BANGKOK EYES PRESENTS -

Maps & Histories    About Us    Movies    Community     Archives

.

            This month's two-pronged 'Soi Twilight - Patpongs story' kicks off several years back with an historical look at the 'Twilight Zone' (as it was sometimes called) - Bangkok's largest dedicated gay Night Entertainment Area - and segues into the Patpongs of today.

      MIDNITE HOUR's first visit to Soi Twilight was in 2005 - a 'guided tour' walk-through with author Jerry Hopkins <link>, a person who would be familiar with these lesser-known sois.   However, at that time, there were too few Nitespots on the Soi to consider it as a stand-alone Night Entertainment Area - it was nowhere close to reaching 'critical mass'.   A year later, MIDNITE HOUR did another walk-through of the Soi and discovered the Soi had grown substantially.   At that time, we had an opportunity to interview the owner of the Banana Bar which was located just next to the Twilight Bar, or more correctly, just across the Soi from where the Twilight Bar once existed.   He had been around since the Twilight Bar was the lone soldier at the top of that Soi.   He recalled that the Twilight Bar opened on, or about 1966, but didn't have a clear recollection of what year it closed.   Nevertheless, it was around long enough to give Soi Pratuchai its nickname - known to all taxi drivers... etc.   It therefore follows that the eventual buildup of the then Soi Pratuchai between 1966 and 2005 was slower than slow.   From 2006 on, however, Soi Twilight was "on the map"; it had reached 'critical mass' and new Venues were opening regularly - some relocating in from Soi Than Tawan.

      But, as 'The Only Constant is Change', and as bars and bar areas inevitably cycle from 'low, to a high point, and back to low', the build-up in Soi Twilight would not last forever...   In a seemingly inconsequential event in 1996 on Patpong 2, the Princess Castle closed (oh, the memories...), and the Screw Boy -from Soi Twilight- opened there, next door to the Pink Panther.   It failed, and moved back to Soi Twilight, eventually failing yet again, and returning yet again to Patpong 2.   After another false start, it kick-started in June 2007 as 'New Screw Boy" (later dropping the 'New').   It is still there today at its original location next to the Pink Panther   So it was that the Screw Boy became the first hard-core gay bar to come to Patpong II long term.      (...Continued below...)

      Nevertheless, unknowingly, the Screw Boy was the harbinger, the foreshadower of the coming gay bar exodus, much of which would end up in the Patpongs.   For the next few years the bar-count at Soi Twilight climbed at a fairly regular pace, even while the occasional rumor of 'soi closing' would pop up - and bars would be asking themselves, and us at MIDNITE HOUR, if they should move (or in some cases move back) to Soi Than Tawan.   Then in 2012, Ocean Boy closed, again amid rumors of the Soi closing.   Even so, it was assumed it would be immediately replaced by another bar, however it was many months before it would reopen as The Zeus - beer bars sprouting on the empty verandas next door.   The Zeus closed at the beginning of 2015, never to be reoccupied.   It was from this point onward that Soi Twilight would begin to slowly contract.   Mario Massage closed not long after that in mid-2015, again, those digs never finding a replacement venue.

      The '@ Chai Massage' on Soi Twilight closed in late 2017, never to reopen.   Fresh Boys had already permanently departed Soi Twilight, opening upstairs on The Ramp in Patpong II in April 2018.   Then in mid-2018 Dick's Cafe Bangkok moved to 'Gaytown' at the north end of Jomtien Beach.   Dick's Soi Twilight digs would not reopen.   At Dick's closing, the handwriting was already on the wall for the closure of Soi Twilight - it was more than 'rumor' - it was just a matter of when, not if.

      In September of 2018, the upstairs X Size closed permanently, followed by the closure of the X Size Massage downstairs in January 2019, leaving just their downstairs pool bar.   The pool bar closed in February, and the far end of Soi Twilight began to be walled off with sheet metal construction barrier.   ...The 'cascade', the exodus, had begun.   This was when MIDNITE HOUR published a photo of a sign they posted telling customers not to worry, the bars inside the Soi were operating 'business as usual'.   On our visit 01 April the entire back half of Soi Twilight was closed off (with the exception of New Classic and Hot Male Beer Garden at the Rama IV Road entrance).   Some bars were already openly posting signs saying they were moving to the Patpongs.

      In March 2019 we noted on our site the impending / ongoing close-down of Soi Twilight (Soi Pratuchai), and the start of the 'exodus' of its bars.   As previously noted, many of those bars were in the process of relocating to Patpongs 1 & 2.   But unnoticed by most over the last several years -and prior to the recent 'big exodus' - a number of other gay bars had already been trickling into the Patpongs.   

