Soi Twilights Banana Bar to close March 29th

[Nirish guy]

So unfortunately all the various rumours are starting to come sadly true as the ever popular Banana Bar in Soi Twilight have just posted that they (must) close and are having a End of an Era party on March 29th - and in their own words they didn't expect to have to go just this soon but apparently baht talks in Bkk ! :-( Will be a sad loss as I know I and I'm sure many of the rest of us had many a good night there....... :-(

8830

[gerefan2]

Let’s hope this is not another rumour like the ones on here about Nice Boys and Eros.

Be a shame if true.

[dinagam]

They need all the money they can garner before leaving for the villages the following week to celebrate Songkran.

[Nirish guy]

The information re the closing party ( pasted above) was posted by the owner of Hotmale bar opposite Banana Bar himself on his own personal facebook page, so unless he’s playing some very devious game or the owners have just decided just to try cash in every other week or month now with "closing parties" to make a few baht ( which I doubt) alas I think we can take this one as genuine unfortunately.

There’s a large comment thread running about it on his own Facebook page and one of his own comments when asked “why so sudden” was something along the lines of “I know, I’m broken, whilst we knew the Soi was winding down etc they weren't expecting to have to go anywhere near as soon as this but apparently money talks in this city ! :-(“. The clear implication being that their landlord has perhaps fucked them over and sold out from under them and so served notice way ahead of what they had been told to expect. I’ve no doubt that’s probably the case as I see they were just starting to send out and promote their songkran party messages reminding their loyal customers to come to the bar etc.

Thankfully he already has Banana Bar 2 in full operation in Soi 4 so he’ll not starve, but I think the immediacy of being kicked out of Soi Twilight has come as a bit of a shock to them. The scary thing now of course is that one WOULD have expected Banana bar etc to be one of the LAST closures in the Soi as it’s so small floor area wise etc, so if THEY now have been given their two week marching orders that doesn’t bode well for everywhere else on the Soi perhaps too :-(

Sad times if true as you say GF, but of course being Thailand who knows WHAT is true ! But we'll see I guess on the 31st of March - and closing party on the 29th don't forget if anyone if popping down ( and if you do maybe take a few pics for us all while you're there eh !?

[Oliver2]

I had what I knew would be my last drink in Banana in January. The guy who served me was aware that the end was near. Dinner at Dicks, followed by a beer in Banana....my traditional first evening in Bangkok. And both are gone. O tempus, o mores....
I hope that the staff find employment in the Soi 4 bar.

[frequent]

I had what I knew would be my last drink in Banana in January. The guy who served me was aware that the end was near. Dinner at Dicks, followed by a beer in Banana....my traditional first evening in Bangkok. And both are gone. O tempus, o mores....
I hope that the staff find employment in the Soi 4 bar.The Soi 4 bar is wholly inside though, isn't it? It's done up like a high-class knocking shop. However, your traditional first evening in future can be Banana Bar on 4, dinner at Telephone or Balcony or any other of the half-dozen restaurants there, followed by a visit to the "sticky rice" gogo bar Jupiter

[Patanawet]

The Soi 4 bar is wholly inside though, isn't it?

NO.
It also has a large terrace with comfortable looking furniture.
If you go early to soi 4 (about 17:30) you can see the boys, shirtless, erecting the outside terraces on many of the bars.
Late at night, Banana on 4 seems to have many atraight coiples there.

[BonTong]

Sad but inevitable. Have some good, fun and interesting memories of that place over many years. Was talking to a soi veteran a couple of months back and it was clear the end was near. Just a case of how quickly the lawyer/landlord games played out - Thai style.

[Patanawet]

many atraight coiples there.

Woops 'atraight coiples' = straight couples!
Can't even blame fat fingers with small mobile phone ---- I was using a big boy's keyboard.

[Oliver2]

I didn't know Donald Trump was a board member.

