Lion Pub closed permanently.

[Timwin]

Another sign of "low" high season. That place used to be quite popular and they renovated the place about six months ago.

[Puchaiyank]

Could be because there are no lions in India or China...????

[baansgr]

Changing demographics and daily police roadblocks on Tepperasit

[fhickson]

could have nothing to do with customers or high season.

 

pattaya bar owners are notorious for having personal and financial problems coming in.

[TaaSaparot]

None of your usual old chestnuts are true.

 

Landlord raised the rent significantly is the reason given.

Edited December 23, 2019 by TaaSaparot

[roger101]

I was in he Lion Pub a week or so ago and I saw a Thai man walking round, looking ,tapping on walls. I thought to myself its the sort of thing a prospective buyer would do (or possibly the landlord). I hoped then they would not be selling it.

Between my condo and Tigglebitties there were 10 bars (I've lived there for 13 years) now only the Caddy Shack is left.

The Loin pub was handy as I could go in there while my wife shopped at the market

[jcowle]

Thats a shame so close to my home, was only in there last week, all seemed well. 

 

John????

[Leaver]

This is the reason why I started the "Is the closure of your favorite bar or restaurant imminent" thread. 

 

It's so people can keep up to date with closures, as there will be many more in the near future.

 

 

[SidJames]

the clever landlord can pat himself on the back & count the 1000000's of baht he'll now not be getting in rent & keymoney

[jacko45k]

14 hours ago, jcowle said:

Thats a shame so close to my home, was only in there last week, all seemed well. 

 

John????

So just the Caddy Shack around there now? 

[TaaSaparot]

10 hours ago, Leaver said:

It's so people can keep up to date with closures, as there will be many more in the near future.

Maybe you should start an opening one as well, for balance.

[Leaver]

57 minutes ago, TaaSaparot said:

Maybe you should start an opening one as well, for balance.

Sure.  Why don't you? 

 

Would you open a business in hospitality here now, in the current economic climate? 

Edited December 24, 2019 by Leaver

[jacko45k]

3 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Would you open a business in hospitality here now, in the current economic climate?

Only for the recently arrived at the behest of 'her who is different'....

[TaaSaparot]

23 minutes ago, Leaver said:

Sure.  Why don't you? 

 

Would you open a business in hospitality here now, in the current economic climate? 

If that was the business I was in, then yes no problem.

 

In fact, I see plenty of new openings this high season, some will survive and some will fail as always.

 

I guess you prefer to concentrate on closings, as it probably suits your outlook on life?

Edited December 24, 2019 by TaaSaparot

[Leaver]

13 minutes ago, TaaSaparot said:

I see plenty of new openings this high season

Take a look around you.  Do you really see a high season?

 

When you say "new openings" do you mean a redeveloped premises, or just a bar or restaurant that was sold,  and opened again under a new name?

 

I started the "closure" thread so people don't waste their time making their way to a bar or restaurant, only to find it's closed. Nothing to do with my outlook on life. 

 

The thread was also asking members if they thought a favorite place of theirs was in danger of closing.  With more staff than customers in many establishments now, I think it a fair question. 

[fhickson]

13 hours ago, SidJames said:

the clever landlord can pat himself on the back & count the 1000000's of baht he'll now not be getting in rent & keymoney

if he can count...

[giddyup]

23 hours ago, roger101 said:

I was in he Lion Pub a week or so ago and I saw a Thai man walking round, looking ,tapping on walls. I thought to myself its the sort of thing a prospective buyer would do (or possibly the landlord). I hoped then they would not be selling it.

Between my condo and Tigglebitties there were 10 bars (I've lived there for 13 years) now only the Caddy Shack is left.

The Loin pub was handy as I could go in there while my wife shopped at the market

Isn't Liberty on the corner? I believe the owner of Liberty also owns The Lion as well.

