Pattaya Updates – New LK Metro Venues and Raids
Pattaya’s Quiet Period as Tourist Spending Remains Weak
In the early morning, you go down to Soi 6 and it used to be a lot of activity, be it the girls waking up and going for food, the food carts coming up and down, or the cleaning of the bars. I’ve never ever experienced a city to be so low in numbers. There’s plenty of girls here. There’s loads of bars and lots to do. Just people aren’t making the trip right now. So, it’s a bit of a quiet period as we speak now.
Soi Buakhao waits for high season as spending remains weak. Soi Buakhao is one of Pattaya’s key tourism business areas, with a wide range of establishments serving international tourists and long-term visitors. Businesses operate throughout the day, with restaurants and massage shops opening in the morning and nightlife venues becoming busier from the afternoon into the evening.
Massage operators said customers are currently arriving in waves rather than providing the steady flow seen during periods of heavy tourist traffic.
LK Metro and the New Afterdark Gentleman’s Club
If you come into Pattaya, go around the corner to LK Metro. Remember the old Touch A Go when Jason had it? I used to be their photographer. That’s now up for rent.
Someone has taken advantage of this situation. Around the corner, you’ve got the new Afterdark Gentleman’s Club. The new venue is just around the corner from the Queen and the King.
Pattaya Waterfront Site Faces Parking and Ownership Disputes
In the Pattaya Mail, the mayor vows to reclaim the waterfront site and bar vehicles with barriers. There had been a situation where a lot of cars were being parked after someone had obviously opened the gateway and was using it.
The mayor said that vehicles are no longer being parked on the waterfront building itself after city officials filed a complaint and began following up on the matter with Pattaya Police.
A separate dispute remains over the area in front of the Waterfront condominium, which lies in the boundary area between the property and land claimed by the city. According to Pornmet, the private sector maintains that it has the right to occupy or use the disputed area, while Pattaya City maintains that the former owner had previously relinquished the area to the city.
The waterfront has had zero activity, as far as you can see, for well over a decade. It is a shame, but it is unclear whether someone could continue the build and take over. There could be rust and deterioration in the steelwork because of the sea air, meaning it might have to be completely dismantled and started again.
Bal Hai Pier and Beach Road See Major Changes
Between 7:00 in the morning and 9:00 in the morning, don’t go near Bal Hai Pier. It is absolute chaos, and you are normally bombarded with Chinese flag chasers going over to Koh Larn.
The Bal Hai Pier area has changed significantly, reflecting the changes happening in the city. There is such a low level of tourism right now that it is insane.
Further up from Bali Hai, on Beach Road, there has been huge pressure recently. The new PTY development is going really well and is looking good. It is another great asset to the Beach Road area and will reinforce the change in the skyline.
Chonburi Police Raid an Argentinian Steakhouse
Police and multi-agency officials in Chonburi raided an Argentinian steakhouse near the Dolphin Roundabout, arresting six Myanmar nationals and a Slovakian manager for working outside the terms of the law.
The operation targeted El Gaucho Argentinian Steakhouse, located near the Dolphin Roundabout. Officials received several tip-offs alleging illegal foreign employment and unlicensed trading at the venue.
The Dolphin Roundabout is near Terminal 21, where a new complex of restaurants and other businesses has been built.
Lawson’s Store and Candy Club Openings in Pattaya
A new Lawson’s store is being produced opposite Candy Club. Lawson’s is now opening there, opposite Candy Club.
Candy Club is packed day in and day out. The girls there are freelance and do not have any drink quota requirements. Their lady drinks are the same price as customer drinks.
Candy Club has live music and air conditioning, and is open from 8:00 p.m. until 4:00 a.m.
Danny’s New Sports Bar in Soi Buakhao
Danny has a new sports bar in Soi Buakhao, in the middle of the soi. It used to be Café Patini, and I wish him all the very best.
If you like baseball, get in there and have a chat with him about it. He has forgotten more than most people will ever know about baseball and has been a world-renowned journalist covering baseball for decades.
There is also a food court opposite Witherspoons, with several stalls where you can buy food. Upstairs, there is a golf learning centre on the right-hand side and a gym on the left-hand side.
Thailand’s First DreamWorks Hotel Planned for Pattaya in 2033
Thailand’s first DreamWorks hotel is planned for Pattaya in 2033. Thailand is set to get its first DreamWorks Animation-themed hotel, with Asset World Corp planning an approximate 300-room property and a themed water park at its Aquatique development.
The hotel will form part of a larger mix of accommodation, entertainment, retail, beachfront dining, leisure, and wellness facilities planned for the site.
The project builds on the company’s existing partnership with Universal Destinations & Experiences, which includes Jurassic World Asia at the riverfront.
Big C Opens Beside a Convenience Store on Second Road
On Second Road, just before Soi 6, there is a convenience store. It seems that Big C has taken over one of the units right next door and is opening there.
There was a little sign in the corner that said it was Big C. Because it is such a huge area where all the buildings have been barricaded up and are obviously derelict, I was expecting a big hotel group to take over the whole area, demolish it, and build whatever they were going to build. It seems now that it could be a reinvention of lots of little units along the way.
Khao Kheow Open Zoo Celebrates Hippo Mae Mali’s 61st Birthday
Khao Kheow Open Zoo is one of the attractions in the area. It is a really nice park and has a lot to offer.
The zoo’s hippopotamus, Mae Mali, has just turned 61. The highlight was a giant fruit cake made from Mae Mali’s preferred foods: watermelon, dragon fruit, apple, papaya, nam wa, banana, sweet potato, grapes, carrot, and fresh grass.
Police Continue Raids Around Jomtien’s Soi 2
Be very aware if you are dabbling in things you should not be dabbling with and are around Jomtien, particularly the area around Second Road and Soi 2. The police have been back down there again and continue to carry out raids.
They are looking for illegal substances and are arresting everybody and anybody within the vicinity who could be involved. Anyone in the area may be approached by the authorities.
Pattaya Reviews Road Ownership on Soi 6 and Soi Chaiyapoon
The city council is reviewing road ownership on Soi 6 and Soi Chaiyapoon to clarify who is responsible for carrying out repairs.
Bangkok Bank has an interest in Soi 6, while part of Soi Chaiyapoon remains privately owned. The director of the engineering bureau said that about 150 metres linking to Third Road remains private land.
The city can carry out temporary measures such as drainage, but lasting repairs would require the same approach as Soi 6: negotiation for the owner to dedicate the land as public property. Without that, future work cannot be treated as a full municipal project.
Australian Wine Evening at Dicey Riders
On September 25, Dicey Riders Irish Pub on Second Road will host an Australian wine evening. “Raise a glass to Australia at Dicey Riders Irish Pub where an unforgettable evening of premium Australian wines, delicious food, and live music awaits.”
The event will include a selection of Australian wines paired with cheese and charcuterie, as well as Irish-inspired cuisine. Tickets cost 1,850 baht net per person, and space is limited.
