Stringfellows

[Ozzie]

OK so I go in for my first visit to Stringfellows since I arrived in Pattaya 8 days ago.

I have not really ever had a pleasant experience in this bar but thought I would give it another go.

Well last night was no different as I ventured in with Kahuna about 9:00pm and we were the only customers in the bar. I asked Kahuna to order me a drink whilst I visited the mens room.

When I got back to my seat before even having sat down some skank was already asking me to buy her a drink and when I declined she got pissed at me.

I saw one girl who I though looked the nicest and asked her to sit down and the waitress appeared in front of us before I had even asked her name and told me I had to buy her a drink  

I basically ignored the waitresses demands and she stood in front of my table whilst I talked to the girl whose name I know found out to be Nut.

I then got another girl yelling at me that I had to buy a drink.

When I finally got around to asking her for a drink the girl who asked me previously decided it was time to ask me again from her podium.

What are these girls thinking? If this was the first time this had happened then I would just put it down to the girls deciding for themselves that this is the way they should approach customer service but it is not the first nor the second time so I can only believe that this policy is being enforced by the bar?

[Bicycle Pump]

Yep, this place has slid to hell in a fast year. A can of roach spray wouldn't go amiss either. SFs is running neck and neck with Hi Boss these days for crappiest lb fleapit in Pattaya!

[Snick]

You must be mistaken, it couldn't have been Kahuna you were with, he swore last month he was never going back.

[eddy1925]

When I read all this Posts, I understand why some girls from La Bamba are asking me to follow me to SF. Maybe they know about their behaviour.

[stonefre]

I could be mistaken but I think it has to do with them having a quota on the number of ladydrinks they must sell for the bar per pay period. I know that does not make the experience any better for the customer. If that is the case, the blame lays more on management than the girls. I just tend to ignore and buy drinks for whoever I want whenever I want. It used to bother me but I refuse to let it anymore.

[Chinaman]

(Snick @ Mar. 03 2009,22:35) You must be mistaken, it couldn't have been Kahuna you were with, he swore last month he was never going back.

Mmh, when I was there, in Pattaya, and inquired about SF, you and Kahuna painted me that exact picture and said you would take me there but not enter ... What happened, you ran out of other options ;-) hard to believe in Pattaya, but perhaps after 8 days ... ;-)

anyway, I would have gone with you 2 as it was always nice to hang out together but I don't think I would try SF on my own - Obsessions seems the better choice if considering a gogo ...

but good to hear that you are still well and around, Ozzie

[rxpharm]

It seems more people are reporting bad experiences at this bar - the quota system that stonefre wrote about is the same for any gogo bar both ggs and lbs. They must have a certain amount of ladydrinks and barfines per month, or it comes out of their salary.

I know it has been discussed a bit in the past, but I wonder if the "high season" has actually recovered much since the airport reopened, or is it actually a low season, with worse prospects to come during the even lower season.

When I was there in Dec/Jan, I was amazed by the lack of crowds around Sukhumvit Road, Patpong, NEP, and Soi Cowboy, A weekend trip to Pattaya,  I saw the same lack of crowds on Walking Street and even the big cabaret shows were only 30% full, instead of the usual 90+%.

This may make some lbs a bit desperate since they count on the high season to help them through the year.

[Stogie]

I have a feeling that Bob has distanced himself from Stringfellows in the last year or so.

A couple of years ago he was trying to unload it and since that time I haven't seen him there too many times.

With the huge investment ploughed into Obsessions (Pattaya) and so many other options for ladyboy lovers in Pattaya it seems as though the most famous lb go go in Pattaya will be struggling to keep pace.

Still... I'm always amazed (and comforted) that despite what I see as difficult economic times and empty houses the bars seem to find a way of staying open every day...

[TTChang]

It's funny, isn't it.  I go into SF with a smile on my face ... expecting to have fun ...  and ... I DO!  

But maybe because the girls there know me well, greet me by name ...  and I regularly buy them drinks    (Hey, you don't think there's a connection do you?)  

But the vibes from BMs like Ozzie make me worry about Stringfellows.  Especially as Obsessions/Kitten Club is moving up the ratings very rapidly.

Stringfellows is holding a birthday party on March 5 (someone told me its 3 year anniversary).  So hopefully I will be there, and get a chance to chat to Bob.  See what he says, and whether he's bovvered by this type of adverse press.

[shrimpsoup]

(Ozzie @ Mar. 03 2009,22:14) ....I ventured in with Kahuna about 9:00pm and we were the only customers in the bar.....

this was your first mistake....don't venture into Stringfellows at 9pm.

at this time of the evening most patrons are likely to still be sober.

Do not...I repeat...Do Not... venture into SF whilst sober...it will only lead to hurt feelings and threads like this one.