            In conclusion, it can be seen that the number of gay bars has been steadily increasing over time, and ever more rapidly as time goes on.   As these gay bars were arriving rather sporadically over the last several years, no one really took much notice.   When seven bars moved in all at once on the closing of Soi Twilight, many took notice - and several of our readers expressed their various concerns to us.   As we remain an historically oriented news periodical, we are not in a position to comment publicly on such concerns, however we note for the historical record that there are many out there who lament the slow and inexorable decline of the Patpongs, remembering those raucous Patpongs of the 70's and 80's.

 

  TOP  

BOOKS ...worth a read !

  TOP  

  TOP  

MIDNITE HOUR MAIL BOX         

  TOP  

BANGKOK EYES

Let the June 2019 Follies  begin-

 PATPONG  1  

MAP

            Three months ago the Nitespot that was to replace the long idle Radio City was nearing completion of its renovations.   We passed by the other evening, and it still hadn't opened...   It appears they are removing the entire interior piece-by-piece, to include all the newly installed renovations, and hauling it all away in trucks.   Has someone forgotten to read their Business Plans For Dummies?

 PATPONG  1 

 PATPONG  2  

MAP

            There had been talk on the street that The Strip was going to reopen.   We took it with a grain of salt, thinking it was just another of the many incoming rumors.   Well, we were wrong - The Strip Bangkok 2.0 (just say, "The Strip") opened afresh - party balloons out - early last month.   Welcome them back to the fracas...

 PATPONG  2 

            The long-standing King's Garden katoey bar beer has up and vanished.   It was turned into an elevated A Go-Go stage after being absorbed into the adjacent King's Corner 2 - Patpong's largest katoey A Go Go.

 PATPONG  2 

            The New Screw Boys gay bar is closed for renovations.   Look for them to open in about a month...

 PATPONG  2 

            Royal Salute Cocktail Lounge located up on The Ramp has closed yet again.   As there is currently a lot of activity up on The Ramp, lets go into a holding pattern and see what eventuates with this very old Venue.

 PATPONG  2 

            Rig 1 Pub closed down after many years' successful operation up on The Ramp.   This real estate was absorbed into the newly relocated Hot Male.   Actual date of closure was a month ago.

 PATPONG  2 

            Hot Male Bar Beer, ex-Soi Twilight, has moved into the long-unoccupied Thai Smile Bar.   As yet, no new neon, so we will hold off for a photo for the archives...

 PATPONG  2 

            The Lucky Boys Bangkok bar / Bangkok Massage combo have partied up the premises.   A pic for the archives.

 PATPONG  2 

            "Something Big" is under way just below the Black Pagoda, but we are not yet able to tell all...   

 PATPONG  2 

 SOI  COWBOY  

MAP

            Rainy Season has arrived in Bangkok - a sample of a rainy night on Soi Cowboy.   A pic for the archives.

 SOI  COWBOY 

            There are a number of street bars just at the mouth of Soi Cowboy at the Soi Asoke end, somewhere between five and seven on most nights.   We were hoping to get photo coverage, but ran short of time this issue...

 SOI  COWBOY  

 NANA  PLAZA  

MAP

            A sampling of the Nana Plaza Nitespots along the right side (as you walk in).   Another for the archives...

 SOI  NANA 

 SOI  NANA  

MAP

            Last month we raved on about King's Night Club, located in the Rajah Hotel outbuilding.   We shouldn't have rushed in gushing.... this month only darkness shines from within.   If history is a teacher, Venues trying to make a go of it at this location have all failed, and failed quickly.

 SOI  KATOEY 

 SOI  KATOEY  

MAP

            It started out as Eat, Drink, Man, Women on the ground floor, later expanding to the 2nd level with the Eat Drink Izakaya Sushi, then, more recently, the Nakarat gay massage opened on the 3rd level.   Located at the top of Soi Katoey.   May they continue to continue on...

 SOI  KATOEY 

 SOI  22  

MAP

            It originally opened as Izakaya Tanpai 22 a couple months back.   This month they did a 'name-change' to Infinity Japanese Snack Bar.   Located in the Honey Plaza compound.   (A Japanese 'Snack Bar' is most closely defined as a small lounge with hostesses and eats and drink.)

 SOI  22  

            The Ghost of the Holiday Inn has scared off another ground-floor "Club".   This time the Juicy Club has faded into the rain and the heat - after almost one whole month...   This piece of real estate has got to have the highest turn-over rate of any in Bangkok.   

 SOI  22  

            The Luna Lounge is taking another run at it - after being closed last month (when we passed by).   As we have grown tired of saying, the way to get regular custom is to open regularly...   But what do we know, we only play here...

