This year has seen the Phuket Tin Mine Museum open, and a Sino-Portuguese inspired Centara hotel open, construction is even currently underway to create a Sino-Portuguese style shopping centre on Bangla Road.

This may be seen as a possible resurgence in interest and reassessment of the cultural value and beauty of historical Phuket.

The Mine pub and restaurant seems to be the latest exponent of this thought, and its stylish d?cor of a yesteryear Phuket is sure to attract culture vultures, and diners and party goers looking for something truly unique to Phuket town.

Marketing manager, Suchart Sarlerat said, ?The Mine is something different for foreigners to do in Phuket, not just Bangla road or those same styles of places. Yaowarat road (main bar road) is fun but it?s mainly for young Thai kids to party in.?

Khun Suchart is therefore hoping that the pub and restaurant, located on Dibuk Road, will become the place for long term expat residents and expats to come and have a beer and hopefully learn a little while they?re there.

Dibuk road is an interesting place to look around and is quickly becoming a tourist attraction in its own right, with many old Sino-Portuguese buildings lining both sides of the road and the spectacular former-Governor?s house and Blue Elephant restaurant just a few doors down.

The interior and exterior has been meticulously designed with original artefacts and antiques from the 1950-1960?s. Facilities and tools have found a new life as memorabilia and have once again become functional as ornaments and pieces of furniture.

Buckets have become flower pots, metal girders are now tables and control panels that were used to navigate and coordinate machinery now serve as funky cool places to put all the latest modern sound systems. The Mine also has access to the fastest wifi on the island.

The decision to design the pub and restaurant in such a manner wasn?t necessarily born from a desire to capitalise on the aforementioned resurgence in historical interest.
Owner Taywin Wongkulchorn, with sunglasses on and cigarette draping from his mouth, explains, ?I designed it like this so my friends could come and hang out in a cool place. I chose all the pieces and did most of the design.?

It was thus suggested that he open it to the public and after the installation of a bar and slight change of layout to make it more agreeable and comfortable for large groups of visitors, the pub and restaurant was ready to open its ye olde doors 3 months ago.

Khun Suchart said, ?We had a huge party here last week and had the Phuket House Mafia playing a set, we hope to have the House music troupe perform here on the first Saturday of every month. This will be pay day and also have party night.?

For the rest of the time, the bar?s atmosphere will very much depend on the type of diner or drinker, Khun Taywin elaborates, ?The ambience can be however you want it to be. When you go shopping you don?t want a sales person following you around do you? It?s the same here, we don?t want to impress upon you how you should be and the type of time you should be having, come relax, party, whatever!?

The dark earthy-toned d?cor, comfortable seats regular entertainment schedule (live band every night) and hi-speed internet mean that whatever you care to do, The Mine is a great environment to do it in.

For more information or to book private parties, contact: themine-phuket.com