4 hours ago, VBF said:

Quite odd, because a lot of the patrons of the Soi Buakhow location are local expats. So I'd have expected a Darkside outlet to succeed too.

As for what CC is, it's a cheap restaurant serving Western (mainly UK) food. Portions small but adequate, but good VFM. I never used to like it, but this year ventured in and (obviously!) tried the Thai food - Pad Thai actually. Not at all bad!

mix of local ex pats who live in pattaya and support it especially during slow season...then add in a zillion tourists on buahkow in peak season when it is often hard to find a seat.... darkside does not have the huge influx of high season tourists like buakhow..been there many times, always eat the thai food which is a bit westernized but tastes good...teh staff i have always found to be friendly and efficient...place appears clean, prices very reasonable...location price clean good service good food....no surprise to me as it sure seems to be well run.

..of course there will always be posters who eat there and then whine about the portion or the 100 baht steak not being up to the high standards..it's called cheap charlies not high end grass fed kobi steakhouse...i hope they open another location soon.

I'd just leave an OK income as-is vs the place ending up empty after a new failed business..but this the no-logic epicentre of the universe.

15 hours ago, terryq said:

To be enforceable any lease longer than 3 years must be registered at the land office.

A lot of landlords refuse to do this as they fear possible tax implications. So 3 years is the max they will grant.

Sure, what about the 30 year leases I know about?

19 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Not really, not if there isn't enough customers

You need to grow your on customerbase at any business.

15 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Sure, what about the 30 year leases I know about?

Tell us more about these 30 year leases you know about for small restaurants or bars. Be interesting to hear the details with some examples. What about the key money, periodic rent reviews etc which in most instances are every three years.

We are not talking about leases on land/houses - just business premises.

8 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

Is that an American talking? UK portions are probably US kid's portions.

Small brit portions, with a couple of exceptions

7 hours ago, petermik said:

And how exactly do you know this....or is it just speculation?

Speculation based on anecdotal evidence, a visible lack of customers, Pitini peaked 10+ years ago before competition

20 hours ago, Freebird13 said:

I don't go there much and not that cheap. Seems like a bunch of guys who want to hang out with other foreign guys and not the food. It's also strange that they open so many branches, felt like a tourist eatery.

Just a Kiss option for the UK and Oz crowd......

6 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Just a Kiss option for the UK and Oz crowd......

Or, for guys that are uncomfortable eating in an unfamiliar venue or around people that may not speak English well. There is a great curry place just north of the Soi Buakhao location that is practically always empty. I have ever seen a UK or OZ guy in there. Much higher quality of food and the same price.

If you really need to be around other people from your home country I suppose you could drop in to CC for a beer afterwards.

I live in Bangkok. And I haven't been to Pattaya for awhile.

But my experience over many, many visits is I couldn't find any good food!

Maybe a list of Patt's eateries and their specialties might benefit the members.

5 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

I live in Bangkok. And I haven't been to Pattaya for awhile.

But my experience over many, many visits is I couldn't find any good food!

Maybe a list of Patt's eateries and their specialties might benefit the members.

Hence the long running Restaurant review topic PINNED at th top of this forum

On 8/13/2026 at 3:54 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Another restaurant claiming it's the rent increase, but in reality didn't have the customers

Are you the owner of the building or business?

If not how would you know. I ate there often and during high season peak times often hard to get a table.

From what was I was told the Indian owner from BKK raised the rent to where it’s no longer profitable.

Prior to that they’ve been in business for a reasonable amount of time (for Pattaya).

Ate at Cheap Charlie’s once on Bukow. Never again.

And that other place on the east side of Bukow diagonally across (south) from tree town. Don’t remember the name.

I’d rather eat at an Army Mess Hall.

On 8/14/2026 at 12:50 AM, Keeps said:

Tell us more about these 30 year leases you know about for small restaurants or bars. Be interesting to hear the details with some examples. What about the key money, periodic rent reviews etc which in most instances are every three years.

We are not talking about leases on land/houses - just business premises.

Mate of mine had a 30 year lease on a restaurant starting in 1990, gave it back 3 years early as he was done doing business. No rent reviews.

Curious I ate at the Jomtien branch once -yes it was cheap but then I don't like to eat crap so have never re-visited.

On 8/12/2026 at 1:29 PM, orchidfan said:

The same I think as the "original" Cheap Charlie's that used to be in Bangkok....close to Sukhumvit(?).

New owners of the whole building block I guess wanted them out for development, hence raised the rent beyond a profitable level (for CC).

That was a great outdoor bar with atmosphere.

Hence the "Greedy Landlords" comment?

Cheap Charlies moved from Soi 11 to On Nut

https://www.thatbangkoklife.com/cheap-charlies-bangkok/