History of the Icon Hotel

[witchhunt]

One of my favourite bars and clubs was the Old Icon hotel. When I first came to Pattaya, I used to stay in Ambiance but I changed to stay there, and do the floor show every night.

I believe the original bar was Mr Mike's on the top floor, even before Icon took over the ground floor and hotel next door.

Later icon moved over the road and continued for some time not very successfully.

My guess is that it was about 8/10 years ago when it was closed.

I would love to get any info about both places , when Icon first opened and when it finally closed.

[Neal]

Well the Icon has now been renovated and is now the Rome Hotel. Interesting thing is that they advertise gay but I have seen their ads on the lit sign board on Tepasit Road and says nothing about gay or go go boys which I thought they had. Of course that huge lit sign could possibly attract straight customers and well its interesting.
Has anyone been there and have any reports? :dontknow:

[Brad the Impala]

The most interesting thing about the Icon history would be just how many shareholders they ever had at one time, and just how much over 100% they added up to. Perhaps that's why it's called Rome now, in memory of all the shareholders that long defunct bar of that name in Bangkok used to have.

One of the few times in my life that I was lucky was when I decided not to contribute to a share of Icon. My guess is that both the Pattaya and Phuket Icon Hotels and the Pattaya show bar all closed during the 12-24 month period following the Tsunami. Instead of concentraing on making the Pattaya Icon Hotel a success (renovations, improving the restaurant fare, etc.), they tried to do too much elsewhere. Their show bar in Bangkok failed, yet they continued to operate the one in Pattaya, first on the ground floor of Mr Mac's and later down the hill where Alois eventually took over. They probably had a hefty mortgage for the Phuket Icon and after the Tsunami and the world wide economic downturn, things just got too much for them.

[Marsilius]

The next door bar was the Sky Bar which was on the top floor of Mr Mac ( not "Mike") hotel. It had a wonderful terrace, great for BBQs, that had a great view over South Pattaya. The owner in the early 1990s, an Ulsterman named Ken, really knew how to run a great place.

Unfortunately there was no lift to the top floor which, along with the awkward location and its subsequent and last owner - so uninterested that he eventually left me and another hotel guest in charge of the bar and the go-go boys for a couple of days while he was away! - eventually finished it off.

The Sky Bar was operating before 1993, which was when I first visited. Icon opened next door a few years later - some time in the mid 1990s, I would guess.

[jinks]

The Sky Bar, before Ken there was a Englishman Jim H.......
http://www.jinkscorp.com/hols/thai/pattaya/pre96/images/jim_jpg.jpg
He arrived from Gran Canaria, where we knew one another well.
He opened the Sky Bar and staffed it with beach boys, those who lived on the beach !
He allowed them to sleep in the bar and kept 2 rooms on the top floor for short time use.

Just one of Jim's babys..
http://www.jinkscorp.com/hols/thai/pattaya/pre96/images/skybar_jpg.jpg

He refused to make the usual contributions to the local charity.
Thus his bar was "raided" every couple of weeks.
The police were shocked to find so many young boys and took them into protective custody.
The following day Jim would go to the police station anf pay their "fines".

He left Pattaya under the same cloud that brought him from Spain.
I think he went to India or Cylon.

The Icon opened in 1999 and collected names for potential investors.(I declined)
David and his better half, both from Oz, nice boys until they invited Bangkok in.

Remember David Martin, from Bangkok,
http://www.jinkscorp.com/hols/thai/pattaya/iconhotel01/images/07_jpg.jpg

He managed it after David S, left for Phuket and David B was the book-keeper.
Too many Davids!

Icon Phuket.
http://www.jinkscorp.com/hols/thai/phuket/phuket97/images/pool_jpg.jpghttp://www.jinkscorp.com/hols/thai/phuket/phuket97/images/pool2_jpg.jpg

A very long story, in fact 3 chapters in my biography.

[GWMinUS]

Jinks! Tell us more...

On my first visit to Pattaya I booked in at one of the hotels in Boyztown.
The room was terrible so I decided to move to the ICON.
It was great, met many nice falang by the pool, and always enjoyed the view!!
Did go to the Show Bar, it was good but too many fems for me.

