Draft Kilkenny and Guinness

[newboy]

Sitting minding my own business when overheard two farang guys discussing opening a bar in Hua Hin with Draft Guinness and Kilkenny. Being a draft beer fan, I lugged in on their conversation but couldn't make out where it was going to be situated. I know its not good to listen to other people's conversations but when I stayed in Bangers, I spent alot of my time in the Dubliner on Sukhumvit Road. I really miss my pints of kilkenny. Anybody heard anything? Don't know if there would be a big enough demand as its about 200 baht per pint? I couldn't sleep last night thinking about it.

[Bamboo Grove]

In Pattaya, Bangkok and Chiang Mai they are 160 baht per pint (though Kilkenny is sometimes 180). Can't resist to have a pint or two when visiting those places. Hopefully someone will get them to HH too.

[Bangkokney]

Problem you will have is that once you've tapped a keg there is limited shelf life. About a week in a beer bar environment and 2 weeks in an aircon environment at best.

considering a keg is 30ltrs & 500ml is a 'pint' give or take a couple of fluid ounces ... are there enough people to quaff 60 glasses of beer at 160/180 baht a glass week in week out to make draught Guiniffs or KeeKee a viable proposition ?

[Ken]

Very correct comment above. Guinness and Kilkenny have very short 'shelf life' so need good sales but owner is good fan so can do his bit. I can confirm that I am opening a fully air conditioned, purpose built, authentic Irish Bar in Hua Hin centre selling draught Guinness and Kilkenny via modern cooling systems. Probably also Draft Tiger and Heineken. Good pub grub etc. Prices will be competive. Chang and Singha have been canvassing us too so any feed back welcome. As I write, bar memorabilia, mostly Irish, winging its way from Ireland, England and America but still has to clear Thai customs!!! Full advert in March Observer and will also take up advertising here, Lev. Comments please.

[PeteB]

Ken,

Nice plug for the bar - but WTH - congratulations.

Surprised at the Irish theme (seem to remember North of Scotland being talked about) - but perhaps Celtic gives something away.

authentic Irish Bar

- I take it that muay thai is not on the menu!

Good luck (and if you get stuck with short shelf life product, I'm sure that some of the members on the board can help out in disposing of it!)



Peter

[thailooper]

Jeez Ken - why open an Irish Bar ? I'm Irish through and through but the last thing I want to see is an Irish bar in Hua Hin - by all means, sell Guinness and Kilkenny (recycled Guinness) if you wish - but do we have to try and attract the "go on ya boy ya" crowd singing "willie macbride" etc while ambling down the street ?

PLEASE don't call it an IRISH BAR !!!!!!!!!!!

Call me non patriotic if you like but I know a lot of Irish bods who come to Hua Hin just to get away from that crap and purposely avoid other Irish punters !! Over the past three years I've brought over 100 Irish guys to Hua Hin golfing - we "slipped in and out" (of Hua Hin I mean !) nice and quietly - and left a lot of money behind us.

Went down to Phuket last year - we ran out of Patong beach - too many Irish ! Even walking past the Irish pubs and hearing "Me heart is in Ireland ....." sent a shiver down my spine - and not the type of shiver down my spine I like !!!

It's OK to have Irish honeymooners and couples going to Phuket cos it's a famous "Island Paradise" etc etc - but what about the thousands of Irish guys that go to Hua Hin golfing and don't want to meet honeymoon couples - or caucasian females for that matter !!!!

I'm bringing another 15 guys out in a couple of week's time - I hope you're not open by then cos if they see an Irish Pub in Hua Hin they probably won't return !! I came here cos I was sh*t sick of Spain, Portugal and all the Irish Pub crap that goes with it.

IF YOU WANT TO DRINK IN AN IRISH PUB - GO TO IRELAND !! The Guinness & the other stuff tastes better there anyway !

OH WILLIE MCRIDE, WHY THE HELL DID YOU DIE ? - IF YOU HAD COME BACK ALIVE THEY WOULDN'T BE SINGING ABOUT YOU !!

SORRY !!!!!

[Bangkokney]

Ken,

...but owner is good fan so can do his bit. I can confirm that I am opening a fully air conditioned, purpose built, authentic Irish Bar in Hua Hin centre selling draught Guinness and Kilkenny via modern cooling systems...

Drinking the profits then, great way to plan a new bar

What cooling system are you being offered ? is it a tropical ice bank water cooler with insulated 'python' from cooler to dispenser ? If so is the keg also going to be /chilled ?

Your problem will not be the cooling system it will be keeping the keg itself at a decent temp even when the bar is closed and the main aircon is turned off.

[Ken]

Bangkokney wrote:-

Drinking the profits then, great way to plan a new bar

Hey, only joking, but I do miss my Guinness so intend to buy a few pints for myself.

A separate cool room will be built next to the bar to keep the lines as short as possible. Guinness suppliers will be advising us on all the specifications.

Thailooper, I have no problem with your comments and can understand your particular angle. But Hua Hin is a big place and getting bigger so shouldn't be hard for your guys to give us a body swerve if that is their want. If not, they will be very welcome. Life is about choice and opinion. Drop in and introduce yourself when we are open, I promise 'Danny Boy' will not be playing in the background.

Last night I supped a quite a few pints of draft Guinness at Crawford's Irish Bar in Cha Am where they are selling over a keg a day. Ok, its still high season, but shows the demand!

Cheers

[Bangkokney]

Ken,

Sounds like you are thinking this through properly ...

I had a cellar room in my bar in BKK and had a HUGE cellar room in my American/Irish pub in Bahrain where I had 11 draughts on at any given time. In fact it was the Guinness suppliers that helped me there with my first bespoke cellar ...

Best of Luck ...

[lomuamart]

I'd certainly pop in for a glass or two.
Your comment about variety and choice is a good one, Ken.
Let us know when you're up and running.

[Bamboo Grove]

Funny as it may be but the majority of the customers in "Irish Bars" in Thailand are not Irish. It seems to me that this has been one of the most popular concepts in the bar scene here for some years already. Hopefully we'll get a good alternative for Hilton's pub. I, too, would like to down an occasional Kilkenny and/or Guiness. I feel that Hua Hin does need this kind of place as besides Hilton there are no air-con alternatives. So all the best, Ken. Where will your place be?

[Lev]

Hi Ken, best of luck with the new venue, we can certainly get the word out about it on HHAD. I'll certainly drop by from time to time for a cold one.

[thailooper]

Don't get me wrong Ken - I wish you the best of luck too !! It's just that this whole "Irish Pub" thing pisses me off. I think Banboo hit the nail on the head when he said that it's mostly non Irish who frequent these places - could it be because most other Irish bods feel the same as me ??

Anyway, who knows - I might even drop in to watch the Ireland / England rugby match next week - I'll be the one wearing the Mexican jersey, speaking with a funny accent and cheering every time Ireland score - purely because they'll be wearing the same colour as me !!!!!!

Cheers.

[Fantom]

We had draught guinness installed in the bar last week, the bar being The Road Hole in Poonsuk Road. It is an open air bar, but the barrells are temperature controlled, shelf life is not a problem right now as we are selling a barrel a day! and so far we have only had two irish customers!! It is going down a treat, why not pop along and try a pint.

[Bangkokney]

Barry Wrote :

We had draught guinness installed in the bar last week, the bar being The Road Hole in Poonsuk Road. It is an open air bar, but the barrells are temperature controlled...

Are the kegs in a chill cabinet ?

How much are you charging for a 'pint' (I guess 500 mil glass) ?