Child will be traveling on a Thai passport but will plan to apply for a British passport in the UK. Father is British and named on the Thai birth certificate

The answer is "yes".

This is from the VFS website :

• Should children come to the VFS Global visa application centre for applying for a visa?

  Every applicant who is submitting a visa application must attend the visa application centre in person. Children less than 5 years need to attend, but are not require to provide their biometric data. Children less than 16 years need to be accompanied by an adult and this cannot be a member of VFS Global staff.

But, as the child is British technically they should not be issued a visa!

See UK Visa for child entitled to UK Citizenship

But, as the child is British technically they should not be issued a visa!

See UK Visa for child entitled to UK Citizenship

Well spotted, 7x7. I only read the post title