PATONG: Entertainment venues in Patong and Kata-Karon on October 28 won an interim “unofficial” reprieve from the Governor, who said they may stay open until 2 am.

In return, venue owners agreed to call off their work stoppage and protest at the football field on Thaweewong Rd.

The reprieve applies only to venues in the entertainment zones in Patong and Kata-Karon

Reaction in Patong to the earlier closing times – 1 am for all but a handful of establishments within the entertainment zone and and midnight for the rest – remains predictably negative.

Kantima Chuenjai, who manages the hostesses at a bar in Patong, told the Gazette, “We are suffering so much. Patong is now changing from a city of lights to a city of darkness.

“We used to get about 40,000 baht a day in revenue, but now it’s less than 10,000.

“The period when tourists drink the most is 1 am to 3 am. Before, we were allowed to stay open until 5 am. Then it went to 3 am, then 2 am.

“But if we have to close at 1 am we cannot survive. These changes have come too fast and we haven’t had time to prepare for them.

“Nowadays, Soi Bangla is very silent and we are suffering.”