mardhi

:happy0065:

 

Long before Anaconda, what was the name of the Ladyboy Gogo on Soi 7 in Pattaya?

 

(guys jump in ask questions too)

Goldfingers - one of the best laid out gogo's IMHO as it was wider then regular shophouse style bar.  Shame it closed.  

Beers at Temptations were 80 baht, which is quite low for a Nana Gogo.  Is it still 80 baht?

100b now in Temptation.  

We hear Check In are opening a new premises in the near future.  Anyone on the ground in Bkk got more info on this development?

As Dave has said and now confirmed opening on Friday 4th April. Its a big change from the little inside bar. Apparently that space is being made into a new staircase for the large room on the upper floor which is being turned into an Arab restaurant if the rumours are true.

Its a big space but front area in that picture will be changed to a outside courtyard/smoking area and the doors to the air con bit will be moved back.

Should look good once it is all completed. The indoor space is about 10m x 10 m so about 50% bigger than Guess bar and slightly larger than obsessions.

Here's a question for the Guess Bar fans. There was a photo posted that featured lbs who were supposed to work at Guess Bar, however there are TWO that never did end up on staff. Name those 2 lbs.

 

Here's one of those of those photos

 

 

Here's the other photo:

 

Rx, just to correct you, none were ever intended to work at the bar. They were just friends modeling the uniforms.

By way Ex is now in/was living in London and has been for a few years.

The volleyball later that year BB, was won by So What, and I think it was held in November.

 

 

 

Who can name all of the original crew in Guess Bar, back in it's heady days in Soi 1??

Jay, Jane, jenny, Nan, fern, joy, pear, beer, eat, ohm would be the main players. Then you had others who rarely got a mention in dispatches from the front line.

just read on another forum that Check In bar will be open at its inside bar tonight.  The street bar is not allowed to open due to the election taking place.

some updated pics taken couple days ago when up in the supposed war zone of BKK.   Aside from encampments in main streets dotted around, there seemed to be nothing else different.     Oh, everywhere was relatively quiet - however not as quiet as some may think.   All the LB bars I visted had customers for example.  

Check in now has 20 full time girls by the way.   Not bad for the smallest bar in Bangkok

This guy is hell bent on starting a civil war.

Does seem somewhat odd for a guy about to go on trial for murder of citizens in 2010 Red Shirt riots.   Probably leave the rest to your own imagination.

I noticed today while strolling to the toilets behind the bank of ATM's at Big C extra, that the usual queue of mostly foreigners had dwindled to just a Thai girl trying to use the atm.    I am by the way referring to the Aeon ATM.  

Incidentally,  Just as an FYI,  a load of ATM's had run out of cash in Big C by 4pm this afternoon.    I expect they will all be suffering from everybody withdrawing large amounts with the NY holiday.  

WTF do you need a CAT scan to determine if you have appendicitis.  Talk about over doing it.   I sure never had one when I was a lad (not that they were around then) - its pretty damn easy to conclude what it is without a scan.    

Flip side of course is, the risk of being sued if it was NOT appendicitis, means I guess, they do all available tests just to cover their arses (whom someone else is paying for) and keep the Insurance company (for the doctor negligence) happy.      

The Facebook page for Check In is now as shown here:-

https://www.facebook.com/checkin.ladyboybkk?fref=ts

Apparently the previous one fell foul of the FB rules on nudity aka a pair of silicone tits.  

Selection of pic's taken a few nights ago when I ventured into BKK

Bee is back with her new rack.

Inside Bar is currently open from 3pm - 3am and the outside cart opens at 11pm and closes at 6am.  

The large array of talent coupled with 100b beers and 300b barfines seem to be to going down well with the paying punters.   Full house last night.  

More pics at random. Heaps more on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Check-in-Ladyboy-Bkk-Bar/401617183283119

Cookie also formerly working in Soi 4

Here are some updated pics of the ever growing team of girls.   Some new additions as well led by the arrival of Bee from another venue in Soi 4.

I never got to Guess in its apparent glory days, I was there earlier this year and had a good time , what changed and how long ago ?

Guess Bars original concept was as a lounge bar with comfy sofas and a group of good ladyboys on staff, decent drinks and a relaxed atmosphere.   It had the perfect location for that in Soi 1.    With that model and with that level of rent, it was a good bar that made money for its owner.      Due to that location being turned into a hotel, the bar had to move.   There were hardly any options around.   The only real option at that point was to move to Soi 4 into another bar with different layout.    This location was much more expensive in rent plus it did not have the benefit of an onsite ST hotel, which the original bar had.  

For a number of reasons, the bar lost volume and was sold.   It simply could not meet its costs from the income it was achieving.

