Hi everyone,

I am new to this web forum so firstly I would like to say a big hello to everyone!

I would like to hear from anyone who has opened a bar anywhere in Thailand or could give some information on what is needed to open a bar in Thailand. I want to find out about getting a bar license and would I get that in Thailand or am I better getting it here in the UK? I have a Irish and NZ passport.

Thanks!

Freebird

Hi Freebirdnz and welcome
Ive done what you want to do except i did the whole backpacker resort thing with some success in the 90's, and have worked at other thai run places ,many people have tried the bars and it sure is fun but with a whole lot of pitfalls if your not careful.
contact me and maybe we can nut something out, i was on Samui and Phangan, where are you looking?

As Thai residence like me, on my opinion is Bar business might be fun working, but some seriouse come accross. License to do this for foriegner is more difficult than Thai Nationality. There are just license to allow selling alcohol and then you can open Bar Beer (only Thai for none Thai you need company Reg+++more) Don't forget that you still have to pay none Tax Fees to.........

Just my opinion

I think you need to seriously reconsider - my husband and I have beeon going to KS for the last 5 years and last year we met an English guy who had opened his own bar (with the help of another English guy and an Australian guy) in Chaweng. He put up £17,000 of his own savings for the venture. Last year we spent most evenings having a couple of drinks with him at his new bar (I think it was called the Chicken and Pullet or something like that). He was also refurbishing the upstairs for B&B accommodation. We arrived this year early August and a few nights into our holiday went into Chaweng. The bar was not there, but we spotted the English guy in another bar further up the street in a bar called KWAS or something like that. He recognised us and told us that he had been ripped off in a big way by his "partners". He was now working for somebody else and had lost all of his money; his solicitor and the Thai police had told him that there was nothing he could do. Unless you're a Thai national I'd forget it if I were you!!