bar prices

[Mickyfin]

With a world wide downturn, falling numbers of tourists, the currency exchange rate, is it not time the bar owners around sukhumvit rd reduced their prices, for English people who remember the days of 35-36 baht/£,todays rates may not seem too bad, but as the Thai econamy crashed some years ago, the rate got a lot better, I think even around the 80 baht/£ mark, great, but with that came big price rises at the mainly ex-pat, tourist bars, people thought, it's only 145 baht for a beer, only £2, not really noticing they were paying way beyond normal for a drink or snack, now the uk pound is falling heavily against the baht, a lot of friends of mine are in despair, not actually realizing that 50 baht/£ is really quite good, they are starting to realize that they have been overcharged the last few years without even knowing it, maybe the bad exchange rate will be a good thing as the more expensive bars will have to reduce their prices back to a reasonable level if they want the tourist dollar or pound, me, I am a khao San rd and soi ngam duplhi drinker now,desperate times call for desperate measures.

[stilljustbrowsing]

Buy the beer/whiskey from 7/11 shops, drink it in the restaurants while purchasing some food there, that's what the "locals" do!

[sulasno]

do I have to bring my own glass and ice ?
including the bottle opener ?

[stilljustbrowsing]

including the bottle opener ?

That is not a polite way to talk about the wife!

[sulasno]

ooops me bad

my wife is the CFO

[Dave Masman]

Good to hear someone else has come to their senses. Expat bars are seriously overpriced, plus a rather pretentious affair having to mix with the 'new to town tourists' or English teachers at O'Reillys. The worst offender has to be the Black Swan, way overpriced due to accessiblity at Asoke. I urge everyone to boycott this place, it's devoid of any charm and character.

Personally I'd say the PICKLED LIVER AND BULL'S HEAD are a good safe bet, proper pub atmospheres without the BS and the traditional portions can in some ways justify the prices.

[Suttisan]

I think the Black Swan is quite a nice place, however the price of a beer is now something I can't really accept, 150 baht for a pint of Heineken? small packets of Walkers crisps for 70 baht, I can't really afford to do that anymore, I just prefer to get a few beers and stay indoors, watch a DVD cook some food, I'm making my own little beer garden at the momnet and have seen a Singha tower to buy

[rhythmandculture]

Bed Supperclub & Q Bar are way over price and paying for doors cover where the place is empty, makes no sense.

[gipchimsa]

Eighty baht for a single Heineken seems cheap now. I settle for that anyday.

Nobody minds paying a bit more for good T.V. sport or live music or quiz etc.

However, I recently stopped by a place called Pedro's on Suk. after visiting the very good Indian restaurant nearby.

The bar offered little, except a rat which I saw scuttle around the dining area.

A few disinterested girlies outside talking and giggleing amongst themselves. Nothing to attract there. No conversation attempted and bland service which amounted to a bottle being placed in front of me. I had asked for a glass, without ice. This caused puzzlement, but eventually a glass came, with ice. The ice was tossed grumpily into the road when I repeated that I did not want ice. I was polite in every way and laughed my way through it.

One drink = 120 baht. No other customers. I wonder why.
How do these places survive? There is no shortage of decent bars in that area. We know when we are not wanted. Flipping customers, they interrupt our conversation. We have to get off of our bums. We are after all so beautiful that all those fat farangs want us (as if.)

Contra story. I went into the Huntsman. Got draft beer and very good live music. It was happy hour and I had not realised it. A young lady from the bar brought me another "pint" without my asking. She said it was two for one tonight. Excellent. The place was full. I cannot remember what I had originally paid, but left content.

Had to edit as it was Pedro's. Sorry if any Pablo's exists. Not you

[rainmon]

With a world wide downturn, falling numbers of tourists, the currency exchange rate, is it not time the bar owners around sukhumvit rd reduced their prices

With fewer customers they will raise prices, this is the business logic; less money coming in, up the price equals more money coming in... one play pool bar on Soi 7 I used to go to recently cut out their happy hour, before 60 baht draft beer singha and asahi, they raised the prices to 90 baht over a 45% increase, then their business became very slow and fewer customers. Before people would go for happy hour and stay past 7pm and continue ordering drinks at higher prices. After 2 months they figured this out and started the happy hour again at 70 baht. But you have to watch you bin very carefully as they will pad it with extra drinks and try to rip you off if you have more than 3 or 4 drinks. They think after you have several drinks you will not notice especially if you are buying drinks for a lady or others. I would like to find a friendly pub with no hassles and rip offs, but I think impossible in Thailand.