My second trip was to Phuket and I stayed at ICON there also.
Your photos are spot on.
BUT it was deserted. And too far up the hill!!!
I cut short my stay and ran back to Bangkok...

AHH fond memories!!!
George
:hello2:

[ikarus]

The Icon opened in 1999 and collected names for potential investors.(I declined)
David and his better half, both from Oz, nice boys until they invited Bangkok in.

Remember David Martin, from Bangkok,

He managed it after David S, left for Phuket and David B was the book-keeper.
Too many Davids!



Jinks,
Are you sure that Icon opened in 1999? My recollection that it was open couple of years earlier. I have stayed several times in ICON (before David Martin took over) and always enjoyed my stay. Both other Davids were excellent hosts and the swimming pool was a big plus. They had a reasonable Thai restaurant on premises... I have to say that I always had an impression
that running any kind of business in Thailand is a huge challenge for farangs. Not only because of intense competition
but also in case of success there always some Thai competitors who may not be happy about that and act on their unhappiness... Yes, both Davids were not successful in their numerous business endeavours in Thailand but overall relatively few farangs are...

[Marsilius]

I too am pretty sure that Icon Hotel was open by 1996 at the latest. Maybe 1999 was the opening date of their show bar on the other side of the road?

Directrooms entry for the Icon Pattaya: "The hotel is closed for renovations until further noticeтАЭ.

In my visits to Icon around ten years ago, the manager was William. None of the posters has mentioned him. Perhaps he left before the ship started taking on water.

[ikarus]

I too am pretty sure that Icon Hotel was open by 1996 at the latest. Maybe 1999 was the opening date of their show bar on the other side of the road?
My recollection that it was open in 1995. As I recall, I desperately tried to make a reservation in one of Boystown hotels for
the New Year (i.e end of 1995) but they were fully booked and Utopia recommended new Gay hotel:that was Icon.
And, yes the managers were David and William. Utopia ran visitors guide business and I booked a guide to show me a "nightlife"
in Pattaya. It happened to be one of the employers of Icon... And then there was a New Years Eve in Crazy Pub...
Well, what is left is just memories...

[jinks]

William, (sorry I forgot his name) was David Shrubsole's better half.

He went to Phuket to open the "new concept" hotel. Each room had a butler !!!!!!

I arrived, not knowing the above, William as nice as ever, I had stayed at the Icon Pattaya several times.

Sitting in reception
http://www.jinkscorp.com/hols/thai/phuket/phuket97/images/recp_jpg.jpg

I had filled in the reg card I looked for my case, it was gone !

My butler Buk came to me and announced that I was unpacked and would I please look in the room.
He had, socks, knickers and all items seperately sorted. He was at a loss as to where to put my spare leg.

http://www.jinkscorp.com/hols/thai/phuket/phuket97/images/buk_jpg.jpg

On the first morning 10am, there was a knock at the door. I struggled out of bed.... Buk was at the door with morning coffee..... I said.... You have a pass key..... USE IT.
Each morning thereafter coffee arrive bedside.

Evenings as I prepared to shower he would ask what I was going to wear. This selection was laid out, and my dirty clothes removed to the laundry.

On check out, I was repacked.
He justifiably recieved a 250 baht per day tip.

Nice concept, William was asked to leave because it did not make money.

My favourite room 405... with my other favourite, Anuchit aka Nu.
http://www.jinkscorp.com/hols/thai/phuket/phuket03/images/balcony_jpg_jpg.jpg

And my best picture from that time. Nu (now living in Belgium), and Wat (still working as of 2009)
http://www.jinkscorp.com/hols/thai/phuket/phuket03/images/WAT_JPG_JPG.jpg

Fascinating history and pics. Thanks for posting.


...A very long story, in fact 3 chapters in my biography.

jinks, how do I get hold of your "biography"- is it available in all good charity shops or what?

[jinks]

I have yet to finish it and getting it re-written by a pro is essencial.

So far 30 chapters done with my very early life to do.

Well, in all seriousness, do let us know when it's available

:hello2: