New Cafe Discovered!

[PeteC]

Those who recruit a sponsor, perhaps management can consider giving them a recognition star or something in their ID box. Pete

[JW]

Hi Buksi,

Just a thought but if those that visit a place on the back of reading comments on here actually mention this to the owners they maybe inclined to become a sponsor, or at least take an advertorial that costs less than the price of a small Singha every week!

I did mate!

I drive past at least 2 times per day and didnt notice it, without doubt a place I will use a lot, the attention to detail is awesome, many old style adverts which I love!
Forgot to mention that the 69baht Burger is brilliant, tasty and perfectly cooked/nice fresh salad/good bun and nice size (inc pickles, which I usually throw away) and crisps. Bottle coke served in a nice big chunky beer glass.

Cheers,

JW

[Homer]

^^ It surprises me (sort of) how many businesses in the area can be found on the Internet, but haven't made themselves known on... erm... local forums. Is it that local businesses are missing out on an advertising opportunity, or that local forums tend to overestimate their influence?

Several reasons, all gleaned from a former co-worker who used to manage restaurants/bars. He usually gave his professional opinion of each new place we tried for lunch.

Generally (which means who knows if it applies to Hua Hin): 1) Happiest customers come from learning about a restaurant by word-of-mouth, 2) Restaurants that advertise or run promotions are new, or are perceived as either positioning themselves to tourists or business is slow, 3) Effective marketing can bring in a bunch of people all at once who never come back because there is not enough parking and service is slow.

[Siani]

The last post mentioned service and parking with certain places. There is plenty of parking in front of the BBC and the service is wonderful. I noticed the market setting up tonight, in the street and behind. Cicada Market Located at Suan Sri Khao Takiab. area. Wonderful market for crafts art clothes etc.
What a nice evening, stroll around the market, just next door and then some supper, drinks coffee etc.

[Farang]

Just a thought but if those that visit a place on the back of reading comments on here actually mention this to the owners they maybe inclined to become a sponsor, or at least take an advertorial that costs less than the price of a small Singha every week!

Sorry to repeat myself but here we go:

Buks, can you persuade Lev to print some simple but concise cards explaining about the HHAD. They should be in Thai and the same on reverse side in English. I am sure most of us would be happy to drop the card at any place we visit, and explain about the good coverage HHAD offers to entrepreneurs in HH.

I'd leave the card with the tip to insure promptness in advertising in HHAD. All this coverage and enthusiastic selling of HHAD you would get just for the price of cards, much less than a half of Singha every fortnight.

[margaretcarnes]

It's good to hear about new cafe/bar businesses which do seem to be springing up more these days on the outskirts of HH, with some really competetive pricing and quality.
Makes me wonder though what is going to happen eventually in the centre of town, where rents are high and retail prices have to reflect costs.
We have already seen a change in what expats are going for, and the general move away from the Bintablock - even for lunchtimes. The well established town centre businesses - Euro Bakery - Admirals etc are going to suffer - if they aren't already - and IMO it would be a shame to see some of them go, which will happen eventually.
Don't get me wrong - I can't knock the ongoing entrepreneurial spirit of expats at all, and good luck to the new ventures. We all know this expansion to the HH outskirts is driven by landlord greed and Tessabahn policy. But it seems to me that the HH of the future is going to be high end tourism in the centre, with expats and the more regular return trippers scattered around their little outskirts areas, which are too widespread for a proper community feel to exist.
Thats progress I guess.

[Siani]

It's good to hear about new cafe/bar businesses which do seem to be springing up more these days on the outskirts of HH, with some really competetive pricing and quality.
Makes me wonder though what is going to happen eventually in the centre of town, where rents are high and retail prices have to reflect costs.
We have already seen a change in what expats are going for, and the general move away from the Bintablock - even for lunchtimes. The well established town centre businesses - Euro Bakery - Admirals etc are going to suffer - if they aren't already - and IMO it would be a shame to see some of them go, which will happen eventually.
Don't get me wrong - I can't knock the ongoing entrepreneurial spirit of expats at all, and good luck to the new ventures. We all know this expansion to the HH outskirts is driven by landlord greed and Tessabahn policy. But it seems to me that the HH of the future is going to be high end tourism in the centre, with expats and the more regular return trippers scattered around their little outskirts areas, which are too widespread for a proper community feel to exist.
Thats progress I guess.