 SOI  22  

            The Bar I'on keeps on improving the landscape, now that their renovations have been completed (2 months ago).   Keep up the good works, gents...   A pic for the archives.

 SOI  22  

            We don't know what to call it, but it goes by the name Noi Kwa Roi (Less than 100).   We do know that a lot of loud Rock 'n Roll comes pouring down that gilded stairway, and a lot of local revellers are hanging around on the sidewalk...

 SOI  22  

            The Sweet Heart Rita Massage located deep in the heart of Side-soi Lemongrass (just past the Marriott Hotel) has called it a night.   Ashes to ashes, so be it, then...

 SOI  22  

 SOI  AMBASSADOR  

MAP

            The Hemingway finally put up some signage.   They are a restaurant-bar up until about 22:30, when they become a 'till-late' club.   We are still curious about what will be opening up on the right hand side upstairs (it's still under wraps)...

 SOI  AMBASSADOR  (Sukhumvit Soi 11) 

  QUEEN's  PARK  PLAZA 

MAP

            The Crazy Girl Bar (CGB) has put up some new signage... still going strong - until the wee hours, or for as long as customers keep coming...

 SOI  AMBASSADOR  (Sukhumvit Soi 11) 

 SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS  

MAP

            The big news on the Soi, and the Nightlife scene in general, is the closure of Check Inn 99.   After leaving Sukhumvit at Soi 5 for Soi 24, then on to Soi Ambassador, and most recently in Soi 33, the curtain has finally come down.   The club owner says they are not looking for a new venue.   Any such reincarnation would depend on getting together sufficient operating capital - which is currently not at hand.   Many are sorry to see them fade...   'The Night Entertainment Scene' on Soi Dead Artists continues to dwindle - how much longer will it be before it loses 'critical mass' and winks out entirely as an expat Night Entertainment Area?   Below is a clip at the original Check Inn 99.

 SOI  DEAD   ARTISTS (Sukhumvit 33) 

            Christies Club and the Napoleon have opened in the premises recently vacated by the Check Inn 99 (and its upstairs Pavilion Sports Bar).   We note the rare circumstance where the two bars (Napoleon and Christies) are both run by the owner of the premises, and not leased out to third party bar 'owners'.   We also note that both these bars, the Napoleon and Christies, have failed, not once but twice before - each.   Some of our readers, who know Soi 33 as well as anyone, have been surmising on how long the new setup will last.   Let's just say my bookie isn't answering my calls...   One reader suggested these 'new' bars be renamed 'shenanigans'.... but that name is already being used... ahennh...

 SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS  (Sukhumvit 33) 

            The Soba Juban, a Japanese snack-lounge, has come back to life - just like nothing happened (they were closed last month).   Located deep in Subsoi Pan Pan.

 SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS  (Sukhumvit 33) 

            The on-again, off-again 33 Club has apparently reopened - I say, "apparently" because I saw the lights on, no one inside, and three bouncers lounging out on the sidewalk....   (File photo of busier times below.)   I gotta say I've got a bad feeling...

 SOI  DEAD  ARTISTS  (Sukhumvit 33) 

 SOI  EDEN 

            The Pickled Liver Pub is undergoing big-time renovations - to include a heavy duty awining or roof reaching out to the edge of the Soi - will serve them well in this oncoming rainy season.   We haven't heard if they will be keeping, or changing the name...

 SOI  EDEN  (Sukhumvit 7 / 1) 

 SOI TWILIGHT 
01 June 2006* - 30 April 2019

MAP

            A quick wrap-up of the now-closed Soi Twilight.   Their official 'last day' was 30 April 2019, although all the bars that were going to relocate had already moved out, and those that closed down and went out of business had long done so.   It achieved critical mass (asterisk above) - on 01 June 2006.   As reported earlier, most of the bars that survived the closure moved to Patpong 1 & 2, and another moved to Soi Katoey (Silom Soi 4).   The photo below shows the boarded-up entrance to what once was Soi Twilight (Surawong Road entrance).   This will be the last reportage of Soi Twilight.

 SOI  TWILIGHT  

 

  TOP  

dddd

With thanks to Cool Text.com

Bangkok Eyes is an historically based news outlet, and as such, all graphic excerpts herein are considered, under current legal precedents and
prevailing interpretations, 'Fair Use' under Copyright Law.   Copyright of any original artwork resides exclusively with the artists.

Bangkok's original site !

   The
M IDNITE HOUR
Graffiti Page is prepared by Staff Contributor "Boge" Hartman .

(Boge's photo, above, is not a graffiti per- se, although there are those who have insinuated....
- Ed)