‘Be Happy’

By Bryan Francis

>As sung in the popular ditty by eighties Brit band the Housemartins “It’s Happy Hour again, and again, and again”. This month we feature an extensive round up of venues slashing their tariffs for the sake of some early evening bargain quaffing.

Let’s face it, you cannot beat Happy Hour to get you err…HAPPY! Often just after the office day grinds to a welcome halt, what better way to forget the whining old boss than to head straight to the boozer with a few of your pals and get the evening off to a merry ole start, and all on the cheap too. In fact, if you plan your merriment schedule astutely you can trawl from bar to bar catching diverse promotional sessions, and still stagger home at the end of the night with enough money left in your wallet to buy your partner a bunch of flowers needed to recompense for your drunken antics!

With competition fierce in the nightlife industry and Bangkok’s imbibers being a fickle old bunch at best, Happy Hours and reduced drink promotions are an enticing method of pulling punters in during off-peak times. Here is some of the capital’s best slurping suggestions – enjoy!

Several expat-oriented watering holes have long realized that Bangkok’s farang contingent is partial to an early evening tipple and most of the established venues offer some kind of discount drinks. At the Londoner Brew Pub (Tel: 0-2261-0238-9) they will pull you in with their homegrown British ales and throw in an extra pint for free. The daily 4-7pm Happy Hours (with the exception of Wednesdays) serves pub-brewed beer with cocktails included in the 2-for-1 session. After you are tanked up, nestle into one of the tavern’s booths and enjoy easy listening music or take pleasure in plenty of sports on the box to keep you entertained in this cavernous basement alehouse.

Another Irish pub popular for its early evening alcohol affectations is Thaniya’s O’Reillys (Tel: 0-2632-7515). The raucous wood-clad venue with cracking nightly music has a mist-cooling side terrace for punters to ogle at the bustle in this busy part of town. The daily 4-7pm Happy Hours includes Heineken and Tiger Draughts; selected bottled beers of Heineken, Tiger, Singha, Chang, Asahi, San Miguel Light and Beer Lao; and a 50% off on their South African house wine, Goiya. Additionally, the house drinks of Gordon’s Gin, Smirnoff Vodka and Johnnie Walker Red Label are on offer at buy one get one free at B125 all day and night.

Bull’s Head (Tel: 0-2259-4444) is an oasis of expatriate revelry. The two-floored pub has an intimate and friendly atmosphere, with polite and helpful local staff wearing T-shirts with the slogan ‘I’m a real tosser’. This play on British slang is a reference to their ‘Toss the Boss’ sessions on Sunday evenings, where from 5-7pm, you flip a coin on a round of drinks. Call correctly and drinks are free, loser pays standard prices. They also have Happy Hours from Mondays through Saturdays at 4-7pm with all regular drinks at B100.

Sister venue to Bull’s Head, The Barbican (Tel: 0-2234-3590) is a stylish, airy bar with a European brassiere ambience and a diverse Western menu. They have a 365 Days Happy Hour where all regular drinks are priced at B100 daily from 4-7pm. Resident DJ’s play weekly and being only a stone’s throw from Silom Soi 4, Soi 2 and Patpong, it is an excellent place to fuel up before late night partying.

A six hour Happy Hour from 3-9pm is available at The Landmark Bangkok’s Huntsman Pub (Tel: 0-2254-0404). Their Thursday’s special is a four course ‘Kilkenny Beer dinner’ for a reasonable price of B600 net per person. The hotel’s basement venue is softly lit with a large central bar and plenty of booths to snug into. Also offered are special prices for any beer plus delicious pub grub at an unbeatable B100.

The Rendezvous Bar (Tel: 0-2254-0404 extension 4222) is a new and exceptional place to meet friends while relishing on the pleasures of a novel type of bar at The Landmark Bangkok. Their Happy Hours are from 5:30-7:30pm plus you can enjoy 2-for-1 drinks amid complimentary ‘tapas’ with all drinks priced at B100. It is a place to chill out, delight in sublime club service and be enthralled by musical entertainment.

