Shark A-GoGo has returned to it's front left location on the upper floor of Soi Diamond after a re-fit. They have removed the central stage and replaced it with, guess what, tables.

There are now half a dozen sizeable tables all decorated with dancing girls wearing a short skirt and bikini top. It seems to be up to the girl whether she wears knickers and/or pulls her bikini top aside. The overdressing tends to knock the tips on the head so the bar could be better classed as a gogo with several stages rather than a table dancing club. Plenty of comfortable seating for the customers.

In fact the venue is now remarkably similar to Tiger Club next door owned by the same people. Maybe the decor is a little warmer in Shark as Tiger is a little stark in white. In fact most of the girls were recently seen to be working in Tiger Club too.

There are a few attractive girls working their and a few familiar faces have been employed on the service staff so I had a pleasant time there.

From Pattaya Secrets

What's Up off Walking Street on Soi 15 have just added a rear section onto the bar, the owner said it should be finished next week.

It will have a large tub with a close seating area round it and a soft stage for girl on girl, which customers can join in with according to the owner.

The old Club Electric Blue venue has re-opened as Roxy with the optimistic tagline: The Future of Entertainment

The bar has a great entrance via an attractively lit tunnel. Once inside the venue is a large featureless square room with a high ceiling. The dark flooring seems to be an attempt to simulate puddles of split beer in a cheap student dive

The main stage is on one side and there is a narrow secondary stage opposite.

There is no comfortable seating, just high stools and standing room around tables.

Despite the bar being billed as a show bar with GoGo dancing, most of the time was devoted to GoGo dancing. About 8 girls on the main stage and a few on the secondary stage

The opening night crowd looked to me as if they would have preferred to see the shows. Somehow the Isaan shuffle does not cut it to entertain an audience waiting for a show. Most girls were dancing topless

In the hour around 10pm there were only two shows lasting for one record each. The shows were no more erotic than an MTV music video, sexy but showing nothing. The choreography was barely noticeable.

The drinks prices were very high and the service staff seemed to be all male so not even the chance of a quick chat or flirt with a waitress. Bottled Tiger was 135 Baht (£3.80 a pint) and a Bicardi Breezer was 180 Baht (£2.60)

No doubt there will be rapid changes at the bar. Tepid shows, uncomfortable seating, a bland auditorium and expensive drinks are highly unlikely to capture much of an audience in Pattaya.

...Bring Back Electric Blue!...

GoGo dancing was due to start at the Elephant Bar in Pratamnak Soi 4 (Soi Hotel Asia) at the weekend. I will try to visit this week to find more details. The bar is around the other side of the Big Buddha Hill, near to the Beach and opposite the Asia Hotel.

From Pattaya Pages

Lloydie has sold his beer bar on Soi LK Metro, just of Soi Buakhao. He is now concentrating on a new short time bar in the same vicinity.

From Kerry

Angels A-GoGo, formerly known as the Circus, opened it's doors to the public on 19 July 06. Located on Walking Street across from the Living Dolls Showcase, it is owned/managed by former New Living Dolls staff.

Although there are plans to use 4 floors of the building, only the bottom floor was used for the grand opening. A "shop-house" a-go-go, it is very narrow inside. Dancers are aligned along the right wall as you enter, with padded couch seating along the left wall. A couple of high tables with poles and dancers are also spotted along the left side.

As can be expected it is very cramped, even with only 20 or so customers. The lone bathroom is located at the back of the club, passed the bar, under the stairs. As it is the only facility for all the customers and staff, expect it to be busy. If you need to use the toilet, remember to duck your head when you stand up or you will brain yourself on the underside of the stairwell.

As mentioned, there are plans to use the upper 3 floors as well. No sure how successful that will be, as anyone wanting to go upstairs will have to push their way to the back of the first floor, then hike up the stairs to the upper levels. Maybe if they offered cheaper drinks the higher up you go?

Speaking of which, regular mixed drinks go for 140 baht. Bar fines are 550 baht for dancers and 600 baht for showgirls. Never stuck around to see what "shows" they had to offer though.

It may be a little bit of a damp squib if the Queen's birthday (August 12th) is declared a dry day. Last year the bars seemed to be gearing up for a dry day, but in the end opened nearly as normal after a late start.

From Pattaya City News

The Mayor of Pattaya chaired a meeting to discuss a major celebration which will take place on Walking Street on 12th August.

The event will commemorate Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday and the 10th Anniversary of Walking Street.

A new arch at the entrance to Walking Street will be unveiled and the entire length of the street will feature food vendors and attractions which have yet to be confirmed.

The event will begin on 10h August and will finish on 12th August with a spectacular party.

