Sunee Plaza
Businesses
The first gay bar at Sunee Plaza was open in 1996 and carried the name Crazy Pub. Soon behind it Sunee Plaza Bar opened, as did Topman Nightclub, the first gogo bar. In 2010 in Sunee Plaza more than 50 institutions focused on LGBT including beer bars, go-go bars, host bars cafes, restaurants and budget hotels. Sunee Plaza at that time boasted the largest collection of gay venues in one location in Thailand. As of 2019, the quantity of gay establishments in Sunee Plaza has decreased significantly. Now there are fewer than a dozen beer bars, a few restaurants, and only one hotel. Additional services includes small shops, hairdressing salons, taxi services, travel agencies, and a few restaurants. The main reasons for closing gay institutions in Pattaya:
- toughening of business rules in Thailand in general after the military junta came to power in 2014;
- city administration desire to improve the image of Pattaya as a family destination;
- competition from online dating mobile apps;
- Recent influx of Arab-owned businesses on Soi 17 and in the Sunee Plaza area;
- rental increases by the owner of Sunee Plaza, Madame Sunee.
Police raids
The police for conducting expeditious checks regularly Sunee Plaza institutions. In July, 2008, July, 2010 and March, 2013 during raids underage males involved in gogo bars as dancers were found. During raid in July, 2008 one of the caught minors was only 8 years old. By results of conducting raids in July, 2008, October, 2009, January, 2011 forbidden narcotic substances are found in blood of bar's staff.
Notes
- ^ As of 2019 this building hosts the Irish pub and Jazz hotel.
References
- ^ "Purple Roofs Travel Newsletter: October 2009 - Sunee Plaza, Pattaya, Thailand". www.purpleroofs.com. Purple Roofs. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ "Gay Pattaya – Gay Pattaya Guide". earthgayguide.com. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ Somsak, Khun (10 April 2013). "Sunee Plaza in Pattaya: Ein beliebter Treffpunkt für Gays › Thailand Aktuell". www.thailandaktuell.com (in German). Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ "Beer bars in Sunee Plaza". Sunee Plaza Official website.
- ^ "Sunee Plaza – the BIG secret". Thai-Spice magazine. September 14, 2010. Archived from the original on April 17, 2011.
- ^ "Sunee Plaza - gay district in Pattaya". GayRove.com. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "Underage Bar Workers As Toung As 8 Years Old". forum.thaivisa.com. 26 July 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "Underage Boys found in Police raid of South Pattaya Gay Bar". www.thailandnews.co. 25 July 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "Police find 17 underage boys in raid of Sunee Plaza gay bar". www.pattayamail.com. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "Underage Employees And Drug Users Found In Sunee Plaza Boy Bar Police Raid". forum.thaivisa.com. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
- ^ "46 arrested as 100 police sweep Sunee Plaza for drugs". www.pattayamail.com. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
External links
- Sunee Plaza, Gay Pattaya, Gay Thailand Official archived website
- Sunee Plaza Official Facebook site