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Pattaya Beer Garden – Progress Report


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I am really enjoying the process of building this bar. Ten years ago when I started FLB I was so wary of being ripped off, befuddled by bureaucracy and screwed over by tradesmen that I really did not have time to enjoy the process.

 

This time round I know much more than I did then and feel much more secure dealing with the Thais. In fact I’ve had such a good experience with the Thais surrounding this project I’m starting to wonder if I’m dreaming. Progress has been spot on with the timetable I drew up and if anything we are a little ahead of schedule. Quotes have been reasonable and work has been done up to scratch and on time.

 

The one thing which makes me nervous is the fear of not delivering on what I have promised. The talk around town and on the forum about this bar has been very positive. Lots of people have said they feel this is just what Pattaya needs and they are looking forward to checking it out. Quite a few have expressed confidence that I am the man to get it done right, as well. I hope they are right! It is certainly my mission to meet and hopefully exceed expectations but it still makes me nervous.

 

Hers a few pics of the work in progress.

 

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The Big Bar starts to take shape

 

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70 meters of bar. It sure looks big to me.

 

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This huge piece of metal is actually one of the speaker brackets

 

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Here’s the very securely placed ladder used to install the speaker brackets

 

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And a guy welding it into place

 

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The same guy dead after he fell off the ladder. Not really . . . just tired after working so hard.

 

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The bar starts to get some colour.

 

I was hoping to be a bit more detailed about all the various things that have to be done to make a project like this fly but of course, now we are in the thick of it time seems to be short and I have not been as diligent as I’d prefer.

 

One funny story though was shopping for the big bars granite top. As there is 70 meters of bar and we have two surfaces to cover I was expecting it to be expensive. Once we arrived at the granite shop Ann who has expensive taste immediately picked out the most expensive granite they had. It was marked as 4,200 baht per metre. I just about shat myself. A quick calculation worked out at 588,000 just for the bar tops.

 

Fortunately it turns out that price is for one metre square and we only need 35 odd sq metres per surface so at 294,000 baht I’m feeling a bit better. Then it turns out that this particular granite is from Italy and the Thais make an identical style locally and it’s only 500 baht per sq metre so that’s now 35,000 baht. Man, I didn’t have a clue but the price went from 588,000 baht to 35,000 baht in about two minutes. That put a smile on my face.

 

Recruiting has been going well. We are paying over the norm and are getting some really good applicants as a result. The biggest relief was to finally hire our head Chef. The woman we found is just perfect and she has already been helping me knock the kitchen design and menu into shape. Thanks to everyone who prompted a friend to apply. I think we have just about hired everyone proposed by a board member but we do have a few more to follow up on. We are still looking for a few more service staff so if you know someone who may be interested tell them to call Ann on 081-826-4409.

 

Songkran is just a few days away and I’m hoping to get most of the work done before the craziness starts. Trying to get deliveries will be hell while water madness is taking place so the pressure is really on. The sound system should be complete tomorrow, bar stools arrive on Thursday, TV’s arrive Friday and the brackets are already in place.

 

The big job still waiting some serious action is the Kitchen but now our Chef is on the case I expect that to come together quickly. Our industrial strength beer fridges which have been made to order arrive on the 17th and that is one of the most important things.

 

I’ve spoken with a few freelancers about the project and they have all been quite enthusiastic about the new venue. Still they are the least controllable and probably the most important aspect of the place. We have some great promotions ready to launch to help drag them in and introduce them to the bar. More on this once the opening is at hand.

 

Our firm dates for opening our now 20 April soft opening. It could be a little dodgy from a service point of view for the first few days as we work out all the bugs in the system and do some serious staff training. We still look good for the official opening party on the 29th April. I hope to see lots of you there.

 

Pete

 

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Thanks for the update and I am pleased things are going well for you. I don't yet know when I shall be back in Pattaya but I shall certainly pay a visit or two to your new place.

Any news on opening hours yet?

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It's looking good and I'm looking forward to visiting on my next trip (whenever that may be).

