Udon's Farang Nightlife

[Sakhonnick]

Hi Udon!!,

Last time I was in Udon a few months ago I noticed the nightlife areas (farang areas) seemed very low key and almost empty.. a few closed bars and this was in High Season.. I walked around and seen very little girly bar action, Not that I go to get girls but nice to sit and chat with some pretty girls from time to time. I have since been reading online and see things are changing, cause of social media, girls working in bars are becoming a thing of the past, they can meet customers at their own time and place and don't need to be working in bars anymore. I guess it must be hard to staff these places now.

Any thought? apart from a few bars, Sports bar etc everywhere else seemed totally dead!!!

[papafarang]

seems the gold rush is over. most guys I know from back in the day are still around, guys that would do 2-3 nights a week. now most of them can't even remember the last time they went. too many places outside the ring road doing well, The Tap, Gallery, Chris place, my place, Benchwarmers, T bar, los amigo's. lots of imported beer, and great offers, plus best comfort food around, added bonus no nightmare parking , I think the city center has been abandoned to the tourists I think the only place I would even bother with is the sports bar or down the road for fish and chips. Rock house should be a good venue with live music

[vincemunday]

Yeah agree with papa, no reason to go into town, I went there a few weeks ago and it was like a ghost town, more brass than beers, problem is that there's not enough tourists these days either, not a great time to own a bar in town I reckon.

[Sakhonnick]

Yes I guess so, before very little options outside the center, everything changes, but I wonder why very little tourists now? I hear there are 25+ flights per day, Or is its simply more choice everywhere.. Internet change everything, now a simple search and tourists would go to these ring road places, before no.. I still like the beer garden in UD Town, plenty eye candy to look at there...

[BobHelm]

I don't think Udon has had a yearly influx of tourists since the last financial crash.
This year, especially, the Pound is on the floor & the Aussie dollar is not far behind. Even the strongest currency in the world, the USD, is not exactly value for money in Thailand when compared to just about any other ASEAN country.

While there are currently certainly more choices out of the centre of town I don't think any Udon Falang establishment is full to the rafters, that is just wishful thinking..

In the centre of town the Sports Bar always seems to have customers, the Viking bar does well between 4 & 8 while happy hour is in place & the Corner Bar in Nutty Park is always serving meals..

Most of the bars in Day & Night and Nutty Park are pretty devoid of customers unless it is Pool night but the concept that Udon could support both those venues when Soi Falang closed was flawed from the get go & Udon actually used to get Tourists then...

[Sakhonnick]

Good read and views, We need Oil to get $100+ and major currencies will rise again, it affects everything, Yes its my job and yes I want it higher but it has a knock on affect to all things...I think so anyway... I am looking forward to the seeing the Rock House, I had a Pizza there a few month ago and it was very good..hope the nightlife there is good also..

[vincemunday]

Sakhonnick, where do you trade? We used to be on the IPE many moons ago, open outcry markets and lots of beer over the Mint lunchtimes, oh the days lol, seems like a lifetime ago.

[Sakhonnick]

Sakhonnick, where do you trade? We used to be on the IPE many moons ago, open outcry markets and lots of beer over the Mint lunchtimes, oh the days lol, seems like a lifetime ago.

Trade? as in drink? IPE? little lost here... can you elaborate?

[vincemunday]

You said oil was your job and you want it higher, in the industry we call it "trading" and the IPE = International Petroleum Exchange.

[Sakhonnick]

Well I don't Trade, I work on Drilling Rigs, Was offshore Thailand for years, Now offshore Brunei...

[vincemunday]

Ah I see lol, the proper end of the operation.

[newtovillagelife]

We need oil to raise major currencies...LOL....like what the Canadian dollar...ya right thats a major currency...putz!!

[papafarang]

a lot of guys from the oil industry not working at the moment, and they were a big part of the udon night life cash flow, even a dozen overpaid fun pissheads did a lot to help the local bar economy. I knew plenty that didn't worry about blowing 10,000b a night. . it was always just about keeping head above water, that was before the crash of oil ,and currency drops. still funny because even with recession the price of renting property has been shooting up, and people still trying to sell a beer fridge, 6 bar stalls, ropey old pool table for 600,000b and you get to pay 15,000 a month rent on it too. I even thought about renting a place in town with better access for customers, yeh right that's if customers want to pay double for a pie. one idea is up by prajak park, easy parking, last time I asked I got shown a double single story unit that was on the park itself and the only ting in front was a path full of eye candy joggers and a view of the lake, and no traffic noise , the rent was 4000b for both units, no key money.
I remember thinking it would make a great farang bar area, plenty of room ,plenty parking and ridiculous low rent. maybe I will have another look next month.

[Sakhonnick]

Yes correct Dean, I have so far managed to stay above water, last year was a struggle, Rig going down in Thailand stacked in Singapore and worked some crazy OT anywhere anytime to stay with the company, Now in Brunei, lost a great Job in Thailand but the Oil price did that.. I too wish I had been smarter with money.. I also blew 10,000 a night and not think much of it..those days are gone salary cuts etc... wake up call for me, If the Oil price comes back I wont be buying the expensive toys anymore...

[vincemunday]

We went to UD Town last night, it was absolutely packed out. After we'd eaten we went to nutty park, absolutely desolate, we saw two extremely drunk blokes, one of whom was getting fleeced and another old bloke who sat there hanging on to one beer all night. We left after being extremely irritated by a young lady who was extremely drunk and kept shrieking. The place is absolutely on its knees, no business, rather unattractive girls and there's no real reason to go down there, awful.

[Sakhonnick]

I wonder how Soi Sampan and Day & Night were?, It too was a Saturday evening I went last time and totally dead... UD Town is the place I guess!!! Chicken and Cold beer, cant get much better

[Drunk Monkey]

No real need to go into Udon center nowadays , infact not been in town for quite some time but on the times i have the Fun Bar seems to be the place to be , small bar next door to the Irish Clock always full , Bill n Fa great hosts good music diverse beer selection and wall to wall top totty if thats what you are into .

if having a busmans holiday I much prefer to frequent the Thai bar , Pub restaurants venues of which there are plenty to choose.

Quite a few Tap customers saying town is very quiet at the mo ... its open to conjecture as to just why .

dm

[harry68]

Im in the oil industry as well and things have been a bit tuff but i have manage to get enough work so I consider myself lucky.
But things look like they are starting to pick up again but the day rates will take while to come back up.

I was one of those that didn't worry about blowing 10k a nite but it was a new wife that stopped me and not the oil price.

I also have a stake in the Bar/Restaurant business but only new at it.
I can see we are holding our own, but I do think the Soi is a bit quiet

Lets hope it all improves for business so the local expats can continue to have a huge selection of paces to go in town and out of town.

Cheers

[fatbob]

Poolclover loves ya though.....

[deemaxxx]

is soi day night complex more busy than nutty park ? overall