Avoiding the traffic and crowds again this New Year so does anyone have a recommendation for a lively but not overdone spot on the lake side (dark side) where cocktails can be imbibed and the the pretty fireworks over the city can be observed?

Thanks,

NL

I am literally walking out the door, so don't have time to research this. But I heard Band of Smiles is playing somewhere in that area. Maybe a quick google search will show you? I think they are on facebook. Fantastic band.

They are playing at The Venue just before you reach the Lake on the corner coming from town.

Mrs NL spotted The Venue on our afternoon recce run and observed 'looks like they already have a party' as the place looked quite busy.

Anyhow, we were in town early evening and I found a cheap room on Soi 4 at the last minute on Agoda so we opted to join the crowds on Beach Road. It wasn't near as manic as we feared. After the 'count down' and fireworks, we had a couple of beers at a bar between Soi 7 and 8. There we consoled an elderly bar lady after several customers left their bar stools to go watch the fireworks... and never came back, leaving unpaid bar tabs. Doesn't that happen every year? After a couple of Changs for herself, we all agreed that kharma will be a b!tch for those guys in 2015 whereas Mrs NL and myself will be simply unstoppable.

Happy Hogmanay to all the Pattaya TV'ers, darkside and elsewhere.