British Persistence
Sees Londoner Succeed
If there ever was a
classic example in Bangkok of a place
that would not give up but kept trying
until it finally caught the attention
of the public, and then went on to become
a successful focus of the expat community,
then the Londoner on the corner of Sukhumvit
Soi 33 is that place.
When it opened ten or
so years ago It had gone as far as importing
the equipment to make its own beer, a
feature that was all the rage then, and
it was not a bad idea as the space the
bar and restaurant has available in the
basement of UBC 2 Tower is enormous.
When
it first opened it was cavernous and set
itself up as a London pub comes to Bangkok
. In retrospect it was just a bit ahead
of its time and Soi 33 had not quite taken
off to the extent it has today. Then there
was just Renoir and Napoleon on the street,
but now there are dozens of ‘hostess'
bars attracting huge numbers of expats,
and the Londoner finally has the traffic
it needs.
And it is a fine pub
which opens daily at 11:00 am and that's
official too because the Londoner was
voted American Express Pub/Restaurant
of the Year and has been winner of numerous
other awards. The Londoner Brew Pub as
it is properly called, is reckoned to
be one of Bangkok 's favourite pubs among
some expatriates and locals and even tourists,
and is nowadays noted for brewing Thailand
's only pub-brewed English Bitter and
Pilsner Lager. On top of that it has the
complete range of beverages, wines, cocktails
and pub food and nowadays offers John
Smith's on tap too.
It has its happy hours
from 16:00–19:00 and from 23:00–01:00
and to attract the expat crowd, has become
something of a sports bar as well as a
fairly fancy restaurant when it wants.
The bar supports a variety of sporting
interests in Bangkok and plays host to
the Londoner Golf Club, Londoner FC, the
Londoner's Netball Team and the British
Club RFC. If you are a member of a sports
team looking for a regular venue for club
meets or functions or looking for help
with sponsorship or promotion then the
Londoner may indeed be the place for you
and your team-mates.
There are certainly
enough tellys in the place featuring every
known sports event to man, and even in
a room this size you can not get away
from the world of sport even if you want
to. All major sports events are also shown
on the pub's mega screen as well as the
twelve satellite TVs. If that does not
take your fancy, there are two pool tables
and a dart board for the more energetic
customers.
Party nights and functions
are held to cover all festive occasions
in addition to the infamous Wacky Wednesday
Party when drinks are 2 for the price
of 1 all night! They say its It's the
wildest party night in Bangkok with all
drinks sold on a 2 for 1 basis — all night
- and every Wednesday you will find the
pub packed with party people who just
wanna have fun! If you like to drink,
dance or just find a new partner, this
could be the place and couples are welcome
too!
And to get things really
swinging The Londoner showcases some of
the most polished musicians in Thailand
, with the Boss Band playing all the latest
and greatest hits live on Wednesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays and happily – just
like the old days - are more than willing
to accept requests from a wide variety
of music genres.
The Londoner Brew Pub
also claims to be the best venue in Bangkok
to hold a special party or business event
and can deliver buffet or set menus to
suit all tastes and budgets with a private
room which comes at no extra cost. So
if you are planning an office party, business
function or seminar give them a call.
There is certainly enough room!
We set up in a booth
near the bar rather than on the spacious
central dining deck at the front of the
stage. There were waitresses and waiters
flying everywhere and the place was almost
packed, mainly with expats and most were
dining as well as drinking.
The menu features a
wide variety of English specials including
shepherd's pie, steak and kidney, sausage
and mash and…you get the picture. But
here is a very good selection of Thai
dishes too and the very well-equipped
kitchen and the professional staff deliver
very fresh and tasty food.
I had the broth and
the steak and kidney pie and Nan had the
Tom Yum Prawn and a mixed grill – hungry
tonight are we?
And then the fun began
deciding just what to wash it all down
with. And I am not joking because My Girl
loves her beer and likes to experiment
too. This what she had to chose from among
the draught beers: London Pilsner 33 Pub
Brewed, Londoner's Pride Pub Brewed, Heineken
Half Pint, Pint, 1 Litre Jug or 3 Litre
Keg. Then among the bottled and canned
beers there is Heineken or Tiger by the
bargain bucket of six bottles, or Kloster,
Asahi, Singha, Warsteiner, Erdinger Wheat
Beer, Foster's, Victoria Bitter, Foster's
Light Ice (Low Alcohol 2.3%),
Corona , Crown Lager
and Tetley's Draught Bitter. Quite a selection.
And by the way, during
happy hour, if you purchase a pub brewed
beer or buy a cocktail, you receive a
second one free!
And while on the subject
of free stuff there is also free underground
parking, free wireless internet and a
free Sunday Times direct from the UK at
the weekends which might also be a good
time to bring the kids. Families are especially
well catered for on Sunday with a with
a special roast menu, cartoons and games
for the kids! Thus a place to avoid for
those who believe drinking and brats do
not go together!
The pub does wine too
and has a wine list of most of the usual
pub wine culprits offering red and white
by the glass at 180 baht and a 250 ml
carafe for 340 baht, a 500 ml carafe for
640 baht and a bottle for 920 baht a pop.
It's a good night out,
a good lunch venue and great place to
take the family once in a blue moon.
It's very much a British
pub right here in the heart of the world's
greatest city.
THE LONDONER
BREW PUB
Basement UBC II Building
Sukhumvit Soi 33
Tel: 02 261 0238-9
Live music Wednesday, Fridays, Saturday
9:00 pm until 1:00 am
