Park opposite Bangkok Bank on Pattaya 2nd Road.�
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We popped in last Tuesday afternoon to have a drink and a bite to eat.�� On arrival at Tropical Bert�s Bar and Grill, the place was buzzing with a friendly crowd of expats who had just returned from a day playing golf at the Eastern Star golf course, which is a weekly event arranged by the Tropical Bert�s team.� In fact, Tropical Bert�s organizes golf, fishing and boat trips to the islands.
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We were greeted by Bert himself, who hails from Nottingham, and his lovely wife Pu, who was busy serving behind the bar with her team of bar-staff efficiently cleaning up glasses and empty plates.�� In fact, Bert admitted that Pu does all the hard work in running the pub.� He related how he chose the name Tropical Bert�s.� It was when Bert and Pu were on holiday on Kho Sumui and while Pu was going about shopping, Bert came across a local bar called Tropical Murphy and the name stuck in his mind and used it for this, his latest pub. In the past, Bert ran the Queen Vic for 5 years.
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Tropical Bert�s is a traditional and honest down to earth pub and everyone was going about enjoying themselves as in a typical British pub atmosphere. The spacious air conditioned wooden beamed room can comfortably seat 60 customers at their wooden tables and selection of sturdy wooden chairs, together with 10 chairs at the bar and 5 outside tables in the front and rear of the pub.�� There are 4 large screen TVs about the room providing all the Super Sport channels. Of historical interest, Bert has a collection of framed pictures of World War 2 airplanes that are autographed by a number of notable RAF pilots, such as Sir Douglas Bader and UK�s the late Princess Margaret�s chum, Peter Townsend.
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There is also a computer near the bar which Bert offers free ADSL Internet use to his customers, who can come and sit, have a meal and do work on the Internet.� Tropical Bert�s also has 6 luxury suites available upstairs, complete with mini kitchens, free tea and coffee service and 10% discount in the pub.�
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The majority of Bert�s customers are expats and off shore guys who regularly drop in for a drink and a meal.� There is a good selection of drinks here, including Blackthorn Cider. One of the star attractions is draught Bass at 170 baht a pint, which tasted excellent, cool and refreshing.� Tropical Bert�s is the only pub in Pattaya that has draught Bass imported directly from the UK.� It is very popular with customers and has toppled the old favorite, draught Guinness into second place.
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The menu is mainly what Bert calls �pub grub�.� There is a very good selection of dishes and all at very reasonable prices ranging from 70 to 250 baht.� There are snacks such as pies, burgers, sausage rolls, Scotch Egg and sandwiches filled with off the bone thick cut ham, all around 90 baht.��
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They do very good all day set and individualized breakfasts for 150 baht.� There are more substantial dishes on offer.� For curry lovers there are Vindaloo and Chicken Tika Masala.� Then there are Roasts of Lamb and Beef, Bangers and Mash and Cod Loin and Chips.� There is a daily special which today was Fillet Steak with Pepper Sauce.� Bert also offers a very fine Thai menu.��
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I decided upon the Gammon Steak, which is a very popular dish at Tropical Bert�s, and I can see why.� A very generous thickly cut piece of juicy gammon that tasted delicious. Usually, some cuts of gammon can be over salted and have a tough texture, but this offering from Tropical Bert�s was really great tasting meat.�� This was topped with an egg and pineapple and was accompanied by good thick chips and peas.� A traditional British dish cooked to perfection.�� This was followed by a good portion of homem