko45k]

8 hours ago, Leaver said:

 

Thai's like the colour of everyone's money. 

 

However, I do tend to agree with you that the focus will shift to Chinese.  We saw this for the last few years, pre covid.

 

There will still be a place for farang here, but it will be treated with little significance.  

 

You can expect many properties here that traditionally catered for westerners, to be catering for the Chinese in the future.  

 

Yes, I think that likely.... they come in large numbers and seem to tolerate being herded about like sheep quite well, and head off quite satisfied to their hotels with their damp towels and souvenir  blurry picture cling-filmed into a styrofoam food tray ... A short nap perhaps before being coached to what looks like a school dinners canteen to battle over tureens of shrimp. 

[TaaSaparot]

Hearing today that all bars in the Soi Made in Thailand Beer Bar Complex, have been given notice that the complex is closing for good on the 1st of Feb.
 

[redwood1]

26 minutes ago, TaaSaparot said:

Hearing today that all bars in the Soi Made in Thailand Beer Bar Complex, have been given notice that the complex is closing for good on the 1st of Feb.
 

And what else could possibly go there?......More shopping....yawn......Its to small for a hotel...... Hey maybe a Casino...lol

[TaaSaparot]

12 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

And what else could possibly go there?......More shopping....yawn......Its to small for a hotel...... Hey maybe a Casino...lol

 

Who knows, maybe the Night Market Vendors have been told the same thing?

 

Believe it does not affect any of the Beer Bars in the Soi from Soi Buakhao, as they come under Tree Town.

[kinyara]

I suppose it's too much to hope if there is any demolition/redevelopment construction work planned on these places in main areas they go ahead and get it done now while there is so little activity around town. However I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually start digging up Walking street just as international tourists are allowed back in numbers. There was something going on there today but it was around the entrance sign. 

[redwood1]

2 hours ago, kinyara said:

I suppose it's too much to hope if there is any demolition/redevelopment construction work planned on these places in main areas they go ahead and get it done now while there is so little activity around town. However I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually start digging up Walking street just as international tourists are allowed back in numbers. There was something going on there today but it was around the entrance sign. 

 

After what they did to Khao San road....I believe the word redevelopment means sterilization......One good thing is the walking street landowners are very very well off and will try and protect the goose that lays the golden eggs...

[TaaSaparot]

Barry Kenyon says, Walking Street as we know it, is done .... Hmmm?

 

https://www.pattayamail.com/news/pattayas-walking-street-just-received-its-notification-of-doom-341519

[TaaSaparot]

For those that worry about Soi 7, they might find Nick Dean's latest video interesting.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSSwyo3n9bs

 

[treetops]

20 hours ago, TaaSaparot said:

Hearing today that all bars in the Soi Made in Thailand Beer Bar Complex, have been given notice that the complex is closing for good on the 1st of Feb.

The owner is offering places on Soi Excyte instead I understand.

[kingofthemountain]

7 hours ago, TaaSaparot said:

For those that worry about Soi 7, they might find Nick Dean's latest video interesting.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSSwyo3n9bs

 

Nick is a nice guy but he is totally lost with his lack of luck

opening 2 bars just before covid hit the zone

since this event he is still in the illusion business will be back soon as usual

(On this view he is on the same line as his ''friends'' from Nightwish group)

i am afraid it's not going to happen

[TaaSaparot]

1 hour ago, treetops said:

The owner is offering places on Soi Excyte instead I understand.

 

I was under the impression, its different owners though?

 

The owner of the new market at Excyte has the same owner as Tree Town, not MiT ?

[treetops]

1 hour ago, TaaSaparot said:

I was under the impression, its different owners though?

 

The owner of the new market at Excyte has the same owner as Tree Town, not MiT ?

Maybe just after a finders fee then?

[redwood1]

2 hours ago, kingofthemountain said:

Nick is a nice guy but he is totally lost with his lack of luck

opening 2 bars just before covid hit the zone

since this event he is still in the illusion business will be back soon as usual

(On this view he is on the same line as his ''friends'' from Nightwish group)

i am afraid it's not going to happen

 

Well the first bar can be blamed on just bad luck.....But that 2nd bar well.......That is not something I would have even considered until I saw things improving....Pattaya bars sure expect a lot from retired expats..... 

Edited January 27, 2021 by redwood1

[TaaSaparot]

46 minutes ago, redwood1 said:

 

Well the first bar can be blamed on just bad luck.....But that 2nd bar well.......That is not something I would have even considered until I saw things improving....Pattaya bars sure expect a lot from retired expats..... 

 

I gave his bar in Soi7 a visit, just after it opened, and a small bottle of Leo straight out of the box was 95 baht.

 

Even though, I made a show of asking for a glass and ice, he showed zero interest, and just sat staring into his phone at the bar.

 

I did not need to know anymore.

[dabhand]

2 hours ago, TaaSaparot said:

 

I was under the impression, its different owners though?

 

The owner of the new market at Excyte has the same owner as Tree Town, not MiT ?

Word is that MIT has two owners with the owner of the section that links to 2nd Road being the one that has the Soi Excyte connection. So, maybe only 1/2 of MIT is for the chop / relocation. But, there again, who knows?!!

[VBF]

12 hours ago, TaaSaparot said:

For those that worry about Soi 7, they might find Nick Dean's latest video interesting.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSSwyo3n9bs

 

Don't usually bother with his videos but this one was interesting

That food stall looks very well organised and could well be permanent.

