I've always been slightly frustrated by the lack of places that show English (sorry Swansea) Premiership Football. Many years ago it was fairly popular to show the footie at the weekend. Sandy's had a great TV set up; there was the Soccer Bar; the place in the middle of the beach that was later Pong's also had a TV room upstairs. All these football watching venues closed or changed.
For a while Mios in Thong Nai Pan Noi was excellent for catching a game, but that closed, leaving only Indigo Gecko as a venue for footie watching. Now Indigo Gecko has very little custom. It is still officially open but I never see anyone in there. I suspect they've not bought Sky Sports for quite a while.
All, however, is not lost for those football addicts in Thong Nai Pan Noi. The new Jip Shop in Thong Nai Pan Noi Village shows all the games. It's called 'shop' but actually it's a bar and restaurant. The staff in Jip Shop are very friendly. One of the lads working there also loves his football, and is happy to find a game for you.
Jip Shop is perhaps the best of the new places to open in Thong Nai Pan Noi recently. It has an attractive exterior and interior, heavily featuring bamboo. They do good Thai and Western food that is slightly cheaper than Luna and Better Than Sex. Jip Shop hasn't gone for the up-market 'boutique look' of other places in Thong Nai Pan Noi, but neither is it scruffy and 'backpacker'. I recommend the spicy grilled beef salad (120 THB) and the spring rolls with plum sauce (100 THB).
For those in Thong Nai Pan Yai looking to watch live Premiership Football the best option is the Game Bar.
