Question on running a bar business in SEA over the years

[Butch]

Right guys, I know this is going to sound odd, but there's a wealth of info and experienced BM's here, so I'll start by telling you why I posted this topic.

I recall that running a bar, not necessarily in Pattaya (but as most of us are familiar with the place, we can use that as a yardstick) used to be a fairly tough gig. As a manager, you had to try and please everyone all of the time, deal with piss heads, angry staff, Police and some other elements of society that came around for a handout. The long term health implications of getting drunk or at least drinking most nights also would take its toll, and that's before getting into sorting out your Visas, accommodation, transport and everything else that goes hand in hand with daily life. Sleep was probably at a bit of a premium and it wasn't all twanging bargirl knicker elastic and swigging G&T's.

While I watch YT and see that many Bar managers / owners seem to find it easier nowadays for some reason. A few of them have time to make YT videos and probably make a few quid from it (although not as much as they would have you believe). Running a bar appears to be a fairly smooth and slick operation once things are in place and they don't seem to face the hassles like some of our esteemed BM colleagues who've done the job before faced.

Do you think that the pool of skilled labour for Cashiers / managers etc has improved, or has technology just made life a bit easier?.

or

Am I totally wide of the mark and it's still a pretty thankless, difficult and not much fun job?.

 

[Stillearly]

I think most "managers" aren't really managing much ( especially at the Soi 6 bars ) they are hosts or rent a livers and just there to try and get customers drinking / spending 

all other stuff police , visas , licenses , girls are dealt with by owners or mamasans 

 

[ChiFlyer]

I vote for "wide of the mark". I have never owned or managed a bar and have zero reasons to give it a try. The Mrs, early on in our getting together, gave it a try and I said "if you keep doing this, I am saying good-bye". Her sister and a few other friends have taken a run at this and none of the operations were successful or even lasted for 6 months.

[Butch]

5 minutes ago, ChiFlyer said:

I vote for "wide of the mark". I have never owned or managed a bar and have zero reasons to give it a try. The Mrs, early on in our getting together, gave it a try and I said "if you keep doing this, I am saying good-bye". Her sister and a few other friends have taken a run at this and none of the operations were successful or even lasted for 6 months.

Yep, I'm thinking along the same kind of lines.

Not many Bar managers / owners I've spoken to have ever said it's the worst job they've ever had but of those I know (knew) I'd say 80% of them have returned to their respective Countries to settle with nothing to show for it apart from either an alcohol problem or simply being pretty burnt out. However, this was back pre covid, maybe around 2010 - 2013 when I was coming over 3 or 4 times a year.

Nowadays they seem not to have, or maybe they hide the issues that I noticed others develop over time.

[Yesitisdakid]

3 hours ago, Butch said:

Am I totally wide of the mark and it's still a pretty thankless, difficult and not much fun job?.

 

Can't speak for those that are doing it now but when I was involved and doing it it was fantastic. So much so I don't think I ever considered it a job. And the money and the benefits were excellent. I still benefit today from having done it. If you work for the right people and you do it legally it's a great. But if you're trying to do it under the radar always looking over your shoulder worried about who's going to come in and catch you working when you shouldn't be then I would say it's definitely not going to be much fun

[Derek Dangleberries]

In the '90s I would imagine that it must have been a right pain in the ass being an "Agony Aunt" for blokes to poor out their troubles to, especially those in relationships. I bet 7 hours working in the bar felt like a decade sometimes for the poor feckers..

Nowadays there are forums and YT "Experts" to lighten the load for them but f**k if I'd do it !!

[Glasseye]

On 8/4/2024 at 9:20 PM, Butch said:

Right guys, I know this is going to sound odd, but there's a wealth of info and experienced BM's here, so I'll start by telling you why I posted this topic.

I recall that running a bar, not necessarily in Pattaya (but as most of us are familiar with the place, we can use that as a yardstick) used to be a fairly tough gig. As a manager, you had to try and please everyone all of the time, deal with piss heads, angry staff, Police and some other elements of society that came around for a handout. The long term health implications of getting drunk or at least drinking most nights also would take its toll, and that's before getting into sorting out your Visas, accommodation, transport and everything else that goes hand in hand with daily life. Sleep was probably at a bit of a premium and it wasn't all twanging bargirl knicker elastic and swigging G&T's.

While I watch YT and see that many Bar managers / owners seem to find it easier nowadays for some reason. A few of them have time to make YT videos and probably make a few quid from it (although not as much as they would have you believe). Running a bar appears to be a fairly smooth and slick operation once things are in place and they don't seem to face the hassles like some of our esteemed BM colleagues who've done the job before faced.

Do you think that the pool of skilled labour for Cashiers / managers etc has improved, or has technology just made life a bit easier?.

or

Am I totally wide of the mark and it's still a pretty thankless, difficult and not much fun job?.

 

I have always heard finding a good/trustworthy cashier and holding on to them is the most important and difficult thing to find.

 

But I don't know squat.

