The library has booths with deeply padded button
upholstery for dining as well as drinking.
I consulted a large dictionary to ensure that “Shenanigans” was an accepted word
in English, and there it was described as “Prankishness, Mischief”. And so I
thought to myself, just how apt that name has to be for a hostelry run by the
mad-cap Aussie Stewart Fraser! Forgive me, Stewart, but anybody who goes round
the patrons playing “Toss the boss” with an Australian 50 cent coin is no
shrinking violet!
A short historical note - There was initially a Shenanigans in town under the
Marriott, which then moved across the road and then expanded resulting in
another Shenanigans this time in Jomtien.
Further historical note - Landlord Stewart Fraser has been running Irish pubs
(Molly Malones and Kilkenny come to mind) for as long as I have known him, and
that’s a few years these days, but in Shenanigans Jomtien he has molded the pub
around himself resulting in a very smooth running outfit.
The large central rectangular bar is the focus
point.
Shenanigans Jomtien is not difficult to find. Come down Thappraya Road to the
commonly called “Hanuman” statue (but that’s not Hanuman, in actual fact) and
turn right and head towards the beach. Just before the arch over the road you
will see the Jomtien Complex Condo building with Shenanigans Jomtien on your
right. Drive in and park anywhere!
The pub itself is divided into different areas. There is a large central
rectangular bar, which is the focus point. However, there are booths along one
side with deeply padded button upholstery for dining as well as drinking, then
there is a beer garden outside with seating for around 24 people, a sports area
with darts and pool and a semi-enclosed library area as well.
Stuart told us that the emphasis was to cater for sports with lots of TV screens
for all sports and for families. To that end, on the Sundays the library becomes
an area just for children, allowing the parents to enjoy themselves without
constant interruptions. (All parents will understand this!)
The menu is large, and loaded with weekly ‘specials’. These begin with lunch
specials (11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Saturday and a small draft beer B. 249).
These include fish and chips. (No British style pub can get by without fish and
chips!) Also roast of the day, sausages mash and onion gravy (how traditional
can you get)?
The daily specials are of the rotating type, with most around B. 280 and
includes beef stew, curries, kebabs, a Saturday roast and on Sunday it is an all
you can eat carvery deal for B. 450 and to look after the family groups,
children under nine years of age eat at no charge.
Continuing on with the traditional menu items there are salads, pies and stews,
snacks, starters and soups, with the pea and ham soup B. 130. Then comes the
“main event” with two pages of hearty main courses, most under B. 400, with for
example, a chicken schnitzel at B. 280 or a chicken tikka masala at B. 325.
There is also a full page of Thai food items at B. 165.
The Wednesday evening on which we went was a special buffet curry night (B. 280
all you can eat) and we decided to go with the flow, and had no regrets. The
pork and chicken curries were flavorsome without being too spicy. Very much a
British style of curries. It was also a beer promotion night with a pint of
Tiger being only B. 75, so a really inexpensive evening.
It was certainly a very popular watering hole, with a constant stream of people
coming through the door all evening (yes we did stay for a while and visited the
curry buffet more than once).
Shenanigans Jomtien certainly more than adequately fills a niche down in that
area. It has become the ‘local’ for the expats down in Jomtien, and fills that
niche so well there is no need for them to look elsewhere. It has the
atmosphere, food and drinks and is very reasonable price-wise. Quite frankly, it
was difficult to fault.
Shenanigans Jomtien, Jomtien Complex Condo, 414/21 Moo 12, Thappraya Road,
telephone 038 303 490, web http://www.shenanigans thailand.com, open 11 a.m.
until late (kitchen 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.), secure parking.
