|
|
In
1969 the building which is now The Pub was initially
intended to be a library, but ended up
as a popular watering
hole for the local
tobacco dealers, many of South African
origin.
Although not quite the first expat bar in Chiang Mai,
Gymkhana Club has that distinction, it is certainly the
first pub, hence the name, 'The Pub'. As there was only one it
didn't need any other name.
In
1986 The Pub was visited by the writer Eric
Goodman who was writing
an article for the Newsweek
magazine on the world's best bars. In the Article he
wrote: "If the comfort of an English Pub appeals to you, then
when visiting northern Thailand you must lounge around The
Pub, an elegant British drinking room with a very Thai
touch."
 |
|
 |
|
Since the
first landlord, Mike Tinker, there has been a succession of
international Mine Hosts, from South Africa to Argentina
and
currently from UK in the shape of
Grahame Quinn and his wife Tong (above). Both have been running The Pub since 2004 during
which time it has gone from strength to strength.
This
description remains as valid
now as it did then, the old creaking
timbers are witness to fascinating
tales of business ventures, intrigue,
and local gossip supplied by expatriates, travelling people and
in days gone-by, the world's tobacco buyers who used to
converge and converse around the intimate dark
wood bar. |
|
|
|
