Dodgy Bars

Discussion on where to go when the sun goes down in Hua Hin; bars, pubs, clubs, karaoke and general nightlife.
cookmanchef
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Post by cookmanchef »

Glad to see that this thread has come around to a more positive view. I'm sure there are a few dodgy staff in the town but I would guess less than 5%.

My experience is that if you are polite and treat the staff well they are far more likely to err on your side than vice versa. Maybe if you are the opposite then the opposite applies!
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RockyMtnJay
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Post by RockyMtnJay »

This probably doesn't really qualify as a dodgy bar. But just one of those things that rubs you the wrong way. I at least managed to make it to my second post before writing something negative. :oops:

First night in town went in El Murphy's as the second half of the Man U - Leeds game was starting up. Had a nice pint of cider mix. About 20 minutes into the second half they turned the sound down on the TV and the band started playing. A bit of a bummer but we can live without the sound. When we pay up at the end of the game we find out there is a 20 baht per drink charge when the band is playing and it is retroactive to drinks ordered before the band starts playing.:roll: Plus they add on the VAT. Just a small thing but very irritating, TiT. So irritating I couldn't avoid venting here.

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margaretcarnes
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Dodgy Bars

Post by margaretcarnes »

Thats a fair rant IMO RockyMJ. I've never known a bar anywhere to add the VAT to regular beer bill. And although it might be seen as helping the customer to see that the business is 'above board' - it must be a nightmare training staff to add the correct amount!
On the plus side from the point of view of staff, the practice is surely going to result in more small amounts of odd baht on a total bin, leading to maybe extra rounding up in tips.
As for a surcharge for entertainment - that should certainly be made clear on signs.
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Post by cookmanchef »

I was in Murphys last night to watch the Cricket and have a bite to eat. Band started up about an hour before I left, (fantastic draw for England), no extra charges, bill spot on, good value!
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margaretcarnes
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Post by margaretcarnes »

cookmanchef wrote:I was in Murphys last night to watch the Cricket and have a bite to eat. Band started up about an hour before I left, (fantastic draw for England), no extra charges, bill spot on, good value!
Thats good to hear. If a bar chooses to put on live music as an 'extra' to attract more customers - as Buffalo Bills old place used to do - thats fine. Extra charges for entertainment are only justified IMO when it's a special night - and advertised as such.
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Re: Dodgy Bars

Post by RockyMtnJay »

margaretcarnes wrote:
cookmanchef wrote:I was in Murphys last night to watch the Cricket and have a bite to eat. Band started up about an hour before I left, (fantastic draw for England), no extra charges, bill spot on, good value!
Thats good to hear. If a bar chooses to put on live music as an 'extra' to attract more customers - as Buffalo Bills old place used to do - thats fine. Extra charges for entertainment are only justified IMO when it's a special night - and advertised as such.
I agree that charging extra for a band is OK as it is stated on the menu. But I was a bit confused by what seemed to be a retroactive charge. But perhaps the band was on break when we came in at a bit after 9PM. When does the band start? They started playing about 9:30 but I can't be sure they didn't play a set before now that I think about it.

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Post by caller »

We got hit by the extra charge, didn't know it was to do with the band, thought it was just added VAT - maybe we got hit for both? I think the VAT/tax should be inclusive.
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Post by JimmyGreaves »

Bloody cheek adding VAT onto a bill!
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Post by pharvey »

Just possibly a tad tired and confused last time I settled the Cheque Bin at Murphy's, so can't really comment on "overpricing"... however, unless advertised or clearly noted it's a bit of a p*ss-take in my opinion to either put a surcharge on drinks due to live music, or add VAT (the addition of VAT taking the piss-take to a whole new level....).

Can agree with the surcharge for the band, though quite honestly (as has been mentioned) should really be reserved for special events.
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Re: Dodgy Bars

Post by DaveT »

RockyMtnJay wrote:
margaretcarnes wrote:
cookmanchef wrote:I was in Murphys last night to watch the Cricket and have a bite to eat. Band started up about an hour before I left, (fantastic draw for England), no extra charges, bill spot on, good value!
Thats good to hear. If a bar chooses to put on live music as an 'extra' to attract more customers - as Buffalo Bills old place used to do - thats fine. Extra charges for entertainment are only justified IMO when it's a special night - and advertised as such.
I agree that charging extra for a band is OK as it is stated on the menu. But I was a bit confused by what seemed to be a retroactive charge. But perhaps the band was on break when we came in at a bit after 9PM. When does the band start? They started playing about 9:30 but I can't be sure they didn't play a set before now that I think about it.

RMJ

The band actually start at 9.30 and play through to 12.30 with a couple of breaks.

I'm in Hua Hin 4 times a year for 10 days at a time and pretty much go in there at some stage every night. Great band and the lead singer/guitarist is a great guy. He's become a good mate and we often go out after he's finished to play pool and have a few beers.

The two Irish guys who run/own it are good company too.

Thoroughly good night out, especially if you enjoy "Jurassic Rock" as Deep Purple called it.
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Post by News »

caller wrote:We got hit by the extra charge, didn't know it was to do with the band, thought it was just added VAT - maybe we got hit for both? I think the VAT/tax should be inclusive.

I found the same in another bar a few years ago where the VAT appeared to be added on. Looking closer though I saw that the drinks were priced at 112 Baht with 8 Baht added, a total of 120 Baht , the same overall price as shown on the bar list.
On asking the barman he said that because the bar was a limited company they had to pay VAT and show it on the customers receipts.
Sounds credible but a bit strange as other bars that are displayed as companies don't issue till receipts.
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Post by Super Joe »

News wrote:I found the same in another bar a few years ago where the VAT appeared to be added on. Looking closer though I saw that the drinks were priced at 112 Baht with 8 Baht added, a total of 120 Baht , the same overall price as shown on the bar list.
On asking the barman he said that because the bar was a limited company they had to pay VAT
This isn't exactly the case, only Limited Companies with an annual turnover exceeding 1.8M Baht (current threshold) need to register and charge VAT. In practice companies turning over say 3M Baht would still probably not register as they only declare a certain amount due to so much cash business. Illegal, but there you go .....

Maybe the bar you spoke to News and El Murphy's are doing very well turnover-wise (I've seen first hand the amount of work, time and effort Murf puts in) and they are doing things by the book and registering for VAT as per the laws. Can only give them credit for that.

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Post by Rider »

The only other bar I know of doing the VAT bs is the Hilton Discoteque...
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Don't think dodgy bar

Post by Ken »

News wrote:
caller wrote:We got hit by the extra charge, didn't know it was to do with the band, thought it was just added VAT - maybe we got hit for both? I think the VAT/tax should be inclusive.

I found the same in another bar a few years ago where the VAT appeared to be added on. Looking closer though I saw that the drinks were priced at 112 Baht with 8 Baht added, a total of 120 Baht , the same overall price as shown on the bar list.
On asking the barman he said that because the bar was a limited company they had to pay VAT and show it on the customers receipts.
Sounds credible but a bit strange as other bars that are displayed as companies don't issue till receipts.
I would think that would be the case here. Last time I was in, I noticed them struggling with what looked a complicated computer system which will have a facility to show the VAT separately but very much doubt that it is in addition to the price quoted in the menus. Merely a book keeping exercise.

Seems a good system but didn't actually see the bill as my friend paid when I was in the toilet. Told Eddie to knock the door when bill was settled. :oops:

For sure they will have to be VAT registered.
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Post by nevets »

Murf,s is a great bar and the food is excellent ,also the band are brilliant. :thumb:
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