Beijing Boyce

A reporter from this yet-to-be-named newsletter stopped by John Bull Pub last Thursday to chat with owner Frank Siegel, credited with opening, in 1989, the city’s first non-hotel bar — the aptly named Frank’s Place. Over coffee, he gave us the rundown on 16 years of Beijing bar history and then answered five questions:

BB: I take it you didn’t have Guinness on tap back then. What drinks did you offer?

FS: We started with bottles of Beijing draft; the draft itself came later. San Miguel out of Hong Kong was big. At one time, we had Miller draft. There was actually a Miller beer garden at the Asian Games Village and we eventually got the beer. Spirits were never a problem.

BB: That tequila tasting was excellent. What’s the best event you’ve ever organized?

FS: Frank’s Place Polar Golf Outing. It started 10 years ago and the guys running Frank’s are still doing it.

BB: The Spanish wine tasting two years ago was big. A gentleman from the embassy was to give a talk on a Friday. We had a capacity of 30 and on Wednesday had 12 people signed up. There were 36 by Friday. In the meantime, the Spanish guy told all these people to come down. It was supposed to start at 7:30 and everyone was speaking Spanish, some were on the list and some weren’t, and we ended up with about 50 to 55 people. I was really nervous, but they were all saying, “Relax, we’re Spanish, just take your time getting ready.” We finally got going at 9 PM and we all had a great time.
BB: What’s the biggest single difference between running a bar in 1989 and now?

FS: There is more competition, more places. The population is more diffused — we didn’t have Shunyi then — and a lot of the client base is out of the city. We knew everyone back then.

BB: Besides John Bull Pub, what are you favorite bars and restaurants in Beijing?

FS: Because of the traffic, I usually go to local restaurants, but I’m impressed with Hatsune (Japanese restaurant) and the Orchard. For a nice glass of wine, Aria [in China World Hotel] and Press Club Bar in the St. Regis — I know the guys there, they’re nice people. But I really need to get out more.

BB: What’s your cure for a hangover?

FS: Drink Gatorade or Pocari Sweat and then go to the gym. It’s painful, but it works.

(From Beijing Boyce II, first emailed on October 20, 2005)