With the change in ownership - the models had to change to keep it going.     Volume had to increase, as price increases would not work in such a tight economic climate since 2008 financial collapse.     So the bar moved from being a lounge bar to moving more up tempo.   Dance platforms came in and party nights were a regular feature.   # of girls increased and the focus was on top tier eye candy.   Some girls who had a poor attendance record were let go.     The bar volume doubled.    It got to the point that often you had 30 guys in the bar on some party nights - the sofa's had to go and be replaced by bar stools & tables.   The customer numbers increased and so did their average spend.   They were staying longer, spending more because they were enjoying the new style bar.    Dedicated service staff were hired to improve things further in terms of drink service.     PR staff now looked after typically 25 hostess staff.    The bar was averaging 30 staff working there.  

That was the state of the bar when I left.  It was highly profitable and busy as customers were for the most part enjoying themselves.   Some customers prefered the lounge ambience - however the economics were just not there to do that style of bar in such expensive real estate as Soi 4 has become.  

With the coup came an anticipation that now this level of earning would all go to a Thai family.    However they expected the income without doing any hard work.   As they have found, things don't often work like that and especially in a small market segment such as this, in a bar with hardly any passing trade.   With the departure of many of the top tier girls, the volume has dropped considerably.  Party nights were dropped and salary payments slashed to the remaining staff.    The atmosphere changed and a negative mindset seemed to come in.    The source of new staff also dried up as the Thai owners were forced to close Anaconda in Pattaya as volume there went from good to nothing almost over night.     without the feed from Pattaya, the bar has struggled to get new staff that look good.    

Fast forward to its current day and you have a bar much more like its original state - the sales are down considerably and I am not sure how financially viable it can be now, especially if there rent increases to what it should be in that location.   It would appear that the focus is on chasing barfines now rather than trying to keep customers entertained and drinking in the bar.   Its running on typically 12 staff a night. The layout is now similar to before.      Time will tell, how much of a success it will be.   Many guys who liked the bar in its original soi 4 layout will likely prefer the change back.    My impression is however that many of these guys now enjoy another lounge bar more for various reasons not least of all the cost of drinks.   

Nobody really knows what the outcome will be.   However with increased competition from all quarters - they need to really lift the game to survive in that very expensive location.   

Check In has done well for a couple of reasons.   First up, it is and has always been just an alco cart on the street. They have been around for years. There is nothing especially different about the hardware.   Its a cart with plastic chairs selling beer.   What is different is the timing, the girls they have managed to pick up and perhaps most importantly the LB who owns it and is there every night being very hands on running the place and talking with customers.    Guys are attracted by the girls, but IMO its June that gets them to come back and become regular visitors.

With the fall out from Guess and a number of top tier girls leaving, most migrated to this bar eventually.  Some tried other venues, others freelanced and most have ended up here.    For a street cart to have this level of lookers is unheard of.   Even more odd is that they are there every day and working full shifts.    On any given night there are at least 8 girls there and it often balloons up to 15/18 girls.   Remember this is an alco cart in the street - it is not a closed in bar or even a beer bar.           

Due to the lookers they have a large trade of 'walk past' customers - probably 90% of their business is picked up in this way.  They get many guys from forums stopping in but its a tiny share compared to walk past trade.    I was there two nights ago for a couple of hours and it was pissing down.    The bar has a big awning and umbrella's so we were fine.   The trade was constant but not especially busy. I think I noticed twice a full house.   Other times it was normally just us plus one or two other tables occupied.      What is very different on this operation is that the trade is constant and ever changing.   The potential customer is whoever is walking past at that point.     I know full well what other bars trade and I can assure anyone that this little operation is more than holding its own.    The girls stay because they are getting barfined and in big numbers.   I was blown away, when June told me how many barfines they get a night.    She has more barfines than Guess got in the same month last year (when it was at its peak revenue period of 7 years, and don't forget I know down to the last baht was GB traded last year).    Barfines are what attract and keep girls - its very simple.

However one of the biggest reasons for the bar success is June the girl who owns it.   This bar is entirely her own.  I am quite happy to promote it as it offers the opportunity to draw custom down from Guess.  The history on that is well known but in a nutshell the current owner renaged on the agreements with the guys who funded the purchase of Guess from Jay (yes it was paid for and quite a decent sum of money) + paid to setup Anaconda Bar in Pattaya (which has now closed).  The 'shareholders' have not been compensated one baht and thus are not supporting in any shape or form Guess.    The loss of revenue on that score is considerable but not life threatening for the bar.     But anyway back to June.  

