BAH in the evenings

[ExSimGuy]

A question for the GF crews (and anyone else who spends a lot of time in BAH)

A friend of mine (female - "no longer Club 18-30") lives in BAH and wants to be able to spend evenings in a not-too-noisy location where she won't feel uncomfortable on her own, no "cattle-market", and no unwanted hassle (especially at weekends - you know what I mean!)

Can anyone suggest somewhere that she can comnfortably enjoy a quiet drink without being deafened or feeling "out of place"

If you think that openly posting a venue would not be a good idea (!) then please feel free to PM me.

Thanks,

ExSim

[ironbutt57]

places like that are becoming few and far between, i park my boat off Manama and have a couple and look at the city lights...good luck to her:ok:

[JoeJack]

I'd suggest her to jump onto GF003 lunchtime in order to get to London in time for an early bird pint anywhere close enough to the ole' Thames... yeah, I know, chilly weather... but at least, no saudis around, harrassing the poor lady...!!:E

Cheers!!!:ok:

[near enuf is good enuf]

Early eve, Trader Vics @ the Ritz - perfect! Avoid it like the Plague at the w/end though. Burlington Bar in the Hotel also pretty quiet early eve.
The country club out Budaiya way may suit or the Brit club may also be an option.
Not knowing "her scene" it's a toughie but give any of the above a try.

[gulfboy]

Nightly life music, mostly Jazz, piano etc at "Upstairs-Downstairs" in Adlyia. It is located opposite "Jim's Castle Cammelot" (which should be avoided loke the plague, unlesds you are into drunk Irish homosexuals):bored:

[Gobble]

She can come to Mal Plaza in Juffair.
Theres a lot of quiet and secluded apartments with very welcoming hosts who would be very willing to open their doors and show a little warmth and hospitality.

Mal Plaza has a fine record of entertaining out of towners. A great way to settle in and make some fine memories.

:}

[ironbutt57]

Man I could see that coming...:}

[ExSimGuy]

quiet and secluded apartments with very welcoming hosts Um . .. Yes, Gobble, I don't think I'll pass that idea on to "my" lady :\ (she's a bit too old for you anyway:p )

Up/Down - well yes, that's very nice, and we enjoy Jojo's piano music there, but the management now insist that you eat there (it's not really an economical venue when she's out on her own without my credit card!) and there's other reasons why U/D is not ideal for her.

I perhaps should explain that I am resident some 500km to the South-West, and can only "escort her" some of the time. The GF Hotel is okay when she's with another friend, but there's times when I can't be around and she would like to go out for a "quiet" drink in the evening on her own.

Was hoping that there was some locations where there would usually be several expats hanging around who would be likely to keep an eye out for any "hassle".

[Soap Box Cowboy]

The Dilmun club is another option. It's out in Saar, but it's a club so you would have to become a member. But they got a Gym and two or three restaunts and a couple of bars. Also not a bad place to hang out on the weekends, plenty of expats go there, so she could make some new friends with some of the other expat wives. Swiming pool and stables also included.

[sirwa69]

She sounds like she needs the Brit club. Plenty of old codgers in there to talk to. Also got a good library if she just wants to read by the pool.

On On

[Desert Diner]

Sounds like the Brit Club or the Dilmun club are about the only two "safe" locations from your requirements. :bored:

Then again, if she prefers a quiet drink on SAT or MON there is always the Hash:\

[mtogw]

Yup, Country Club is a good place, Henrys at Mansoori Mansions is pretty quiet these days, and shouldn't be intimidating,

[justforfun]

Country Club, Yacht Club is also fairly quiet in the evening... Henry's is ok - I wouldn't be at all concerned if my wife went there for a drink on her own :suspect: ... and plenty expats to keep an eye out... Rugby Club, Dilmun and British I have not been to, but from what I hear they are all okay for most people....

JFF :ok:

[Regular Cappuccino]

The Dilmun club is another option.