[frequent]

Late at night, Banana on 4 seems to have many atraight coiples there.That must be why I avoid it. I remembered there was a reason after the first and only visit, just not what the reason was

[gerefan2]

Anyone remember this image I posted, outside the Banana Bar, back in August?
https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showthread.php?19839-So-what-is-happening-at-Soi-Twilight

[frequent]

Anyone remember this image I posted, outside the Banana Bar, back in August?
https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showthread.php?19839-So-what-is-happening-at-Soi-TwilightYour trip reports are made so often, and are so detailed, it’s difficult to remember them all

[Patanawet]

I spoke to Wirat last night.
Wirat used to run Solid and moved to the terrace next to Scorpian.
The only place on the soi to charge Baht 100 for a beer.
He has been told to vacate his terrace by this Friday (22nd).
He said "I'll have to find a job".

[Oliver2]

Whenever I saw him after the demise of Solid, he mourned its passing and bemoaned his present lot. Over the past few years his bar. had few hosts and, accordingly, few customers....but he always remembered me and greeted me cheerily.
No doubt the the unhappiness that he will soon be unemployed will be assuaged by the knowledge that some billionaires will be celebrating yet another assault on the well-being of ordinary citizens of Thailand.
By the way, Good Luck to the Redshirts.

[Eddie]

No doubt the the unhappiness that he will soon be unemployed will be assuaged by the knowledge that some billionaires will be celebrating yet another assault on the well-being of ordinary citizens of Thailand.

Surely you exaggerate, Oliver. There was never any employment security in bar work. The bar boys have a short sell-by date and the waiters and captains move around, find sponsors, go back to the farm, etc. Bars open and close all the time.

[Oliver2]

I was making a political point about the elections. I'm more concerned about the poverty in the rural areas of Thailand than in Soi Twilight. And so yes, you're right, but I still hope that the ex-workers find suitable employment.

[dinagam]

The poster or banner is still flying proud tonight although all the bars are closed on the eve of the election.

[latintopxxx]

olover stop being such a sandal wearing tree hugging socialist....millionaires create jobs...get with the programme...

[frequent]

olover stop being such a sandal wearing tree hugging socialist....millionaires create jobs...get with the programme...The Forum’s very own Donald J Trump - fraudster latintopxxx

[frequent]

I was making a political point about the elections. I'm more concerned about the poverty in the rural areas of Thailand than in Soi Twilight. And so yes, you're right, but I still hope that the ex-workers find suitable employment.You may find this analysis (https://www.the-american-interest.com/2019/03/22/the-king-the-junta-and-the-juggernaut-thailand-and-counter-democratization/) of interest, Oliver, in that context

[Oliver2]

Thanks. I've been trying to keep up to date but Thai politics are so alien to Westerners that it's difficult.
I tend to regard P as a-political (certainly compared to me) but he's always been a Thaksin-man. It was during and because of Thaksin's premiership that his village was at last electrified and I remember him making the seven hour journey back to the north to vote for him when I first knew him. It surprised me because I've never been a fan of capitalists. But his devotion was real enough.
And now, like the other guys I know- I don't mix with the wealthy- he's still supporting the Red Shirts. I shall be flying my PFLP flag (yes, it's also red) over the next few days in the hope of a slap in the face for the generals. Fortunately, I'm used to being on the losing side.

The following suggests that my pessimism is justified....

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/politics/2019/03/24/live-blog-thailand-2019-election-day/

[Wolzek]

I shall be flying my PFLP flag (yes, it's also red) over the next few days in the hope of a slap in the face for the generals

Grow up. The PFLP has absolutely zero support among the palestinians. A western commie organization with no roots among the arabs. They are muslims you know...

[gerefan2]

March 29...anyone noticed the awful coincidence ? Freak, as a wannabe Englishman you must have done!

[frequent]

March 29...anyone noticed the awful coincidence ? Freak, as a wannabe Englishman you must have done!I assume you're referring to my need to renew my British passport later this year? Yes, but I don't need to do it until the bright, shiny, new blue ones come along

[latintopxxx]

palestinians...lol..thats so like 1970's....not that I remember ....

