Great fanfare as Hooters Pattaya opens
Over the years Pattaya has attracted an incredible number of well-established ‘names’ when it comes to brands which are famous worldwide. On Saturday night 16 January yet another famous name was added to the ever-growing Pattaya list when the Hooters Pattaya restaurant staged its grand opening on Beach Road, Soi 13.
The Hooters concept, which involves a bit of fun and a friendly place to eat and drink was originally conceived in 1983, the first restaurant opening in
Clearwater, Florida. Since then the franchise has grown and now boasts 430 Hooters locations in 28 countries.
For Pattaya, the Hooters restaurant already has a record under its belt: being the largest Hooters restaurant outside of North America. It has approximately 3,300 square metres of floor area on two levels and has a capacity for 500 seats. There are two main bars, 40 high-definition (HD) televisions and two outdoor patios, for those who want to soak up the vibrant atmosphere of Beach Road and the views out into Pattaya Bay.
It’s also the fourth of the franchise to open in Thailand, the first was opened in Patong Beach, Phuket in 2014, and there are two now in Bangkok, the second opening just just weeks ago.
Mike Warde is the General Manager of Hooters Pattaya and he initially had to contend with the ‘image’ of Hooters as it pertained to the ‘image’ already extant in Pattaya.
As he has noted, those who have experienced the Hooters concept first-hand now understand why it is indeed a good addition to the culinary and entertainment landscape of Pattaya, and that its does live up to being a family friendly, fun place to dine and drink.
Mike notes that since the start of the Phuket operation in 2014, the chain has generated a strong and loyal returning customer base.
As Mike has stated, “Pattaya is a location which is booming all year round with a party vibe in the terms of everyone who comes here wanting to have fun. With its close proximity to Bangkok, there are visitors coming and going so again it was an obvious choice of location.”
Longtime expats and regulars to Pattaya might recall a brief period many years ago when a bar in Soi 7 installed a mechanical bull. The idea was good, but the bar didn’t last long. Well, Hooters has reintroduced the concept, and the only mechanical bull in town is free for customers to ride, as long as they are aged 15 years or older.
For those a little less energetic, there are two pool table and a Foozball table for customers to play on.
Hooters has live music and DJs to go along with its dining facilities, where the American-style franchise is noted for its chicken wings, burgers, ribs, and seafood dishes, most served with a good choice of salads and sides.
Of course Hooters popularity across the world owes much to its waitresses, all of whom are specially trained to give customers what Mike Warde claims is “the ultimate Hooters experience. This is what makes our customers come back time and time again and why Hooters is such an iconic brand and still going strong after 33 years.”
The management run daily food and drink promotions and they plan to hold
regular charity events throughout the year to help raise funds for the local Baan Jing Jai children’s orphanage.
For more information about Hooters Pattaya, visit their website:
www.hooterspattaya.com.