I know what you are saying Mags. With the high rent in HH is is driving the small cafes/ bars outside. I am amazed that the Lavaza coffee shop can keep going there, as there is only so many coffees you can sell in a day. Where is the profit? There has been a shop for rent just next door for 6 months to my knowlede, apparently the rent is huge. I do think there is enough trade for all, what with the big hotels, Hilton, Sofitel etc to keep the businesses going you mentioned. There are also a lot of small hotels and tourists will always go to HH centre.
With other areas opening up, it is a good thing, parking is easy, whereas it is not in the town centre. There is loads happening in Soi 88 too, new shops, bar etc. They are all Thai run by the looks of it, which is good.
The thing is the world is changing, Thailand is just going along with the rest. Nothing anyone can do, it is the same in the UK. There is a place that I used to go as a child, Sandbanks, it was just a sleepy old beach, boatyard etc. One small beach cafe in those days. In fact right up to 1970 it was ok, we lived there for a while. Unfortunatley it has now turned into a flashy footballers wives type of place with everyone wanting to live next door to Harry Redknapp

Still apparently that is progress for you

[margaretcarnes]

I guess you're right Siani. The growth in HH has been very rapid over the last 10 years or so and we can't expect things to stay the same anywhere. I do fear a kind of 'ghetto-isation' of HH expats, whereas before they all went into town and all knew each other pretty much. Of course the exchange rate has also dealt a blow to many people.
Must say though that the development of the Railway Plaza area has been a great improvement and provides a cheap pleasant eating area which is still central and seems popular now. But I do personally fear that there will be many newer expats who rarely go into town and will fail to realise what the place has to offer.

[hhfarang]

You're right Mags,

I live just south of town and almost never go downtown any more. My bank has a branch in the south end of town, there's Bangkok hospital for health needs, Market Village for shopping and plenty of dining and drinking establishments in Takiab and other areas like on sois 102, 94, and 90. The only times I go into town further than Market Village any more is the occasional (about once a month) trip to Villa Market, twice a month to the old Hua Hin shopping mall, and to pay the water bill which seems to be the only one I can't pay at a 7/11 or a bank in Market Village.

Plus more and more of the newer developments are out west beyond the mountains or south beyond Takiab so you are probably right about the newer expats who buy in those areas too, especially with the Tesco and Makro in Pranburi. I know several expats in the south end of town that would rather go to Pranburi for their shopping now than fight the traffic in town. Even though I live just south of the flyover, I still go to Pranburi Honda for both of our cars servicing as I find it easier than driving all the way through downtown Hua Hin to get to Hua Hin Honda that is in the north end of town.

[moja]

But I do personally fear that there will be many newer expats who rarely go into town and will fail to realise what the place has to offer. [/quote]

Tailors, opticians, dirty/uneven pavements, smelly drains, expensive food and drinks and that includes water etc etc The new Mall is a start but a lot of work needs to be done on the other parts of town before it really starts to attrack the local expats.

[bcrglobal]

I have to admit I AM one of these expats who doesn't go downtown.

I've been here a little more than 2 months so far, we hit Tesco occasionally, Makro occasionally, the markets regularly, if we want to eat Farang it tends to be at Terrace 90 because of the cheap prices and good food/service.

I'd like to meet some friends here, get to know people, etc. but I spend most days holed up at the house busy with some international projects of a personal nature....

If there was A place, then I would try to go occasionally, meet people, etc. But the fact is there are LOTS of places, and I don't want to go out bar-crawling hoping to meet people who can turn into long-term friends (And honestly, most of my long term friends haven't been from the bar-fly community anyway)

How about a party? Get one place, get them to throw some food/drink specials (Or an all-inclusive entry fee) and have a community get-together? It worked quite well for 2 expat sites I was involved with previously.....good marketing for the site, good community building, and good outreach to us newbies who don't know where to start.....

[dtaai-maai]

^^Have you tried the Hash?

[bcrglobal]

Thanks Dtaai-Maai! I'd love to try the hash sometime, but to be honest, it intimidates the hell out of me.

I'm 41 years old, fat (And have always been fat) and not a runner at all. I like a good walk (See my other thread) and can churn a good pace (+-5-6KPH) over a long distance, but to try to hang with runners and joggers....I feel like I'd make a fool out of myself.

I love the idea of "Drinkers with a running problem" and have lots of friends all over the world who hash regularly, but just never got up the nerve to try to impersonate a runner....

[hhfarang]

I went with the local hash (one of the guys who organizes it, Don, is a friend) and there were plenty of walkers too. I was always in the back with a couple of others and had to follow the marked trail carefully, but it was not difficult. Don's Hua Hin Forum name is Donald Allen Tetley. Send him a PM. He is not only an organizer in hash run/walks, and hash biking outings, but has recently started a new hiking club that walks to unusual scenic attractions around the area as well.

[Dannie Boy]

not to mention that if you do go on one of these long walks/runs, you might stumble upon a New Cafe.....................oh yes, what were we talking about?