[frequent]

palestinians...lol..thats so like 1970's....not that I remember ....Alzheimers kicking in already? I imagine with your propensity to fabricate you’ll claim it’s the “early onset” variant

[Patanawet]

Meanwhile -- any news on either of the Banana Bars?

[lonelywombat]

Alzheimers kicking in already? I imagine with your propensity to fabricate you’ll claim it’s the “early onset” variant

Just like you with your talent to fabricate your trips to Thailand and Pattaya

[sglad]

So unfortunately all the various rumours are starting to come sadly true as the ever popular Banana Bar in Soi Twilight have just posted that they (must) close and are having a End of an Era party on March 29th - and in their own words they didn't expect to have to go just this soon but apparently baht talks in Bkk ! :-( Will be a sad loss as I know I and I'm sure many of the rest of us had many a good night there....... :-(


We had a good time there when we visited late last year. The Australian co-owner (Mark?) and his Japanese business partner were very charming. There was this very fair Cambodian guy who worked there who was too plastic-looking and a bit full of himself for my taste but one of my friends liked him. I remember chatting with this tiny Karen guy who, like many marginalised and displaced persons, had quite a few interesting stories to tell.

[latintopxxx]

so is the place closed?? march 29th is long gone...

[gerefan2]

so is the place closed?? march 29th is long gone...

Perhaps one of our more frequent posters, from Bangkok, will do his first ever trip report?

[frequent]

Perhaps one of our more frequent posters, from Bangkok, will do his first ever trip report?Isn’t that a contradiction in terms? By definition a “trip” is TO somewhere else. If someone is from Bangkok they could visit another country - such as Pattaya - and report on that trip, but logically they can’t write a “trip report” to somewhere they’re already resident

[lonelywombat]

Isn’t that a contradiction in terms? By definition a “trip” is TO somewhere else. If someone is from Bangkok they could visit another country - such as Pattaya - and report on that trip, but logically they can’t write a “trip report” to somewhere they’re already resident

Logically if you have never visited a place, you cannot do trip reports, no matter you can much you steal from other posts.

[Smiles]

That's a first. :D

[lonelywombat]

Logically if you have never visited a place, you cannot do trip reports, no matter you can much info you steal from other posts.

Addressed to Freaky, Smiles. Worth repeating

[frequent]

Logically if you have never visited a place, you cannot do trip reports, no matter you can much you steal from other posts.Absolutely true dear Forum Living Treasure and as any fule kno I never venture far from that place that figures prominently in your thoughts, a Catholic boys school in Houston where I teach Latin. I’ve never been to Pattaya, and Thailand is Another Cuntry

[Smiles]

Addressed to Freaky, Smiles. Worth repeatingJust to get the proper context Francois: I meant "that's a first" being my one and only 'Like' given out to Lonely in 12+ years. :))
You're not getting your ball going straight these days. Blue balls perhaps, in light of the ongoing collapse of Gay Pattaya/Bangkok/et al?
You might try walking around with a sheep in tow.
---------------------------------------
2 Users gave Like to post:
gerefan2 (April 2nd, 2019), Smiles (April 2nd, 2019)
---------------------------------------

[kittyboy]

so is the place closed?? march 29th is long gone...

Repeating the question - So is the place closed??? Did anyone go to the last night celebrations/memorial?

As an aside - Many years ago (back in 1987) I visited BKK for the 1st time and went to some Disco which was I think in Soi 4.
I got picked up by some guy and we ended up back at my cheap hotel and etc... Does anyone remember the name of that Disco?

[frequent]

As an aside - Many years ago (back in 1987) I visited BKK for the 1st time and went to some Disco which was I think in Soi 4.
I got picked up by some guy and we ended up back at my cheap hotel and etc... Does anyone remember the name of that Disco?The Rome Club. Ah, those were the days

[Oliver2]

The Rome Club achieved notoriety by banning gays. Predictably, it soon closed.

