Local Pattaya bar owner at wits end after legal dispute over bar lease and status

[webfact]

 

By Adam Judd

 

Pattaya-Pattaya bar owner Jason Childes, from the UK, 49, came to The Pattaya News recently along with his lawyers from Issan Lawyers to tell his story of an ongoing dispute between him and his former trusted leaseholder.

According to Jason, who has been coming to Thailand for many years, he came full-time in September of 2021 and decided to purchase The Happy Buddha Sports Bar on Soi Seven in Pattaya in May of 2022, fully opening in June of 2022.

 

Jason states that he had what he thought was a trusted friend of eighteen years, whose full name is withheld pending further legal action, sign the lease for twelve months, although all money and refurbishing of the bar, as well as ownership, was handled by Jason, according to him. Jason even hired a relative of the leaseholder.

 

Jason said all was well until somewhat recently when he terminated the employment of the relative of the leaseholder, who he states was sleeping on the job and whose own relative was allegedly taking from a convenience store till also owned by Jason. Evidence provided by Jason to Issan Lawyers and The Pattaya News appears to show the actions described.

 

At this point, according to Jason, the leaseholder went behind his back to try to cancel the lease with the landlord of his bar, leading to ongoing legal issues and what Jason says have been threats from various individuals and parties, including a policeman in plainclothes who Jason believes may have been fake. The bar is still fully licensed, according to Issan Lawyers.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2022/12/07/local-pattaya-bar-owner-at-wits-end-after-legal-dispute-over-bar-lease-and-status/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2022-12-08

 

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[Lucky Bones]

Buy a bar in Pattaya  What could go wrong?????????

[d4dang]

when in doubt...bail out

[ukrules]

Meh ????

[Khmer Surin]

What are the chances?

[steven100]

he's living the dream .... 

[thaibeachlovers]

In Thailand

Rule #1/ never invest in or buy property.

Rule #2/ ( applies in any country ) never employ ( or work for ) friends or relations.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

According to Jason, who has been coming to Thailand for many years,

but apparently never learned much in those "many times".

 

I once stayed in a Pattaya guest house co owned by 3 farangs. One of them told me he did so because it was like owning a brothel ( they had a gaggle of girls that "worked" there ). Last time I saw him he was getting dragged out onto the street and beaten up by the one that was "the boss".

I don't think the "boss's" Thai wife was impressed by her husband's actions making her lose face, as next time I went back there, the "boss" and the other part owner were gone.

[ericthai]

I feel bad for the guy, he really should just cut his losses and move on, his partner and lease holder will just drag things out until he has no money left to do anything. 

[andyman57]

In the word's of Freddie mercury and another one bites and another one bites another one bites the dust ????????

[Scouse123]

This sounds like he has taken a sub lease for 12 months from the leaseholder and doesn't own anything.

[Elkski]

Welcome to Thailand.  Please come invest your money here wit us. 

[nigelforbes]

Years ago, Soi Zero off Sukhumvit in Bangkok was one of the better expat bar areas, good music and few tourists. One day a new farang owner appeared at one of the bars, we asked if he wasn't concerned about the rumors' that the soi would be cleansed because it wasn't zoned for bars. Naw he said, we know some people, this place will be sound for years. Less than six months later the soi became a parking lot. Caveat Emptor

[jacko45k]

12 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

This sounds like he has taken a sub lease for 12 months from the leaseholder and doesn't own anything.

They rarely do... not much up for sale in those areas. It is a minefield doing business here but cashed up folks keep landing!

[4MyEgo]

It appears that Jason has a good business acumen. Dime a dozen.

 

Hopefully he will learn from his experience, i.e. never allow someone else to have your power, i.e. control over your financials, whether it be by a lease in their name, an alcohol license in their name, etc, etc, and only invest 10% of your worth, that way, if your power is put in a situation like this, you can just up and move on as opposed to going to war and losing more of your power without any certainty. 

 

Take the loss, move on, learn from your mistakes, it's cheaper to sit on the stool and enjoy your drink while taking in the scenery, no stress, no loss, lots of other investments not holding you down and you can make more money than a bar makes.

 

 

[Bim Smith]

Welcome to Thailand where you will own nothing but be happy. Straight out of the handbook of the World Economic forum.