Ah, how it all comes flooding back!
Is anyone a sufficiently old git like me, & remember the original Dilmun Club, in the small villa in the trees on the right hand side of the Budaiya Road? I was in there the night King Faisal died.
Sorry Chaps, just dropped in on this forum out of curiosity (ex area controller, Bahrain Centre 1972 - 1977 & Tehran Centre 1978 - 79).
Doubtless I wouldn't recognise the place now - it had even changed almost beyond recognition in some areas in the first 6 months after I got posted to Tehran & popped back for a weekend to navigate in the first Bahrain International Rally.
Was a great place to be back then.
RC

[Desert Diner]

The old Dilmun Club is now the Country Club.

[Regular Cappuccino]

The old Dilmun Club is now the Country Club.
Thanks for that, but I suspect the Dilmun Club which became the Country Club may be the second building it was in (on the South side of the Budaiya Road). The original one was a tiny old villa tucked away in the trees at the end of a short sandy track on the north side of the road, a little further away from Manama. Probably fallen down by now. The swimming pool was a tiny affair under the building canopy. Its isolated location was probably the reason we were able to keep drinking on that particular night, since the rest of the island was in official mourning.
I was still in Bahrain when they moved to the other (new at the time) building over the road.
And my apologies for the 'senior moment' - my Tehran stint was 1977 - 78 and not as stated earlier. Still controlling in the UK (aerodrome and approach radar now though) and at a Regional Airport that sounds not unlike 'Middle East' reversed!
Cheers
RC

[ExSimGuy]

Thanks for all the advice - We'll be checking out the Brit Club. As she is a resident and I'm not, probably get her membership, and she can "sign me in" when I'm over there. It's also only about 10 minutes walk from her place (maybe 15 minutes coming back!)

Dilman and Rugby Club (Sorry - the "American Express Rugby Club"!) I have been to and both good, but a little further away which would mean a limit of 2 glasses of wine before driving home.

We're checking out the Oz Club this weekend though, as a couple of OzMates have got us tickets for a Bash they are running Thursday. If anyone's going, watch out for me in my own "national dress" - the Tartan!

See you all around Fantasy Island (it's far better than the Magic Kingdom!!)

ESG

[Okie]

A little information on the OZ club and the Australia Day (Thursday) celebration would be appreciated.

[sirwa69]

ESG

You should be coming to the Burns night at the F1 circuit on Thursday, You'd be amongst friends in your Kilt :ok:

Okie

You could try Hamish McC, I have pm'd his number to you he should know whats going on with the Kiwi's and Aussies.

On On

[ExSimGuy]

Sirwa - Feast or famine!

Already got tickets for the Oz Day Bash, otherwise I'd love to have come to the Burns Night!


Okie - I've also PM'd you about a contact in BAH for the Oz Club. (I think it's BeeDee22 including food and Pepsi ;) )

I am told that the dress code is "Penguin or National Dress" - does that mean the OzMates will be in neatly pressed shorts and thongs:E

On-on to the on-on :)

[ExSimGuy]

Well, I have to say that they put on a good thrash at the Raddisson Diplomat.

HRH's Butler and a "local cook" rented out their services on an auction for charity and raised around $US800. An Oz Expat won the first raffle prize of 2 round trip to Oz donated by GF "and you don't have to go via DXB!" ), but couldn't face going back there so auctioned that for charity too (didn't raise to much as none of the Oz-Mates wanted to go home :E )

If I'd have come to BIC, I'd have been lost in the crowd, but at the Oz-Bash, I was distinctive in my "National Dress" and attracted a lot of attention from the ladies (even before the "fast dancing"!)

Sad that the "Premium Whiskies" on the drinks menu were just the "usual run" - not the more "interesting ones". Had a "beer" and had to try to scrape it out of the can - "hey, I know the Oz-Mates like the beer cold, but solid is ridiculous")

The only real down-side was that, of all the crowd gathered there, among the last to leave were myself (in Kilt), my (English) Lady, and an Oz with a distinctive accent of "West of the Atlantic" (good night, Okie!) 02:30 and all the Ruffytuffy Ozzies had gone home to bed!

Oh yes, and Friday afternoon at the RFC was pretty good too! (although some of their "skullers" were not too fast:\

See you all again soon - when I can escape to Fantasy Island :) from The Magic kingdom :(