[lonelywombat]

The Soi 4 bar is wholly inside though, isn't it? It's done up like a high-class knocking shop. However, your traditional first evening in future can be Banana Bar on 4, dinner at Telephone or Balcony or any other of the half-dozen restaurants there, followed by a visit to the "sticky rice" gogo bar Jupiter

Freaky reading other peoples posts and pretending to claim you have been here..We know you haven't . It is becoming more obvious as time rolls on.

[frequent]

Freaky reading other peoples posts and pretending to claim you have been here..We know you haven't . It is becoming more obvious as time rolls on.There’s no pulling the wool over the eyes of a practising pattayaphile like you, lonelywombat. It only seems like yesterday that I was posting that I’ve never left Houston, let alone traveled abroad. Perhaps you missed it? Too busy thinking about the amount of time the Grade 8 boys take out of my time I’ll wager - your concern for my welfare does you proud

[lonelywombat]

There’s no pulling the wool over the eyes of a practising pattayaphile like you, lonelywombat. It only seems like yesterday that I was posting that I’ve never left Houston, let alone traveled abroad. Perhaps you missed it? Too busy thinking about the amount of time the Grade 8 boys take out of my time I’ll wager - your concern for my welfare does you proud

Freaky who cares what you have done, where you live,what job you are working in now, nobody believes you.
Your aim was to destroy Sawatdee by becoming the dominating contributor.
You draw down on other posts to create your own
Maybe if you shut up REAL PEOPLE may return to this forum

[kittyboy]

The Rome Club achieved notoriety by banning gays. Predictably, it soon closed.
Rome club.
That was the one. It was so many years ago i dont remember much about the trip.
It sounds egotistic but damn i was hot 32 years ago and was having fun with lots of thai guys on that trip in 1987. Sadly i am not like fine wine.. i have aged but gotten a bit more vinegary. I lie to myself and say i am now like balsamic vinegar.

[Jellybean]

I don't recall The Rome Club, kittyboy, perhaps it ended before I started holidaying out in Thailand, which I think was 2003 or 2004. But speaking of trips, from what you say, it sounds like Thailand in the 80’s was a bit like the 60’s in the USA and UK where it is said, if you remember the 60’s, then you weren’t there. :crazy_mini:


https://youtu.be/h4Ptgm8xh2s

[Oliver2]

I'm not surprised you don't remember it....my first visit to BKK was in 1998 and Rome had fallen well-before then. I only knew of it from the excellent gay guide I carried with me, in which the author crowed over its demise. In those days, the telephones on each table in The Telephone actually worked!

[frequent]

Freaky who cares what you have done, where you live,what job you are working in now, nobody believes you. Your aim was to destroy Sawatdee by becoming the dominating contributor. You draw down on other posts to create your own. Maybe if you shut up REAL PEOPLE may return to this forumif you’re ever in Houston you could maybe lend a hand with the junior swimming lessons. I understand that’s an Australian speciality

[Jellybean]

I'm not surprised you don't remember it....my first visit to BKK was in 1998 and Rome had fallen well-before then. I only knew of it from the excellent gay guide I carried with me, in which the author crowed over its demise. In those days, the telephones on each table in The Telephone actually worked!

Thanks for the information Oliver2.

Your mention of the year 1998 prompted me to look at my only copy of the international gay guide, Spartacus, which coincidentally is for the year ‘98/99.

It has a small entry for Rome Club and it mentions a few others, which are still with us and some I have heard mentioned on this forum. And Twilight Bar is listed, from which I assume soi bprà-dtuu-chai got its nick name. I thought members might be interested in reading some of the reviews:


Rome Club
90-96 Silom Road. May reopen as a gay club.

Twilight Bar
38-40 Surawong Road. Go-go bar with the usual show. One of the oldest bars and probably the sleaziest but still popular. First drink is B200.