Hanrahans Irish Pub (Tel: 0-2255-0644) is conveniently located in the lively night life street of Sukhumvit Soi 4, where a great mix of locals, ex-pats and tourists alike can be found. It boasts three floors; downstairs welcomes you with a mixture of raised and bench seats providing views of the stage plus sports screens. The second floor has a lounge style set-up with floor to ceiling window panorama whereas the third has an open air roof terrace with a complete outdoor oasis feel. The daily 4-7pm Happy Hours includes Heineken and Tiger Draughts; selected bottled beers of Heineken, Tiger, Singha, Chang, Asahi, San Miguel Light and Beer Lao; and a 50% off on their South African house wine, Goiya. Additionally, the house drinks of Gordon’s Gin, Smirnoff Vodka and Johnnie Walker Red Label are on offer at buy one get one free at B125 all day and night.

The Duke of Wellington (Tel: 0-2234-2875) presents a full menu from traditional classics to local Thai food where there is sure to be something for everyone. Moreover, the live music will keep you entertained within an affable atmosphere plus all sporting events are covered on big screen TV’s. Their weekday Happy Hours are from 5-8pm and continue late into the night with another session from 10:30pm till closing hours. Additionally, their weekend Happy Hours are from 12-8pm; Heineken Pint -95 B, Tiger Pint – 80 B, House Wine – 75B, House Spirit with mixer – B75.

Roadhouse BBQ (Tel: 0-2236-8010) offers a distinctive, casual dining experience that is family friendly. Entertainment is a big part of their night time ambiance with music on their first floor stage, including both regional and international artists. Not to be missed for your favorite sporting events is the big screen TV’s on the third floor Sports Bar. Happy Hours are available from 4-7pm daily with special offers on Bottled Beer at B75, Domestic Draft Beer at B85 and Cocktails at B85.

The Robin Hood (Tel: 0-2662-3390) is a rustic style English tavern, dressed with wooden floorboards and a classic long bar. This spilt leveled pub has a warm homey feel, attracting a lively mix of regular international patrons. The pub has several televisions and a giant screen, showing sporting events from around the world. There is live music nightly with the exception of Saturdays which is live sports night with English commentary on all big screen events. The daily 4-7pm Happy Hours includes Heineken and Tiger Draughts; selected bottled beers of Heineken, Tiger, Singha, Chang, Asahi, San Miguel Light and Beer Lao; and a 50% off on their South African house wine, Goiya. Additionally, the house drinks of Gordon’s Gin, Smirnoff Vodka and Johnnie Walker Red Label are on offer at buy one get one free at B125 all day and night.

Molly Malone’s (Tel: 0-2266-7160-1) is the ideal spot to let your hair down, enjoy great food and watch all the live sports as and when they happen. This Irish pub is famous for its generous portions of food and is the home of the 100 Baht pint, plus it is renowned in Thailand for having the most draught beer on tap as well. Daily Happy Hours are from 4-7pm comprising of Heineken, Tiger, Singha Draught at B85 a pint; Heineken, Tiger, Singha and San Miguel bottles at B75 each; and House Pours, Rum, Vodka, Whisky with mixers at B75 each. Additionally, on weekends they have Heineken, Tiger or Singha jugs at B180 each, all day long. Head down to Soi Convent and check out the daily beer and food specials they have available.

Jameson’s (Tel: 0-2266-7703) is the newest Irish pub in Bangkok and although it is a cavernous pub they do pull the punters in. It is located on the ground floor of Holiday Inn in Silom and there is live music available six days a week from 9pm onwards. Additionally, various Happy Hours are available with the 4-7pm Local Beer Pint at B75, 4-7pm Local Bottle Beer at B65, and 7pm till closing Local Beer Pints at B100. Other promotional activities are also on hand throughout the week to make your visit to Jameson’s worth your while and filled with fun.

A 2-for-1 session…..a buy one get one free….drink and