Tai Pan on the slide. New clutter designed to make it look full?

[cashflowpatrick]

Lots of changes at Tai Pan lately. I can't see any of them being for the better though.

First they added a chain along the seforum.xxxe where the girls dance. Now they've added a whole new set of tables on that side of the dance floor.

By doing this, they've cut 30% of the space from the already cramped dance floor.

The aisle from the door to the dance floor, and the aisle towards the bathrooms also has new tables and LOTS of stools. I don't know if it's designed to make an empty disco look full, but it's nearly impossible to walk around now.

What good is a disco when you can't wander around? 1/2 the fun of Tai Pan is the huge amount of turnover as people walk around and mingle. The chains and tables prevent an easy access or exit from the dance floor, and also prevent all the girls from climing up and dancing in line. Also makes it impossible to grab them down to the dance floor.

They've switched to more of a techno style than the previous list of tired but tested favorites. One song now sounds like the next.

On an up note, the red benches on the outer ends are a big improvement.


Come on Tai Pan, clear a way for us to walk. And open up the dance floor a bit more. Keep the same amount of tables, if you want, just move them over 3 feet towards the seforum.xxxe.

 

[sahtlover]

I think part of the reason for cutting off a portion of the dance floor is to keep people from walking through it...

I was there about a week ago and didn't have any problems getting around, but I just stayed along the perimeter, which is what they want for people that like to walk around and mingle (i.e. not dance).

 

[trd93]

Well maybe they read this board, because it sure seems that they have indeed moved the new tables closer to the seforum.xxxe, and opened a walkway from the middle door to the dance floor. ^

But the music? I still don't get it.

House? Trance? Techno? Whatever you call that style of music may work for Samui and Pha Ngan where the crowd is young and stoned, but not for Tai Pan. We want Beer and Whisky music. Thais call it Songs for Life, don't they? Whatever it is, the terrible classics and the ones they play everynight get the crowd going, don't they?

After 30 minutes of the often voiceless repetition, I see people standing still on the dance floor waiting for the next song. He must have seen it, 'cuz he stopped mid-track, and threw on a good popular song with Thais and Farangs. Next song and it's back to the House music.

This isn't a Euro Bar. Take a look around. The male clientelle is 30+ to 50+ foreigners, for the most part. Even the girls aren't even that young.

Now, I must hand it to the owner and operator. He's established a better bar than I ever could have. But why all the changes lately. I hate to complain. But not too much that I'm gonna stop.

 

[Sarah N]

Since you know so much about the development in Tai Pan (which info I appreciate), I guess that you're a daily or very frequent client there. That means that you like it in there, despite your complaints.
So I don't understand why bother.
Anyway, whenever I am in Patong, which is on average 3 times a year since Tai Pan was a row of open air establishments back in the 90's, I love it there. Special atmosphere. But you're right the music keeps returning and one can almost tell which song will be next...
See you on the 29th this month when I'll be back again....:

 

[Mike Windsor]

Went in there last night,about 9pm.

I was the only customer when i walked in.A few followed later.
I couldn`t believe it.I`ve always enjoyed the music and the atmosphere in there early in the night,as a starting point.

1 Tiger beer cost me 120 baht.They were 80 baht not too long ago,up unti,l i think, 10.30.

It didn`t look or feel good in there last night.Maybe another sign of the times.

 

[HK OS]

I can honestly say I have never made it to the dancefloor of Tai Pan yet!

Always a case of: "You dancin"? - "You askin?" - "Tuk Tuk"' :intello:

 

[starburst71795]

On previous trips TP was my starting point. Listen to to the band, and continue on to bangla about 1 hour after the dj starts playing.

Went there once last november, at about 11-ish. Punters were strongly outnumbered by the staff. Looked inside a few times later during my holiday, the place never seemed to have much customers.

 

[Ivon]

Yesterday night at about 1-1.30am the place was packed, despite crappy music.

 

[Wendy Banbur]

I like thier balloons!

 

[MisterTattiePie4U]

As long as I come to Patong, Tai Pan has always been packed after 1.00am.
Even most days in low season while a place like Banana suffers - but that could be because its 400 baht entrance fee (2 beers included).

Before 1.00am nothing to do there except looking to the tongue of Harry the Greek whilst he's screaming.
:

 

[misscara]

Once again the demise of Tai Pan is being suggested and once again it's compelete nonesense. They consistently improve themselves, year after after, they just dropped B1m plus on a stunning laser show, this is probabaly more than the entire sound and light system at another popular disco in town costs.
They are one of the few venues that continually improve each year and they reap the rewards they deserve, good luck to 'em. BTW this post was not aimed at the original poster who was very fair.

 

[Kitty.]

Not even suggesting the demise of Tai Pan. No Way.

But it's not full. As everyone suffers, so does this popular place. And I noticed a few changes.

I'll still go, as mentioned above. I like Tai Pan. I understand it.

 

[Priscilla]

I WENT INTO THAI PAN on my last night in patong in early november i lasted one drink its total PANTS the music played is garbage its too congested drinks are too expensive and its not comfortable in any way my first and last stop ever at thai pan ROCK CITY next door beats it hands down

 

[Kati]

It depends on what time you go... It gets a rush when the bars close, but last night, at that time, it was only half full... They have great real estate... oh, and great dancers...meaning dancers that look great..

 

[optcynbassist]

I only went into Tai Pan once when I was in Phuket. It was about 1.00am from memory and it was complete Mingersville and the music was pathetic (some sort of techno sh1t, I almost would have preferred a round of "What's Going On?" Almost). On top of that, I ordered a bottle of water (had consumed a lot of beer before that on was on me last legs) and it was 200 THB. Or close to 10 Aussie bucks on current exchange form. For a bottle of water. That's 10 Australian dollars, €5, £4 etc. I looked at the bill and laughed in the slightly crazy way people laugh when they are made to pay 20 times more for something they could have got at the 7-11 next door. 5 minutes later I was out the door, never EVER to return (to Tai Pan, not Phuket).

 

[Pompal 09.]

Just curious... if they get 200B for water, how much are the beers??

 

[Elorselommepe]

They must have overcharged you or mistaken. A beer is 140 baht if I'm not wrong, while a imported Corona is 180 baht. I never drink water : so I don't know sure but I think it a small plastis bottle comes out at 100 baht.

 

[GUERA33]

Bars will fine you for drinking water. Apparently they take it as an insult.

 

[Ann_E1]

Last time december 2008
I paid 120 bath for Singha Beer
and i still love Tai Pan go there
and have a beer 5 min later
a nice lady came up to me
i ask her how much?
1000 for LT
i say lets go

 

[NYlisa]

100 bt for a small botle of mineral water in november. At 52 bt to the pound thats almost £2. 2 years ago water was 60bt at 65 bt to the pound. So thats double in 2 years..The only place in Phuket I drink water as ive had far too many beers by 2 am.