Screw Boys
Patpong 2, Surawong Road. (Next to Pink Panther, opposite KFC) Go Go shows.

Barbiery
35/3-5 Surawong Road. Gogo bar. Drink B150. Staff speaks English.

Jupiter
31/1-33 Surawong Road. (Next to Suriwong Hotel) Lively A-go-go bar, good shows.

Telephone
114/11 Soi 4 Silom Road. Bar and restaurant. All tables equipped with telephone to ring guys at other tables. Excellent food (Thai and Western). Most popular with Thais and Westerners. Beware the free-lancers.

D. J. Station
8/6-8 Silom Road. Very popular, high energy disco. No free-lancers.

Source: Spartacus International Gay Guide '98/99

[kittyboy]

I'm not surprised you don't remember it....my first visit to BKK was in 1998 and Rome had fallen well-before then. I only knew of it from the excellent gay guide I carried with me, in which the author crowed over its demise. In those days, the telephones on each table in The Telephone actually worked!

My first visit to BKK, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya was in 1987. I don't remember all the gay venues ..just recollections of having a good time.
I do seem to recall in 1987 (it could have been on a later trip) going to the telephone bar..etc. God that was 32 years ago!

I started making regular trips to Thailand in the 1990s. As I recall my first trip to Babylon Sauna was around 1992-3. If I recall correctly it was on the same soi but a different building? Is that correct? A taller building? Or is it in the same location but they remodeled extensively?

I also stayed at some gay guesthouse (Aquarius?) that was a residence converted into a guesthouse. As I recall I looked it up a few years ago and it closed due to some scandal?
Damn my memory is off.

[frequent]

As I recall my first trip to Babylon Sauna was around 1992-3. If I recall correctly it was on the same soi but a different building? Is that correct? Yes

[Smiles]

" ... I also stayed at some gay guesthouse (Aquarius?) that was a residence converted into a guesthouse. As I recall I looked it up a few years ago and it closed due to some scandal?
Damn my memory is off."Well well well Kitti ... the Aquarius Hotel (in the West we would call it more like a motel). The first joint I ever laid my weary head ~ on a pillow ~ in Bangkok (circa 2000).
I met Suphot there (he was the desk check-in guy, the cooker-of-breakfasts in the morning, and in the evening, the bartender.

The Aquarius had a huge police raid in November 2000 regarding under-age Burmese boys (or Cambodian, can't remember which). The owner, an older man named Khun Vichai ... you might recall that? Eventually cleared his name and business in the Thai Way ... i.e. gobs and gobs of money, but the hotel started to go downhill after that because of the notoriety, but stayed open for at least 10 more years. Mr Vichai apparently was stricken with depression and died sometime around 2012-13 (not exact on that). On top of that there was also a huge rigmarole for years regarding Vichai's family and their desire to get their hands on his quite substantial riches ... which hardly helped his depression.

You and your handle Kittyboy: Suphot changed his name about six or seven years ago (a very common thing to do with Thais). His new name is Kittyphot. Thus banks, land offices, anything governmental use his new name, but nobody else in his family, amongst his friends and acquaintances, myself etc etc etc ... everyone still calls him (Pot or Suphot).

(Just interested FYI: Suphot ~ and Kittyphot ~ are still living together after almost 20 years. For obvious reasons I have heart warming thoughts regarding the Aquarius).

[Oliver2]

My first hotel in BKK, too. I read about the raid, and recall that a falang- an American- was also arrested although the guy he was with was over eighteen. The issue was, I assume, that the guy was Burmese. He wrote a very long and detailed account which I saw on the internet. He even spent some time in gaol though he was never convicted of any crime. It made me a touch paranoid about offing for a year or so.
I liked the place. The accommodation was basic but clean and the traditional Thai architecture attractive. Furthermore, Silom and Surawong were walkable. For a Thailand newbie as shy and retiring as me, the fact that there were cute guys working and available on site was a huge plus. However, the problem with the law meant that I never returned.

