Sunee Plaza

Businesses

The first gay bar at Sunee Plaza was open in 1996 and carried the name Crazy Pub. Soon behind it Sunee Plaza Bar opened, as did Topman Nightclub, the first gogo bar. In 2010 in Sunee Plaza more than 50 institutions focused on LGBT including beer bars, go-go bars, host bars cafes, restaurants and budget hotels. Sunee Plaza at that time boasted the largest collection of gay venues in one location in Thailand. As of 2019, the quantity of gay establishments in Sunee Plaza has decreased significantly. Now there are fewer than a dozen beer bars, a few restaurants, and only one hotel. Additional services includes small shops, hairdressing salons, taxi services, travel agencies, and a few restaurants. The main reasons for closing gay institutions in Pattaya:

• toughening of business rules in Thailand in general after the military junta came to power in 2014;
• city administration desire to improve the image of Pattaya as a family destination;
• competition from online dating mobile apps;
• Recent influx of Arab-owned businesses on Soi 17 and in the Sunee Plaza area;
• rental increases by the owner of Sunee Plaza, Madame Sunee.

Police raids

The police for conducting expeditious checks regularly Sunee Plaza institutions. In July, 2008, July, 2010 and March, 2013 during raids underage males involved in gogo bars as dancers were found. During raid in July, 2008 one of the caught minors was only 8 years old. By results of conducting raids in July, 2008, October, 2009, January, 2011 forbidden narcotic substances are found in blood of bar's staff.

Notes

References

References

1. "Purple Roofs Travel Newsletter: October 2009 - Sunee Plaza, Pattaya, Thailand". Purple Roofs.
2. "Gay Pattaya – Gay Pattaya Guide".
3. (10 April 2013). "Sunee Plaza in Pattaya: Ein beliebter Treffpunkt für Gays › Thailand Aktuell".
4. (June 2020). "Beer bars in Sunee Plaza }}{{dead link". Sunee Plaza Official website.
5. (September 14, 2010). "Sunee Plaza – the BIG secret". Thai-Spice magazine.
6. (21 February 2019). "Sunee Plaza - gay district in Pattaya".
7. (26 July 2008). "Underage Bar Workers As Toung As 8 Years Old".
8. (25 July 2010). "Underage Boys found in Police raid of South Pattaya Gay Bar".
9. (13 March 2013). "Police find 17 underage boys in raid of Sunee Plaza gay bar".
10. (17 October 2009). "Underage Employees And Drug Users Found In Sunee Plaza Boy Bar Police Raid".
11. (24 January 2011). "46 arrested as 100 police sweep Sunee Plaza for drugs".