[swedeman007]

(Stogie @ Mar. 03 2009,18:59) With the huge investment ploughed into Obsessions (Pattaya) and so many other options for ladyboy lovers in Pattaya it seems as though the most famous lb go go in Pattaya will be struggling to keep pace.

The only problem is that the huge investment made into the club is reflected in both the high prices for drinks and the bar fines. I have seen the prices climb up the last few years at the Kitten/Obsessions club as the number of customers have been going down.

Obsessions does at times have Happy Hour, but otherwise the drinks are on the rather expensive side. The bar fines are also higher, upwards of 1000 baht for a GG and LB. I'd rather go to EZY or someplace like that has more reasonable 500 baht bar fines. If you shop wisely you can get ST with a LB and a barfine for 1000 baht. I am about getting the most "bang" for my buck if you know what I mean. Though I do like the upgrades at Obsessions, but I just can't seem to stomach the high prices.

[Snick]

The barfine policy is a bit nuts, but after 9pm (or is it 10pm?), its 600 Baht the same as StringFellows. As for the girl, I pay the same for SF and Obs girls, and never had a complaint (hint - don't discuss it, just take the money and put it into their bag or slip it into their pocket).

The drinks are expensive - no doubt about that. If you ask for a discount card (or simply walk into the hotel lobby - and look on the counter for them) you get a 10% discount -- not much but it is something.

The bottom line for me is am I having fun. I have fun at Stringfellows, its definitely a 'gropers' friendly bar. I also have fun at Obsessions, where I find the girls have the best attitude and are the most fun.

Both bars have good and bad nights, at Stringfellows especially a new girl might sit next to me uninvited and start asking for drinks -- I just ignore her or sometimes give her a polite push. At Obsessions the staff sometimes does a cabaret number and then asks for tips -- which I refuse (if its an OUTSIDE group doing a cabaret bit, and its GOOD, I will tip).

In both cases, I prefer these bars to the Bangkok bars where it feels more business like - but that might just be because I am too well known there.

[Ozzie]

(shrimpsoup @ Mar. 04 2009,10:13)

(Ozzie @ Mar. 03 2009,22:14) ....I ventured in with Kahuna about 9:00pm and we were the only customers in the bar.....

this was your first mistake....don't venture into Stringfellows at 9pm.

at this time of the evening most patrons are likely to still be sober.

Do not...I repeat...Do Not... venture into SF whilst sober...it will only lead to hurt feelings and threads like this one.

Not entirely sure that this means? I should get drunk before going into a bar and should not go into until later in the evening?

Why would that make any difference as to the way I am treated?

[Stogie]

I just found out that Stringfellows is having a party tonight to celebrate 3 years!  


I have a feeling that Obsessions is going to be the most
talked about bar of the year... and in a good way!  

[johnlbx]

Most posts I read about visits to LB establishments are of two types:

1. a bad experience

2.  a get together with fellow customers with everyone enjoying themselves

Stringfelliows is not really designed for number 2 type events, which means that most Stringfellows posts are type 1 messages leading the reader to conclude that all experiences at Stringfellows are bad ones.

I visit a few times a month and I always have a good time.  I don't post about it because it wouldn't be very exciting to read and photography (thankfully) is discouraged (for the sake of the girls and the patrons who often make themselves comfortable in full view).

Yes it is a gogo and that's entertainment and you've got to be prepared to pay for that by buying drinks. Nothing new or different here.    I'm a slow drinker and the girls at SF always nurse their drinks so they finish when I do.   So I get a lot of time with the girls and time watching the show for every baht spent on drinks.  I compare this to many of the GG gogos where the girl orders a tequila and is done with her drink and looking for another before I've had a few sips of beer.

Now if you're down on your luck and only have  a few hundred baht to your name then going to any establishment offering a show is not a good idea.   The staff of course should be cordial and never rude to any guest but it seems that over time what really gets to people running show bars is freeloaders (just look at jimbo at C&D).  So anger directed at you is really intended to be spread out over a whole group of guys who want to get more than they're willing to pay.

The service girl at SF needs to be told how to do her job better.  I've complained about her before.    I want to be the one offering the girl a drink.  If the service girl brings up the idea ("You buy drink for she?") then if I say yes or no  I feel like a loser and I don't go to clubs to feel bad.   So now if she asks I  just dismiss her and eventually I ask the girl with me if she wants a drink and then motion the service girl over.

My advice for fun at SF is to enter the place, grabbing an outside girl if she strikes your fancy or picking one of the gals on stage and get her a drink (she can come off the podium right away if you offer her a drink).    So you've got a drink for you and one for her and if you drink slowly you'll have a lot of time to talk to her (and more) and watch the show and if some other girl wants a drink you can just tell her ( "sorry, I'm with XXX") and she'll go away.