THE IRISH CLOCK

[expatcsf]

There's a great Turkish restaurant in Vientiane that does fantastic doner kebabs, (50,000 kip/200 baht a go though)

[SanukJoe]

Correct! The name is Istanbul.

See my post in the Laos section...

Joe

[Bilko]

R e: Irish clock. Once or twice i have been caught out with their closing times. rolled up around eleven to find the
place in darkness. I take it he has good reason for this. Any clues anyone.

[mally]

As he rents rooms (that are very popular) I presume that he closes because he has to be up early to serve breakfast.
Second, maybe it's because he recognises that not everyone wants to stay up into the small hours and some residents would like a peaceful nights sleep (maybe that's also why his pool table closes early).
Third - he's a Brit, and for donkeys years brit pubs had to close at 11.00 pm by law (10.30 pm on Sundays).
Only my thoughts, NOT an informed view as although I stay there on my visits, I've never asked him.

[Bilko]

I bet newyears eve is a barrel of laughs.

[rick]

irish clock is mainly a restaurant which serves drinks than the other way round. Customers get a bit thin on the ground after 10pm. Customers have usually gone home by then or moved on to other types of bars.

[Welshboy]

This place sounds a bit like the YMCA

[nkstan]

This place sounds a bit like the YMCA

Sounds like family style establishments are not your cup of tea!

[mally]

This place sounds a bit like the YMCA

Call it what you will, but you'll not see many farrang bars in UT that are more successful than the Clock.

[cryptic]

The Irish Clock offers good accomodation, food and bar service, it is a nice establishment run by nice people.

However mally, I beg to differ on customer attendance. Steves Sports Bar just down the road offers bar service only and he is way ahead on customer attendance over the Irish Clock. Steve is from the UK and a great host, interacts with all customers and has a great knowledge of sport. I am not detracting anything from Steve from the Clock, he is a good host as well, but Steve Sports has got what it takes to run a great bar.

Would you like to have a small bet on customer attendance at both places, nah only joking.

[BobHelm]

The I think the Sport Bar would fail dismally in the comparison if you included food orders cryptic...

The Irish Clock is primarily an air conditioned restaurant that serves drinks & has (good) rooms.
It is not a place to go & pick up young ladies & is very much a "family" place, or somewhere a couple of mates can go for a hassle free eat & drink. Hence the majority of its customers are leaving early evening - to go home or, possibly, to go somewhere where they will be hassled..
It is also one of the few places that has its opening times posted on the door. 8 am until 10 pm I believe. However if the place is still buzzing at 10 then I have never known Steve to throw people out onto the streets.

[mally]

However mally, I beg to differ on customer attendance. Steves Sports Bar just down the road offers bar service only and he is way ahead on customer attendance over the Irish Clock. Steve is from the UK and a great host

I have to admit that I have yet to visit this place, something I will put right on my forthcoming visit, however,

but you'll not see many farrang bars

I did say Many, not Any, so am spared Cryptic ?

[Bilko]

There's another one, Steves sports bar. There's no bar and its not sporty.

[Welshboy]

nkstan.
Sounds like family style establishments are not your cup of tea!

Hi Stan. Any place that serves beer is my cup of tea.
When i am next in Udon i will call into The Irish Clock and have a look for myself.
Dont know about staying there! If the lights are out at 11PM, cant play pool to late at night, up early in the morning.
Sounds like the YMCA to me.

[Barstool]

There's another one, Steves sports bar. There's no bar and its not sporty.

Agh come on.
The bar is as big as any in Udon; there are three TVs showing different games, a pool table, competitive banter, walls festooned with "soccer" team shirts, posters of male Figure Skaters in the "hong nam", a book case full of David Beckham biographies, that well known football enthusiast Rod Stewart's music on 4 hours a day, 2 badminton rackets in the corner and a bell that's rung as many times as an athletics meet. And on friday nights Steve himself dons his blue speed skaters outfit (which actually makes him look like a gay Smurf ... but nevermind)
If that is not the indication of a well appointed Sports Bar, then what is?

[Bilko]

Are we referring to the same place, your desciption sounds like somewhere on canal street Manchester.

[Texpat]

Insular group.

[Barstool]

Bilko; I'm sure you would be welcome in SSB with open arms, whereas crass, zenophobic, racist, homophobic bores will not.

[Bilko]

Barstool, Anybody "sporting" a bright blue smurf suit in any bar along Manchesters canal st, believe me would not be out of place. So to be labelled with words as strong as yours for simply making comparisons is a bit OTT.
Anyway lets keep it jolly . Now! I thankyou for your open armed welcome invite and look forward to having a few beers with you all. However, it wood be mans inhumanity to man to expect me to listen to Rod Sewart for four hours.
In fact , i would rather walk around nong prajak for four hours with a nail in my shoe.
So please forgive me if i dont show during his musical marathon. CHEERS.
PS Does steve remove his skates at "KICKING OUT TIME"