From Stickman

On Sunday, July 23, 2006, Coyotes A-Gogo will hold its 1 Year Anniversary Party. The doors open at 8:00pm with free food and at 10:00pm the games start. The feature of the evening will be "The Sexiest Ass In Pattaya Dance Competition." The contest starts at 11:00pm. All ladies are welcome to enter and there will be 15,000 baht in prize money for the winners. Regardless, ladies entering the contest will receive 700 baht for their efforts.

News from the bar via Pattaya Secrets

Heaven Above last week completed Phase II of its re-modeling plans. Phase I included adding more space and putting in new lounge seating.

Phase II saw the removal of the beds and couches and replaced with lounge seating. We feel this will create more room and make it easier to walk around the club. Gone are those round glass top tables that always seemed to be in the way and have drinks tumble off of them

Phase III will include relocating the DJ to the back corner and a redesign of the bar. Phase IV will involve the stage. No dates have been set for Phase III or IV.

From Pattaya Secrets

The Thai management previously associated with New Living Dolls One have split off to open a new GoGo in the small venue previously used by Circus A-GoGo.

The opening date is said to be July 19th. The bar also has an upstairs area that will be used eventually so perhaps it will be a little bigger than when used for Circus A-GoGo. Small gogos have rarely prospered in Walking Street so the extra space may make all the difference.

From Pattaya Secrets & Bangkok Eyes

The latest edition to Tony's entertainment empire is the Europa Dance Club. It is tucked away behind Covent Garden. It is billed on Tony's website as a fitness centre and dance cub. The prominent money sign makes it look a little expensive to me. In addition the word 'Europe' seems to have been hijacked in Pattaya by those offering venues with expensive Russian girls.

That is not the only building work around Covent Garden, the entire complex is to be extended. Immediately behind and adjacent to Covent Gardens, they are in the process of demolishing about 15 - 20 homes and other structures to make way for an expansion project on the order of twice the size of the original.

The Sales Office is open, and 12-year leases are going for 6.5 million baht - and the buyer will have the option as to whether it will be a GoGo. Expected completion - mid-2007.

From Pattaya Secrets

Babe Watch now has a new owner. The bar will be completely re-modelled over the next 2 months including the removal of the high central stage. The entrance will be changed over to the other side of the bar where Catz, Club Boesche & X Zone are. The new bar is promised to very stylish.

It was also reported that ex-staff have been paid from the proceeds of the sale.

Meanwhile it is reported that the staff who relocated to Champage A-GoGo didn't find it a happy home and are on the move again. Most of the show girls have ended up at Catz

From Pattaya City News

Pattaya City Hall, Khun Wootisuk, Deputy Mayor of Pattaya assembled a selected group of Beer Bar Owners to discuss plans to assist the city in cleaning-up its image as local government strive to change the image of Pattaya in an attempt to transform it into a family resort.

Not family friend bars? I don't know what they could be thinking of! From Pattaya Secrets (now renamed by order of the police)

It was mentioned that the local government are not happy with the image portrayed by open air beer bars and would like the bar owners to tell employees to cover-up and use polite language when conversing with Tourists. All too often, Pattaya is mentioned by others as a place where foreigners come for sex and it is this that the local government would like to change, however they do acknowledge the presence of the industry but would like these changes to Beer Bar operation which is the visible aspect of Pattaya’s Nightlife.

Update From Pattaya Daily News

Wootisuk added that it had been observed that some of the staff at bar beers in Soi 6 Yodsak areas had operated themselves in a way that is conflicting with the National Moral standards. The staff had been impolite to the tourists who came to use their services, as well as unsuitably dressed and the way they tried to pull customers into their bars by dragging and hugging the tourists which is considered very unacceptable to the culture and tradition of Thailand.

The new Pier Entertainment Complex near to the Wlaking Street arch will house 3 gogo bars.

One of these will be Highway Star A-GoGo. Presumably a return of the GoGo previously located in the centre of Walking Street in the venue that is now The Roof.

News from Cleve (manager) on Pattaya Secrets, July 2006:

An update on Roxy's in Walking Street at the old Electric Blue venue

Over the last few months the buildings interior has been completely renovated and the project is nearing completion.

The new bar will feature a state of the art computer controlled lighting and sound system, custom designed costumes, and will have a series of professionally choreographed dance shows performed at regular intervals throughout the night as well as large selection of regular gogo dancers.

Roxy is scheduled to open on the 27th of July.

The Thai management previously working at New Living Dolls 1 have split off to open a new venture, Angels A-GoGo at the small venue previous used by Circus A-GoGo. It is a small narrow bar, a layout rarely proving successful as a gogo, but hopefully excellent lessons from New Living Dolls 1 will prove invaluable in disproving the rule. It looks like an opening is pretty imminent.

Angels A-GoGo is located on walking street opposite Living Dolls Showcase and near to the Walking Street tree

A new venue has appeared on the corner of Soi Diamond and Pratamnak Road. Byblos Club has a smart looking frontage with purple neon, columns and blacked out glass.

