Preparing for my eye op, I had to refrain from alcohol consumption since before Christmas and last night was my first bar night out of the year. As usual, my choice was Father Teds for Guinness. Teds was as quiet as Ive known it.
About 9:15 my son and I took a short reconnaissance walk up Poonsuk, down Binthabat and back to Teds via the karaoke areas. I found it hard to comprehend what I was seeing.
- Poonsuk was in darkness apart from the French Bar, which had 2 girls sat outside (assume staff), and three restaurants with lights on, but no customers.
- Bintabaht, as we approached it was hideously loud, which always puts me right off the place. I turned into the Soi, and first impressions were, nothing has changed i.e. loud music, girls in the soi trying to entice us into their bars. It's always reassuring to have it confirmed that I'm still handsum, and I was very welcome to enter their bar. However, upon close inspection there were very few bums on seats. The most we saw in any bar was 6 punters. As we walked down the Soi, there was very little happening from the square onwards. I noticed King Bar was open on the left, but no punters, and think the same on the right from U Turn (again empty) There was one other bar open on the right (don't know name) which is where we spotted 6 punters.
- We turned right at the Hilton. There was one bar open on the right with no punters, and the bars that front the karaoke area simply looked abandoned. One bar seemed to have a storm damaged roof where punters should have been enjoying themselves. My son reckoned he could see a light inside SamSam, but there was no other sign of life
Will it survive? I honestly think it has gone beyond the point of no return. There are other options available these days, much cheaper, and quite honestly, much nicer bars.
This is entirely my personal view based on a 10 minute walkthrough at about 9:15pm. I was shocked.