 

Do your best to keep the cool ocean breeze blowing through. :chogdee

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Well Pete, you are single handedly responsible for adding to Pattaya's tourism business with this new beer garden. I was going to spend a month in Bangkok, rather than Pattaya, given that I have not been impressed with my last couple of visits to Pattaya. More specifically, I could never find the same atmosphere and hassle-free hang-out in Pattaya that I have enjoyed at the Soi 7 beer garden in Bkk. I am not a hardcore monger by any means (the pestering and dramatics annoys me to no end) and often enjoy spending my days and nights chilling out over beers in a hassle-free establishment where there is still a variety of ladies for the choosing. That coupled with the casual chit chat with people from all walks of life and reasonable food/drink prices has always attracted me to the bkk beer garden. However, the one thing I felt was missing on soi 7 was the open air experience and scenic view. Once I saw your posting I was again sold on Pattaya. If you can recreate the qualities of the Bkk beer garden and further that with the incredible location, I cannot see how you could not succeed. Chilling out over cold drinks and eating good food at reasonable prices, while taking in the view and enjoying the breeze from the water, all the while having a variety of women, whom are not hassling for drinks every second, to choose from sure sounds like the ideal place to me. Now add to that free wifi access and I have a permanent place to hang :)

 

To top it off, the gods must be smiling down on me, as I have plans to arrive on April 29th. Count me in for the festivities! :)

 

No pressure and best of luck! :chogdee

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Hi Pete,

 

Good idea. Good location :bigsmile:

 

But about the name ?

There are already at least 2 "Pattaya Beer Garden" in this area :rolleyes:

 

- one in "My best Friend" complex with the "Blue lagoon 2" A-GoGo

- one... in front of the FLB bar

 

Idefix

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Pete:

 

Major congratulations on how the place is coming together. I have been a big fan of the current FLB under Martin's stewardship, but the FLB when it was under your guiding hand was the very first place in which I set foot in Pattaya. I was made to feel at home from the first moment in the door. First impressions mean a lot, and your establishment was a great first impression of Walking Street and Patts.

 

I'm in town 04 May and as soon as jetlag and reasonable hygiene matters allow, I'll be in to see the place firsthand. So far, it appears a fine idea has blossomed into a great reality. I look forward to enjoying what I am sure will be a first rate experience.

 

~ Pen

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I am really enjoying the process of building this bar. Ten years ago when I started FLB I was so wary of being ripped off, befuddled by bureaucracy and screwed over by tradesmen that I really did not have time to enjoy the process.

 

This time round I know much more than I did then and feel much more secure dealing with the Thais. In fact I’ve had such a good experience with the Thais surrounding this project I’m starting to wonder if I’m dreaming. Progress has been spot on with the timetable I drew up and if anything we are a little ahead of schedule. Quotes have been reasonable and work has been done up to scratch and on time.

 

The one thing which makes me nervous is the fear of not delivering on what I have promised. The talk around town and on the forum about this bar has been very positive. Lots of people have said they feel this is just what Pattaya needs and they are looking forward to checking it out. Quite a few have expressed confidence that I am the man to get it done right, as well. I hope they are right! It is certainly my mission to meet and hopefully exceed expectations but it still makes me nervous.

 

Unfortunately wont be there for either of the openings but will be in there by may 21.

ozboy

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Hi,

 

I've had a disastrous 9 months but I'm still in the ring and hope to have a few cold ones there sometime this year. :ang2

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Looking forward to the next progress report. See you 8 May. :ang2 Are you going to offer brewed coffee? I have two cans of my favorite coffee ready to go as a bar warming gift. :allright

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web15.jpg

 

 

 

Hate to worry you Pete but those signs were no longer there when I was looking earlier Today! <grin

 

Good Luck Mate, not that I think you will need it.

 

Regards

 

 

Paul

:)

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This is really looking fantastic, Pete. Who did the design work? It looks great. Since I arrive on May 3rd for a 2 week stay I'll make sure to pay a few visits.

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Hi Pete

 

Mrs Cap and I arrive in town 15th May mid-afternoon. It's her first visit to Pattaya so we will make our first stop your place to take in the view and the vibes... just drop the bags at Secrets and straight to you.

 

Good luck with the opening

 

Andy Cap

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Hate to worry you Pete but those signs were no longer there when I was looking earlier Today! :hairout

 

Good Luck Mate, not that I think you will need it.

 

Regards

Paul

:)

 

 

Good looking signs!

 

So, what happened to them?

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Well it looks like I'm timing my trip perfectly this year, :hairout

 

I'll be there on the 23rd and will make it a point to swing through for the grand opening, save that far barstool for my fat butt I'll be parking it there on opening night.

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the sucess of this place will be on the backs of what girls make it their new "office", pure and simple. All the nice environment and location won't be worth a damn if the ratio of girls to guys isn't right when a punter walks in, there are too many other places that have girls available.

 

The sucess BKK Soi 7 biergarden demonstrated for years that a nice view or set-up wasn't needed, just lots of chicks looking to fuck for money. Gulliver's in BKK is a nicely appointed place w/ decent food, but if it wasn't loaded w/ hot girls looking for falang company, I'd never go in there after one visit.

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