Something new to lose your money in

[Pattaya One]

The site of the defunct Tahitian Queen 2 go-go (Soi BJ, off Walking Street) is undergoing major renovations, and looks as though it’s going to be turned into something unusual in Fun Town: a bar.

The former TQ 2 opened in 1991, so to survive 20 years in business in Pattaya is to be commended. It had its moments in the sun as far as popularity was concerned, at one stage being a real late-night venue. TQ 2 rarely had much in the way of chrome pole huggers of quality, but that’s not why people used to visit the joint. This was an air-conditioned bar, which, like its older sibling on Beach Road, played pretty good rock n roll music, not the head banging techno crap spewing forth from the speakers of most dens. It was a locals’ hangout in many ways.

The key to the joint was one of the American co-owners, Steve Blumenthal. Sadly, he died of a heart attack at just 41 years of age, in late 2006. Steve used to write a column called ‘Out For A Beer’ in one of Pattaya’s monthly tourist publications, sensibly giving TQ2 a mention in most of his pieces. I didn’t know him very well but he struck me as a nice person, and I never heard anyone talk of him in anything but the kindest terms. Steve, despite his relative youth, had been in Pattaya for a long time and once he was gone I guess it was no surprise to see TQ 2 struggle along. What it probably needed was a complete makeover and name change.

©Duncan Stearn

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