[Scouse123]

4 minutes ago, nigelforbes said:

Years ago, Soi Zero off Sukhumvit in Bangkok was one of the better expat bar areas, good music and few tourists. One day a new farang owner appeared at one of the bars, we asked if he wasn't concerned about the rumors' that the soi would be cleansed because it wasn't zoned for bars. Naw he said, we know some people, this place will be sound for years. Less than six months later the soi became a parking lot. Caveat Emptor

Soi twilight in downtown Bangkok near Patpong went for years issuing only one year leases.

 

Massively popular soi, with gay and straight bars and eateries.

 

When people were selling I told them they were only selling a one year lease and couldn't command the silly prices they were asking for nor justify the investment. I was answered that it had always been that way and was as ' safe as houses '

 

The entire Soi was sold by the landlord for redevelopment, new owners came in and gave every bar six months to get out.

 

The owners wouldn't have meetings nor discussions, they just sent police and lawyers.

[jacko45k]

Was it Washington bar area in Bangkok where owners were forced out, the bully boys were sent in at nighttime. I do recall going to a rather good GGB that was surrounded by other bars etc that were in the process of being demolished. 

[Peterw42]

I dont think the guy has lost much, its literally a couple of cheap tables and chairs, a television and a (probably owned by coca cola) refrigerator. I don't get what the guy is renting, or thinks he owns, A roof ????

He could take the extensive quality fittings with him and move on.

Would it still be a "sports bar" without a TV ??????

 

[nigelforbes]

2 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

Soi twilight in downtown Bangkok near Patpong went for years issuing only one year leases.

 

Massively popular soi, with gay and straight bars and eateries.

 

When people were selling I told them they were only selling a one year lease and couldn't command the silly prices they were asking for nor justify the investment. I was answered that it had always been that way and was as ' safe as houses '

 

The entire Soi was sold by the landlord for redevelopment, new owners came in and gave every bar six months to get out.

 

The owners wouldn't have meetings nor discussions, they just sent police and lawyers.

I can top that. ????

 

Sukhumvit Square, Soi 10, 2003. 44 bar beer leaseholders were making lease payments to the sub lease holder but the landowner wasn't receiving anything. One Saturday night after the bars had closed, soldiers using bulldozers flattened every bar, without any warning. The landowner, Kuhn Chuvit of soapy fame, along with 66 other defendants, got up to 5 years each. 

 

 

 

 

[Robbie2618]

Why have someone else who wasn't involved in the business sign a lease for his business? When I rented the lease was in my name, I wouldn't want anyone else on it. I'm guessing there is more to it.

[roo860]

'Trusted leaseholder', there's the first stumbling block.

[alex8912]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

In Thailand

Rule #1/ never invest in or buy property.

Rule #2/ ( applies in any country ) never employ ( or work for ) friends or relations.

 

 

Don't buy properties? As in condo's? Why is that? 

[IAMHERE]

OK, I'll stop in for one beer next time I'm on that Soi. Be sure to let us know if the bar goes titsup so I won't stop anymore.

[Gottfrid]

This guy is the owner of nothing, but maybe it´s a UK thing to rent something and then say they own it. However, why did Mr. Jason not rent and sign the lease himself? What does he have to hide? If nothing to hide, that action is plain stupid.

So, here we have a man the rented a place for buy equipment and furniture as well as employ people and stock up. All making it look like a bar. At the same time putting his trust in other people on the most important paper. His lease! 

Yeah, that sums it up! I think it´s just to read above. No more words needed. Anyway, I am totally lost and out of words. 

[IamNoone88]

it doesn't look like much of a bar.

[zyphodb]

3 hours ago, andyman57 said:

In the word's of Freddie mercury and another one bites and another one bites another one bites the dust ????????

"and another one gone, another one gone, another one bites the dust"

 is how it goes, I think...

[Leaver]

1 hour ago, alex8912 said:

Don't buy properties? As in condo's? Why is that? 

 

Do you think condo's float in mid air in Thailand?  ????

[spidermike007]

If it were me, I would cut my losses and move on. Legal remedies here rarely work. 

[Leaver]

3 hours ago, ericthai said:

I feel bad for the guy, he really should just cut his losses and move on, his partner and lease holder will just drag things out until he has no money left to do anything. 

 

How can he walk away from 5 months left of a 12 month lease on a beer bar, and what about that bamboo furniture, fan, and small TV in the photo?  You just can't walk away from such a large investment.  It's worth fighting for.  ????