Hopefully we will see TQ "rise from the ashes"....like it did before ????

 

To be fair, Sois 7 and 8 have been dyeing on their feet for the last few years, long before Covid.

It looks as if the opportunity has been taken to "upgrade" 7 at least - judging from that video, there's at least a spirit of optimism.

 

ND's comment about a "big explosion when things get back to normal" seems likely to me and I agree with his closing opinion.

This boy's glass is half-full ????

 

This one from just over a month ago is interesting too  

 

Edited January 27, 2021 by VBF

[kingofthemountain]

1 hour ago, redwood1 said:

Pattaya bars sure expect a lot from retired expats..... 

Maybe they expect too much?

The western expats in Pattaya aren't in the same numbers as they were

in the past (For numerous reasons, most of us know why already and i don't want to list it here)

the ones remaining are often old, sometimes with health problems, a lot of them on a budget

plus they are already in couples with a Thai wife and aren't anymore clients for the girlies bars

 

[kingofthemountain]

16 minutes ago, VBF said:

Don't usually bother with his videos but this one was interesting

That food stall looks very well organised and could well be permanent.

Hopefully we will see TQ "rise from the ashes"....like it did before ????

 

To be fair, Sois 7 and 8 have been dyeing on their feet for the last few years, long before Covid.

It looks as if the opportunity has been taken to "upgrade" 7 at least - judging from that video, there's at least a spirit of optimism.

 

ND's comment about a "big explosion when things get back to normal" seems likely to me and I agree with his closing opinion.

This boy's glass is half-full ????

 

This one from just over a month ago is interesting too  

 

As i said in my previous post Nick is a nice guy but since the covid hit on his business

he is becoming delusional, seeing positives signs where there were none as everyone

can see it in the video. I have posted a realist comment on this video when he posted it

and i wasn't surprised to be censored and my post not publied.

 

It was clear his objective was to attract more guys in Thailand in general and

in his bar in particular, but i am sure the ones lured and deceived by his view

and going at high price trought the quarantine have probably been very disapointed by what they have discovered after their 15 days in a jail, ending in the reality of a city where almost everywhere is closed and all the fun gone.

 

Edited January 27, 2021 by kingofthemountain

[VBF]

5 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

As i said in my previous post Nick is a nice guy but since the covid hit on his business

he is becoming delusional, seeing positives signs where there were none as everyone

can see it in the video. I have posted a realist comment on this video when he posted it

and i wasn't surprised to be censored and my post not publied.

 

It was clear his objective was to attract more guys in Thailand in general and

in his bar in particular, but i am sure the ones luring by his view and going at high

price trought the quarantine have probably been very disapointed by what they

have discovered in the reality of a city where almost everywhere is closed and all

the fun gone.

Well as I'm not actually there, I must defer to your view, and I admit he is waving the flag rather a lot.

Edited January 27, 2021 by VBF

[kingofthemountain]

5 minutes ago, VBF said:

Well as I'm not actually there, I must defer to your view, and I admit he is waving the flag rather a lot.

I live here and i walk around Pattaya central area everyday,

so i know pretty well what is the reality on the ground, and it's not 

as ''rosy'' as Nick seems to think. I admire his optimism (Or maybe he hasn't

the choice, being financialy tied here with his bars) but nothing at the moment

let me think something like the ''good old time'' is going to back soon, if ever

Edited January 27, 2021 by kingofthemountain

[VBF]

2 minutes ago, kingofthemountain said:

I live here and i walk around Pattaya central area everyday,

so i know pretty well what is the reality on the ground, and it's not 

as ''rosy'' as Nick seems to think. I admire his optimism (Or maybe he hasn't

the choice, being financialy tied here with his bars) but nothing at the moment

let me think something like the ''good old time'' is going to back soon, if ever

Now I think "if ever" is unduly pessimistic, but "when" is quite unclear at present.

As I said "This boy's glass is half-full" 

[kingofthemountain]

13 minutes ago, VBF said:

Now I think "if ever" is unduly pessimistic, but "when" is quite unclear at present.

As I said "This boy's glass is half-full" 

What i mean by ''ever'' is the Pattaya most of us knew will probably never be back

All the signs coming from the highest levels to the lower ranks of Thailand's authorities are in favor of a change in the country's reputation.

 

They don't want anymore to be seen as the best monger destination in the world.

Of course they do it thai style, they don't put in place a law forbidden the girlies beer bars

and others gogos, but they act in a way it's becoming near impossible for these business to operate at least in their actual form and location.

 

If they move in a more discret place and act in a less visible way

maybe they could be allowed to stay in th business.

 

Or not. 

 

 

Edited January 27, 2021 by kingofthemountain

[TaaSaparot]

3 hours ago, VBF said:

Hopefully we will see TQ "rise from the ashes"....like it did before ????

 

 

That they have not stripped the bar yet, probably says a lot.

[kinyara]

Be interesting to see if the newly renovated venues such as the ones shown in the Soi 7 video, and the complex in front of the beer garden, try to pass the cost of those renovations on to the customer as tends to have happened in the past. I remember Abbe's bar in Walking Street undergoing an ill advised modernising renovation which resulted in an inferior sterile venue and increased prices, it lost its volume of custom from the outset and closed for something else in a relatively short period of time. 

 

I think we can all see through the line being trotted out by the bar owning bloggers and news group, they will be desperately trying to persuade their core custom of bell ringing, bar fining studs sitting overseas that Pattaya is back and buzzing at the earliest opportunity. Who else pays their prices ????