[coxyhog]

In the early 80's I got friendly with a few bar owners in Pattaya.It was probably one of the reasons I kept returning to Sin City.

Mike Smith ran Caesars Bar on Beach Road next to Soi 8 for quite a few years then he did a runner allegedly owing a heap of money.Not heard of him since.

Colin Dresner ran the George & Dragon on Soi Yodsak(now Soi 6) & he also did a runner with his wife & kid.I kept in touch with him,he ended up living alone up north in the UK after his missus ran off with an Italian chef.Sadly he died a few years ago.

BJ ran BJ's on Walking Street for many years from the late 70's onwards.He now has BJ Lodge on Soi 3 & is still married to the same lady.He is the most successful of any of the bar owners I knew.

Wayne Tischburn ran Nacho Noi's on Soi PO & then later was a partner in the Wild Chicken & the Hash House groupie.He met with a very sticky end in the Dynasty in BKK.

There was also Geordie John & Popeye who had the Rolling Stone,they both went back to the UK but I believe they visit Pattaya occasionally.Chris had the RS before them & after that he had a guest house & bar somewhere around Soi 13,sadly he is no longer with us.

Has it got easier?....I don't know but it didn't take me very long back then to decide that I would never go down that route!

The missus wanted us to get a pub in the 90's when we came to the UK but a)I didn't like the idea of waking up at work every day & b)I didn't like the idea of having to be nice to wankers.

 

[Butch]

I remember a few bar owners.

Dave from Dave's GB bar when it was on Second Rd, Mickey and Skinny as I've mentioned before who owned the Britannia on Soi 8 and Danny Maher who owned the Poteen Still next door. I've heard Mickey still visits Pattaya (he was good mates with the owner of the Pleasuredome).

They ran a bar / guesthouse and seemed to make enough to tick over with, but not vast fortunes. The biggest issue I think he had was one of the cashiers was skimming money from the room rental which didn't help matters. If I recall Mickey said they made decent money on the Darts league nights, but otherwise it was basically month to month.

@coxyhog I remember BJ, didn't he have a towel over his shoulder all the time?. Only met him once though.

I knew two guys who took over a couple of the rents on Soi 8 , one was a few units up from Cherry Bar's first incarnation, the other over on Soi 7. Again, they generated a decent profit during high and peak season but rents went up yearly and the bottom line became tighter and tighter. Coupled with a lot of competition, I think the final result was they got out ahead of the game but not by much.

 

[thegrogmonster]

Cheers bar in Soi Pattayaland 2 was open for about 30 years with the same 2 owners. They earnt enough money to support 2 families but in the end I think they were glad when they could draw on their pensions and sold the bar.

They got offered ridiculous money for the building (which they owned) in the glory days of this Soi but they knocked it backed. I'm sure they later regretted that decision. Coxyhog used to have a few drinks in this bar in the early I think.

[forcebwithu]

14 hours ago, coxyhog said:

...
Wayne Tischburn ran Nacho Noi's on Soi PO & then later was a partner in the Wild Chicken & the Hash House groupie.He met with a very sticky end in the Dynasty in BKK.
...

There's a nice In Memoriam page for Wayne "Hash Groupie" Tishburn on the PH3 website.

https://www.pattayah3.com/PH3/InMemoriamObit.html?7

Edited August 9 by forcebwithu

[redwood13]

18 hours ago, Glasseye said:

I have always heard finding a good/trustworthy cashier and holding on to them is the most important and difficult thing to find.

 

But I don't know squat.

Frequently if the cops decide a bar is being naughty they arrest the cashier, which means game over until she gets bailed.  Ideally there'd be a backup, but it's hard enough finding one who is competent at the job and who also has the trust of the owner/manager, the girls and customers. 

[redwood13]

12 hours ago, thegrogmonster said:

Cheers bar in Soi Pattayaland 2 was open for about 30 years with the same 2 owners. They earnt enough money to support 2 families but in the end I think they were glad when they could draw on their pensions and sold the bar.

They got offered ridiculous money for the building (which they owned) in the glory days of this Soi but they knocked it backed. I'm sure they later regretted that decision. Coxyhog used to have a few drinks in this bar in the early I think.

Went there for quiz nights in the noughties.  Well run bar.  Never talked to the American partner much, but use to see the Welchman at The Shamrock on occasion.

[Glasseye]

I never knew that. But, it explains a lot.

 

Good info. to know.

[coxyhog]

15 hours ago, Butch said:

I've heard Mickey still visits Pattaya (he was good mates with the owner of the Pleasuredome).

Of course I forgot to mention Davie from the Pleasuredome,he's an ex-Airworkee from Oman & now runs a private detective & security business in Bangkok.We always have quite a few in The Robin Hood on Soi 33/1 when I'm in town.I keep telling him he should write a book about his experiences.

And of course Welsh Colin who I used to spend a few hours chatting with at Cheers,last I heard he was in a care home in Pattaya,hope he's OK,a really nice bloke.I used to play darts for Cheers & Stan was the captain.I heard he is up in Chiang Mai now.