28 replies to this topic

[silentmoebius]

Just sit in the Bar, sip your Beer and enjoy the show.. Would be a shame if they close down places like this.. I am sure they know of the financial and economical weight of these Bars..

I am sure Pattay wont cut of the branch, they sit on...

[insearchofxxx]

Closing all the bars would break the tea money chain, collected from the simple police man and accumulated through the ranks. Relocation, yes perhaps.
- I would not expect that any shop in Central Festival or the Hilton make their contributions to the BIB's "pension fund"..., but perhaps I am wrong?

[dtbctrek]

Why don't these cops come down hard on those thugs on the beaches who rent jet skis? There have been articles in the paper about many Jet Ski scamming incidents. This is doing more harm to tourism in Pattaya than anything else. And if they were really interested in finding drugs, just send a few undercovers in to walk around Beach Road day or night. Plenty of dealers there. 350 cops to shake down a few clubs. What a joke.

[Streetwalker]

It has been the intention of the powers that be to turn Pattaya into a family friendly resort.

Ultimately they want to see the block defined by Beach Road to the West and 2nd Road to the East from Pattaya Nua (North) to Pattaya Tai (South) 'cleaned up'.

That is not to say NO BARS but they want just bars - not knocking shops. The independent bars behind closed doors are their target. At one time they even proposed 'fencing off' Soi 6 at both ends to 'hide' it from the passer-by.

Beach Road has changed enormously in the last 5 years. There are many bar complexes already bulldozed - Hema Cabaret near Soi 9. The bar complex opposite Classroom 2 on Soi 2.

The acceptable model seems to be akin to those bars in Drinking St and the new complex on the corner of Soi 8 and Beach Road.

There is also another large reason to discorage the independents. TAX.

Most bars pay little or no tax. They are leased by foreigners and operated by their Thai partners who hold the liquor/music licenses. None of them are registered, nor charge, sales tax/TVA/VAT whatever.

The bars in Drinking St are leased from "Simon Beer Bar Complex Limited" - the bar operator pays a fixed rent each month whether they make a profit or not BUT Simon, as a limited company, does pay TAX on their rental income.

How many remember Triple X - the bar owners were told the building was either up for development or to be taken down to make a relief road.

The real reason was they did not want screeching LBs directly opposite their new prestigious Central Festival Mall.

Watch this space - I predict that within 5 years most of the independents will have been squeezed out. Thais rarely confront directly so with continuous raids, increased admin, new regulations and temporary closures the bar owner will get worn down and capitulate.

I believe the bars will move to East of Soi Bukhouw and 3rd Road - maybe even pushed out as far as East of Sukumvit.

[jmboy]

Fascinating article, many thanks. One thing we do know, is that notjing ever happens too quickly. As a sometime resident of Jomtien, I am not entirely displeased with what appears to be their strategy for Pattaya. Anywhere with less drunks, less dross and somewhat more class will always get my vote

[garrydirty]

I remember the triple x its funny really as i walked past there the other week thinking ov my few vists to that bar. and the building is still empty with people sitting out front selling there wares...also there are two new bar complexs built on soi Buck going towards the tuesday. friday market was at a party at one ov the complexs 3 weeks ago in this place there must be about 15 open-bars the other place which is farther back on soi Buck going back to soi Diana, soi Lengkee is still being built and has two floors they where offering 6 months free rent. allow i feel the bars on the 2nd floor will struggle........there is alot ov building work going on around this area with a new hotel popped up around there... also alot ov small "town house" complexs being built which will end up being guest house with family marts laundrys and chemists underneath like they built at the top ov Soi Lengkee..... anyway all this area was just waste land few years back and now seems prime site now with baht-buses going both ways along soi Buck..........Regards Garry

[edietower]

There's always the tug of war b/w "developers" and regular folks. Pattaya Govt & cops should see the big hotels are cheapskates over time v. bar owners who just want to get along!
(Greed is a synonym for developer)
Cheers!

[Albert Steptoe]

dtbctrek, on 07 February 2012 - 08:13 AM, said:

Why don't these cops come down hard on those thugs on the beaches who rent jet skis? There have been articles in the paper about many Jet Ski scamming incidents. This is doing more harm to tourism in Pattaya than anything else. And if they were really interested in finding drugs, just send a few undercovers in to walk around Beach Road day or night. Plenty of dealers there. 350 cops to shake down a few clubs. What a joke.

Because most of the jet skis are owned by the police or their scummy relatives so the scam is covered at both ends, why would they shake themselves down mind the buggers are greedy enough

[Tony Soprano]

From today's Bangkok Post:

http://www.bangkokpo...hange-its-spots

The lead in from the front page says:

15 billion baht, a little willpower - should be easy to get Pattaya to change its spots from sex-saturated sin city
to a green paradise, right? Right?

Edited by TSteve C, 26 February 2012 - 07:54 AM.