Police Crackdown on Patong Bars

[Abercrombie0hugsU]

OK, I guess I can understand that. I can imagine how frustrating it must be to plan a holiday or your weekend around a big night out then not knowing it was going to close early. I remember when I was moving over here and Phuket was having the strikes over the bar closure times.... it was not fun for me expecting everything closed for a few days and can feel for the tourists experiencing the same when they are coming for holidays.

The "complaining" comment wasn't directed at you Kev, just a general comment but as you say, most people do come here for the flexibility and freedom. It would be good to have some places open later, ie. disco's etc that can continue into the small hours and everyone knows they can still party. A phasing period could possibly work so bars close at xxx hour and only clubs/disco's with certain permits could be open. who knows

 

[Steve]

Last night (Friday) the big Police Chief was down Bangla and all the bars were forced to shut at 0230!!:unlove: :bad:

I went up the street and even Taipan and Rock City were chucking out and had all lights on.:erf:

This insanity is not over yet :rules: :erf:

 

[justestin]

When the TT Driver happily whistles all the way back to your hotel you know that you negotiating skills are not up to par.

 

[melissa r]

Don't really agree with you here Diz regarding the touts. It is such a simple solution to removing them and one the go go owners could do surely in one soi meeting and heh presto they would be gone.

I understand your point but why should holidaymakers be exposed to be scammed by these people? it is only 300 baht but that is 300% of the normal cost of a beer, they are not forewarned nor forearmed about this practise and its not right or fair. It cannot help the go gos nor their longer term reputations, because people get scammed and then never return to the go go, nor possibly that soi, so again harming Patongs reputation and all business owners in that soi.

What benefit are they to any business or to Patong?? none in my opinion, so why does anyone tolerate them?

The jumping in front of people as they go to enter a premises is even worse in my opinion, because you havn't even agreed to be shown there, you have avoided them and made your own way, they have not provided any small service and you are not even aware that they have jumped in front of you as they are not wearing an official scam artist identification shirt. So you enter the show or go go, order a beer and get charged 550 baht, how does that leave the holidaymaker feeling about that establishment or about Patong? the holidaymaker is then faced with a dispute situation that does get aggressive on most occasions, maybe we can blame alcohol, but why should they be put in this position, unknowingly?? will they thank anyone for the experience they have now gained??

Understand your point regarding Tuk Tuk's, think it is more regular than you think but on certain journey's. We get it every second time when taking them to come back to Kamala Hills, cos they always stop short of the development and say ' me not know where Kamala Hills is, so will have to charge more!!' or again we live up a hill, they stop at the bottom refuse to go up unless we pay more. Think it is therefore more destination sensitive, Lil who posted about it, also lived up a hill, so he saw it also more frequently. So maybe overall, your guesses and point are correct.

 

[pomparents?]

Correct...it's because the moderators considered the subject matter a "touchy subject". Just go into Idle Chat and post a load of jokes to get your post count up.

 

[Noneofyour]

I also heard it will last for a week, as we have so many high ministers and police from BKK now, I guess its due to the Swedish women killed at Mai Khao beach. Should be back to normal next week.

 

[Marinoska]

what time was that bangla road photo taken

 

[blueeyed girl]

Ahh, but like everyone has said. either start earlier.

or just finish earlier. And head to the room earlier
I found the 2AM ruling ok, We then headed to the dClub, until it was closed by police, usually around 3-5AM.

Also, we were able to continue 'drinking' in the bar i was at, just with no lights, or music.

 

[Meganne M]

100% Rustyasian my frog informs me police in Patong have been given the hard word. We will see how long it lasts.
Pattay still sees the killjoys closing down everything at 1. My guess is its gonna be the same here eventually.

 

[Jr. is angry]

Easy to do but won't happen. The extra trade they bring the owners is too much for them to give up.

 

[Snakey B]

... and wish happy birthday to people who you have not met.:intello:

 

[Go Cubs Go!!]

Just look for the 7' Plastic Ronald doing a Wai outside the entrance! S'true! 55555

 

[whartyorarp]

You're a big, what Americans call, a cigarette.

 

[NellyE]

its called old age big man....555555.........

 

[mukeshgupta]

Is he the same guy who own The Beach Resort Hotel near Boots Chemist on the Beach Road?

I stayed there a couple of years ago and the owner told me he was running for Mayor and had a big prawn farm etc,

Regards

Drew

 

[Mrs. Brightside]

So how many posts do you need to qualify.

 

[MisterTattiePie4U]

A correction and update on my last post re Pattaya.
Just returned from a 5 day swaree and can confirm that MANY bars are still operating 24 hours, the katoeys are present and annoying 24/7 on beach road and, happily, the go gos are buzzing till 3.30. Not sure what as happening on my last trip.

 

[Mrs.Heretic]

I'm not so sure .... there are so many BM's of different nationality - a foreign language section for native languages might be a good idea - after all its a bit unfair to expect everyone to speak English - perhaps a new section for this but for the main board should stay as it is.

On the early closing issue - it sucks and hope that tourists vote with their feet/$$$ and hit these autocrat dictators where it hurts.

 

[Lone Marlin - Airborne]

Yes still 2o'clock closing........It's rumors around of an upcoming bar-strike soon.....

Geir

 

[awesome!]

Seems like the same discussion over and over.

The latest bars are legally aloud to stay open until is 2am. Some places like Banana (based on hotel property so extra hour) have always stuck to that closing and have done quite well building up an early evening business.

Anything past 2am is bonus time afforded by the local boys in brown for some reasonable consideration.

Legal closing times are determined by Bangkok. Bangkok has never made any real distinction between tourist areas and not. The only difference between "zoned" and unzoned is 2am vs. 1am closing. Phuket has never been officially given free reign with closing times.

Compare with Singapore (as kev points out) you can go late. They purpusly changed to longer hours to attract more tourists. I think it is quite clear BKK wants to go in the opposite direction as conservative factions view all this as undesirable.

Personally I would prefer consistency. Tourists should have consistency. I blame the inconstancy on the greed of the bigger bar owners and police trying to push it. Not bangkok.

For now a 2am closing means I'll be back to the car by 1:45am so I can avoid the mess (and frisking).