This girl is a breath of fresh air.    A now Post op with an adopted daughter and married to a Thai, she is about as far removed from the typical LB as you could imagine.   Fluent in English and more than capable of holding a conversation in Japanese (she worked at Obsession), she is lovely.     She does not drink or smoke.    She is there each and every night setting up the cart to trade.  This is a 30 minute job to transform a bit of pavement into a bar.    She has to do the complete reverse at 6am in the morning.  Talk about mind numbing.   Such a polava for earning a living - yet she does it every day and always has a smile on her face.      This girl not only remembers customers names but invariably what they drink and they style they like it (tall glass, big ice etc etc).    Currently its just her and a little boy acting as bartender.   That is it plus the girls.   As i say, IMHO, its June that gets customers to go back and become regulars in the bar - nothing is too much trouble for her.     That is why the bar has a strong group of supporters over and above what is normal.    This is her first bar - she used to work at Cosy bar further up Sukhumvit to Soi 3 - she has put everything she has into this and I for one am very impressed at her commitment and focus.  I have seen close hand Thai LB's operating bars and this girl is the best I have seen.    

In a nutshell, this bar should just be another Alco cart - however it has changed the mould and that is down to two factors: June herself and the team of girls who work there.   But it remains to all intent & purpose - nothing more than a cart and a load of plastic chairs.    Make of it what you will.      

Hello all, I am new to this forum but not very new to Bangkok or to ladyboys.

I am back in Bangkok in a few days and hope to visit this bar because it sounds very good and has many hot ladies working. I am staying in the dynasty inn same as last time I stayed in the city. I think it is a good hotel but also very basic. I have to ask, because I do not know the city very well, how do I find this bar? the last time I stayed in Bangkok was a few years ago I never left the street of my hotel apart from by taxi. do I need to get a taxi to this bar. the only bars I know are in nana plaza, I went to cascades and casanova, and also the guest bar was in the same street. I remember the guest bar very well because I took a ladyboy from this place and she was my first ever. I stayed with her for 3 days, I remember her name was Joy, and her name was very suitable because she was a joy to be around. I wonder if she still stays in the guest bar, I hope so.

 

Anyway, any help you can give me will be appreciated very much, and I hope to meet some guys over the next few days.

There have been 2 Joy's working at Guess Bar.   One is now a post op and last I heard was working at Vodoo - that was about 1 year ago when I saw her at Guess as she came in with a guy.   She did not say she was working at Vodoo but one of the other girls in the bar did.   You might want to check if your that concerned. However don't forget she now have pussy, not cock. 

The 2nd Joy was a livewire on the service team.   She left Guess a year ago, maybe more.   She was at Check In bar just 2 nights ago - pic attached.  As to wether its a long term thing, who knows.  

The first Joy is pictured here in the old bar in Soi 1 - she is 2nd from the right.

The second Joy is pictured here, two night ago at Check In.  

London is a very big city and you cannot talk about it as one entity

 

Basically you have the City and West End of London , Inner London and Greater London. I live in the City and i would not swop it for Bankok or id have to think hard about it as my business is based in UK. However as you move further away from the centre some parts are not so pleasant and i would swop in two seconds and emigrate.. my office is in a part of East London and its a hell hole.. id rather commit suicide than live here , but fortunately i dont

 

The City and the West end are what many think of as London but this part might as well be another planet . Parts of the West end are practically a Russian/Arab Monaco now with money being parked here in  property as its relatively safe in economic terms

 

I spent a lot of time in other big cities all over the world..Hong Kong, New York , LA,Moscow, Vegas , Milan , Taipei and so on and i think i would chose Hong Kong as a second place to live and work if i had to be based in one country for work.. if only i could afford a house there. But when i retire , sold the Family Silver and no work then maybe Bankok. To be honest i spend a lot of time in BKK anyway and feel like its my second home so i have a  happy medium

I considered buying somewhere in Old street/Farringon area when i worked there about 20 years ago.  what a mistake that was - I did not buy as i thought it was a dump and everything was closed on weekends.   But as always, location, location, location wins the day.   I remember looking at places for 100,000 Pounds - 2 bedroom flats in big old houses.   I hate to think how much they cost these days.

There are no load bearing walls in Thailand - the entire building is supported by pillars spread throughout the building.  The walls are just added later and can be broken down or moved - it makes no odd's to the building strength.   

They will have it done - looks like the are just putting floor to ceiling windows to me.  Why they think that is important though is beyond me - the view is only of the other wing !!!!.  

Can't say I have stayed there recently - but I do not remember it being painted green before.  Looks crap IMHO.   

I'll be heading home to London soon for a holiday and I am looking forward to the following:-

1. Theatre And loads of them.

2. Parks and loads of them.

3. Loads of good restaurants.

4. Cheap wine.

However London is not for the guy on a budget - although it need not be expensive either.  Just got to know your way around.

By the way - can you still park on single yellow lines after lunchtime on Saturday and not get clamped (and/or meters after 12 as i remember it). Always a good deal that was.  Drive up to the West End, park outside the BBC at Portman Place and it was free.  Two minute walk to Oxford Street.

A couple of recent pics taken from the bar Facebook page.   Plenty more here:-

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Check-in-Ladyboy-Bkk-Bar/401617183283119