Edited December 24, 2019 by giddyup

[TaaSaparot]

On 12/24/2019 at 2:11 AM, Leaver said:

Take a look around you.  Do you really see a high season?

Yes.

[Leaver]

On 12/25/2019 at 1:29 PM, TaaSaparot said:

Yes.

Care to describe what you call a high season? 

[TaaSaparot]

20 hours ago, Leaver said:

Care to describe what you call a high season? 

Seen every one since 1989.

[newnative]

Supply and demand taking care of things.  One of THIS closes because there are too many, one of THAT opens because there are not enough.  Lively high season in north Pattaya--actually, year-round. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 12/24/2019 at 6:04 AM, jacko45k said:

So just the Caddy Shack around there now? 

That's right, Punch and Judy has closed it's doors also.

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 12/24/2019 at 2:02 PM, giddyup said:

Isn't Liberty on the corner? I believe the owner of Liberty also owns The Lion as well.

Yep he also owns the 3 hole bar across the road from the Lion

[tomauasia]

On 12/24/2019 at 7:04 AM, jacko45k said:

So just the Caddy Shack around there now? 

Owned by Keith lock stock and barrel no landlord

[tomauasia]

On 12/24/2019 at 3:02 PM, giddyup said:

Isn't Liberty on the corner? I believe the owner of Liberty also owns The Lion as well.

I hàd diarrhea after I ate there every time. But great pub for live sports

[Thaidream]

The one thing that will destroy a successful bar in Thailand is when the lease is up, the landlord wants an unreasonable price insrease to renew the lease and refuses to negotiate.  

 

A perfect example of this is on Soi 33 in Bangkok which used to have at least 20 bars.  It is now down to 3.  All of the leases were owned by a few owners who doubled and tripled rents which forced stable money manking bars and other businesses to close and the buildings vacant for years.   They don't care- they consider it a loss of face to actually bargain in good faith or  re-notiate lower rents. In addition. all land owners are wealthy and could care less - they eventualy end up selling the land or build another Condo building.

 

The bar, with annual staff salary increases, can not put up it's prices past what the market will bear, and has no choice but too close.  Then, factor in the cost of relocating to another area with key money and competition and it makes it imposible to continue.

 

Usually what happens is the bar goes out of business; the staff have no jobs; and the land owner cannot find anyone to lease the building. A complete lose- lose situation.

 

Pattaya is filled with these situations as there are simply too many bars for the population and a declining Western tourist base.  

 

There are simply too many foreigners who try and open bars in Thailand  as it sounds like fun- drinking up the profits- and attempting to  monger the staff.   Most end up broke and aone with  a boorowed airline fare back to their home country.

 

Owning and running a bar anywhere, and especially Thailand, is a business that requires real skills and real business acumen.

[tomauasia]

There's not the volume of western men as we all know. The army has destroyed this area. Sad 

[jacko45k]

2 hours ago, tomauasia said:

Owned by Keith lock stock and barrel no landlord

Perhaps in his wife's name?

[SAFETY FIRST]

2 hours ago, tomauasia said:

Owned by Keith lock stock and barrel no landlord

I liked the original caddy shack.

Same soi, nearer the traffic lights 3rd road.

If it rained you got wet playing pool.

 

How's Keith these days,he was a grumpy guy back then?

[Laughing Gravy]

On 12/23/2019 at 9:42 PM, SidJames said:

the clever landlord can pat himself on the back & count the 1000000's of baht he'll now not be getting in rent & keymoney

Sadly so often the Thai business mentality. I have seen it happen in Bangkok so many times. The pub is doing well the Thai landlord raises the rent. Happened to a famous pub in Bangkok where the landlord raised the rent to 800,000 baht a month. The owner moved and built his own.

 

The property was empty for 2 years if I remember then became a 7/11 and I suspect at a considerable reduced rate.

 

Karma has a wonderful affect on greed I find.

Edited December 27, 2019 by Laughing Gravy