I have no idea yet what sort of bar it is but maybe the bar neon gives a clue. Maybe a bar for the ladies.

From Pattaya Secrets

News of a new GoGo bar opening slightly off the beaten track. The owner of the Elephant Bar on Pratamnak Soi 4 (Soi Asia Hotel) has reclaimed and restored the Elephant Bar, restaurant and chippy to its previous highly regarded status. Notable for good food, good prices and good portions.

In addition he has built a new afternoon gogo that will open its doors in about 2 weeks.

Lets hope that the elephant theme is not carried through to the dancing girls. The girls are said to be new to Pattaya but hopefully they will feed on som tam rather than elephant sized portions of chips.

Shark A-GoGo is closed for a short refit and is due for re-opening on July 17th. Beware of Thai time though, work is reported to be proceeding slowly. The Shark Girls are currently working next door in Tiger Club although a few have opted for a week or two's holiday.

Shark A-GoGo is the upstairs gogo nearest Waking Street. Shark Club is the upstairs table dancing club further into Soi Diamond, and that is working normally.

Based on an article from Stickman

Shane, the owner of New Living Dolls 1, on Friday bought out his Thai partners. Not sure of the problem exactly, but it seems to be a difference in management philosophy. Once he bought them out, the partner, her husband, both male Thai managers, both mamasans, the cashier and maybe a couple girls all departed.

They are now opening a new a gogo across the street from Living Dolls Showcase, presumeably the old Circus A-GoGo. The management to be fair are quite friendly people. Still, they're Thai and won't likely be the gracious hosts that Shane, his son and manager Steve are. Plus you gotta wonder about the wisdom of opening a new bar in the dead of low low season.

I do think they should keep an eye on the workmen at Circus A-GoGo though, every time I pass the bar they are gathered around the entrance either chatting or eating.

There is a Buddha day on July 10th followed by the start of Buddhist Lent on July 11th. The health conscience and religious have been putting together a campaign to encourage Thais to give up alcohol for the 3 month duration of Lent.

For us farangs, it seems to be a token gesture of a day or two. The bars have in fact been asked to close for 2 days, nominally from 6pm on Monday (10th) evening to 6am on Wednesday morning (12th)

Unlike elections, any prohibition is out of respect rather than mandatory in law, so there will probably be a few places to buy a drink. Even if the second day is declared to be dry, the enthusiasm for prohibition tends to wane, and bars in the past have been generally opened as the evening wears on.

Babe Watch has gone dark. There are rumours of angry staff on the lookout for their final paycheck but no doubt things will get sorted.

It has been reported that some staff and girls have relocated to Champagne A-GoGo in Soi LK Metro off Soi Buakhao

Thinking of other bars "where the action never stops", the old Folies Pigalle A-GoGo has now taken on a new life as a venue with a simulator ride.

I Spotted action inside the defunct Circus A-GoGo, a team of Thais who could have been workers. But as they were all eating it was hard to tell what they were up to.

The publicised opening date for Roxy's has been and gone without any GoGo action getting started inside. There is now a new neon sign, that was partially illuminated, near Living Dolls Showcase

Update: 31st July The simulator ride at the old Folies Pigalle A-GoGo has closed already

A new archway sign has appeared advertising the Jomtien Plaza (I had previously assumed this to be called the Jomtien Complex).

Other new developments I spotted on walkabout.

In the little soi running from the police Beach Hut in behind the Thappraya Road, the old Sky Bar has reopened as Le Club 69. Seems a familiar name to me, maybe a Paris or Hamburg brothel. It is now fitted out with brightly coloured plastic bubble seats but it is still very much a traditional shop front beer bar with a few girls to help with drinks sales.

Further up Thappraya Road but still in the Jomtien Plaza I spotted the new Tiger Tiger Bar. Another familiar name but this time, a little closer to home in Pattaya.

Opposite is a new dance club going by the name of Y.U? Club. This has a beer bar downstairs, dancing upstairs. The bar opens at 5or 6 but dancing starts later at 10pm.

I was informed that the dance music would be reasonably farang friendly with flexibility to try and adapt to audience tastes via requests etc.

From Pattaya Talk

Keith, the manager of the Walking Street hostess bar, FLB, has moved job. Seems a bit of a shock as short notice was given, but Keith is now already on duty at Living Dolls Showcase.

From Pattaya Secrets, picture by Soi 7

A new beer bar complex is being built in Soi 3 next to the Welkom Inn. It will house 14 bars. North Pattaya will be awash with beer bars. A complex has recently opened near Soi 4 and there are many bars being built in the Market area between sois 5 & 6. That's on top of the recent additions on Soi 6/.

Somewhere to look forward to a quiet drink I think.