Pattaya Walking Street is about to get a new leader in go-go bars this week with the opening of the huge, new and relocated Shark Go-Go Club.

Moving from Soi 15 to the corner of Soi Diamond, the new Shark now dominates Walking Street, with its three-story-tall faรงade. Itโ€™s impossible to miss and makes the three nearby Pin-Up group bars look diminutive by comparison. In fact, Sharkโ€™s French owners scored a coup by landing the three shophouses facing Walking Street, snatching them from the wishlist of fellow countryman who runs the Pin-Up group.

Grabbing the property before the competition could get it wasnโ€™t the only reason for the move, however. As good as it used to be, the sad fact is that Soi 15โ€™s days as a destination for naughty fun is over. Once popular clubs like Electric Blue, The Dollhouse, Whatโ€™s Up, Baby Dolls and Angelwitch are gone. Only Shark and Sapphire Club remained and even Sapphireโ€™s opening of the Akira Club disco hasnโ€™t been enough to draw people off the main drag and up the side street.

New Shark Opening by Sept. 18

New Shark had planned a soft opening Sept. 14, but its new license โ€“ required for the much-larger space โ€“ did not come though in time. Sharkโ€™s boss said he expects the club to open by Wednesday at the latest.

When it does, the older, smaller Shark Club on Soi 15 will close. Its staff will move to Walking Street, but a lot more ladies will be added. While the smaller Shark has about 50 ladies on the payroll, management expects the new bar, with its three stages, to have 100-120 girls.

Just how big is New Shark? Itโ€™s three shophouses wide and five deep, extending half the way up Soi Diamond to where Carousel Club used to be. While there are are offices, restrooms and the locker room upstairs, the main downstairs bar spans about 230 sq. meters.

At first glance, the layout reminds you of the old Pin-Up or XS, with two parallel low stages and table seating in between. On each side are two rows of wide, finely upholstered sofas with plenty of leg room. There are three VIP areas, including a large sofa cubicle at the end of the stages with a great view of the entire club.

Behind that VIP area is yet another stage with high tables, plus a spacious bar area that will be dominated by a huge, lighted Shark sign, reminiscent of the groupโ€™s Red Dragon with its dragon above the bar.

While Sharkโ€™s look may remind people of the Pin-Up group, itโ€™s operation will be far more customer friendly, just like at sister bar Fahrenheit. At both bars, polite, attractive hostess will guide people to their seats, without the nonsense restrictions on where single customers can sit. And, unlike the competition which forces people to buy another drink within 15 minutes or leave, there will be no ridiculous pressure.

As with Fahrenheit, the lighting and sound system is top notch, surrounding you without pounding your ears. And prices in the bars are the same, with great happy hour specials early in the evening.

With the giant new Shark now joining Fahrenheit on Walking Street, thereโ€™s now little reason to go anywhere else. Be sure to get there this week.

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