[Smiles]

Oliver, one small correction: the farang who was arrested was Canadian, not American.
Perhaps all Canucks are pedos? Probably, oh well.

Mr Vichai -- who was gay -- was instrumental in helping the farang get out of jail, and then get outta Dodge . . . probably never to return.
More lucre for the cops to divvy up.

[Smiles]

Just on the record:
How do I know details regarding the Aquarius boondoggle?
Easy ... Suphot told me pretty well everything. :dirol_mini:
He was there during the raid. He was in one of the photos of all the the employees there that night, which was splashed all over the Thai newspaper rags, as was the photo of the Canadian sitting in the hotel room with one of the criminal boys. He accompanied Mr Vichai to the police station to help out if necessary. Mr Vichai held Suphot in very high regard..

I have searched as hard as I could to find the web page which the farang started just a few months after the Aquarius incident. I did read it when it came out (in 2001 ... the incident was in Nov 2000), but I can't find it now

[Oliver2]

Yes, Canadian... I remember now. He was treated abominably. It certainly impacted me for a few trips....I remember talking to Hugh at Ambiance about it, asking whether the hotel had ever been raided in like manner..

[kittyboy]

Well well well Kitti ... the Aquarius Hotel (in the West we would call it more like a motel). The first joint I ever laid my weary head ~ on a pillow ~ in Bangkok (circa 2000).
I met Suphot there (he was the desk check-in guy, the cooker-of-breakfasts in the morning, and in the evening, the bartender.

The Aquarius had a huge police raid in November 2000 regarding under-age Burmese boys (or Cambodian, can't remember which). The owner, an older man named Khun Vichai ... you might recall that? Eventually cleared his name and business in the Thai Way ... i.e. gobs and gobs of money, but the hotel started to go downhill after that because of the notoriety, but stayed open for at least 10 more years. Mr Vichai apparently was stricken with depression and died sometime around 2012-13 (not exact on that). On top of that there was also a huge rigmarole for years regarding Vichai's family and their desire to get their hands on his quite substantial riches ... which hardly helped his depression.

You and your handle Kittyboy: Suphot changed his name about six or seven years ago (a very common thing to do with Thais). His new name is Kittyphot. Thus banks, land offices, anything governmental use his new name, but nobody else in his family, amongst his friends and acquaintances, myself etc etc etc ... everyone still calls him (Pot or Suphot).

(Just interested FYI: Suphot ~ and Kittyphot ~ are still living together after almost 20 years. For obvious reasons I have heart warming thoughts regarding the Aquarius).

LOL..I like that Kittyphot What made him choose that name?

My memory of things is a bit hazy - I tend to focus on the present and future - but I was at the Aquarius guesthouse in probably October of 2000 with my boyfriend. We were living together in Berkeley California. We stayed at the Aquarius for maybe 4-5 days. I must have either met or seen Suphot. That was 19 years ago.

As I remember it the Aquarius was a residence with 3-4 rooms upstairs and a set of rooms in the back. The more basic rooms looked like some sort of addon had been done off the kitchen? It was so long ago I don't remember very well.
The rooms in the main house were nice..etc. and the rooms in the back were more basic.


At one point my ex wanted to go to DJ station. I was tired so he got 3-4 of the boys from Aquarius to go with him (I ended up paying the off fee) to DJ station.

[Mancs]

Maxis was just opening when I popped in about 5pm ish today. Hot Male bar was open. The Hot Male sign is also along from Freshboys on the first floor of Patpong 2. I presume that's the go go bar but I haven't been in. The last 2 nights both Freshboys and Lucky Boys have been full of customers. Many Viet men, which I like, in Freshboys. A good mixture of men in Lucky Boys. Screwboys is as ever, and a beer is still 300 bt, though a bit short of men and customers last night.

[Mancs]

I walked past today and Hot Male on Patpong 2 is still a building site inside so it may be a while before it opens.