Beijing Boyce

A Somewhat Young China Hand on the Local Drinking Scene

Raise your glass! Cheers to close this weekend

July 03rd, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized

Cheers (map), best known for featuring live Xinjiang music on the weekends, will call it quits in Tongli Studio this weekend. This bar ranks among my ten favorites in Beijing. In addition to excellent music, it draws patrons of all ages, nationalities, and professions, offers an ecentric combination of pool table and nude oil paintings courtesy of own Leo, and leaves me with many a memory of enjoying a shot or two of Wild Turkey with Eddie O before he moved back to Iowa.

14 comments

14 Comments so far

  1. Cam July 3rd, 2009 2:38 pm

    Jim… any reason giving for closing shop?

  2. Andy July 3rd, 2009 2:54 pm

    Will it be moving or is it just finished?

  3. Andy July 3rd, 2009 3:03 pm

    And more importantly, where’s the band going?

  4. boyce July 3rd, 2009 3:34 pm

    @ Cam,

    Yes. I will post on it soon.

    Cheers, Boyce

  5. boyce July 3rd, 2009 3:35 pm

    @ Andy,

    It appears Cheers is finished, at least for the near future. Not sure where the band is heading…

    Cheers, boyce

  6. 5:19 Dave July 3rd, 2009 3:43 pm

    Talking to Leo a couple weeks ago he is looking at at couple new locations and should be set up shop again soon.

  7. MH July 3rd, 2009 5:59 pm

    Main guitarist Akbar will still continue to play with his other band Panjir at the Stone Boat. Gig on for July 11… or so the newsletter says…

  8. Thomas July 4th, 2009 4:12 pm

    I talked to Leo last night. It’s basically down to the lease running out and the rent being raised to a level that ruins business. Leo argued that probably no one can make a profit there now. Cheers featured cheep beer etc, but seemed to have a fair crowd – and a lot of regulars – so he might be right.

    It’ll be interesting to see what pops up there, but anyway it won’t be the same. It’s really sad this place is now closing.

    I also wonder what will happen to The Band. You’d think some other bar would just pick them up to spice up their place, but I don’t really know if there’s any obvious ones in SLT.

  9. boyce July 4th, 2009 10:10 pm

    @ 5:19,

    Bar owners are almost always looking at new spaces, but based on what he told me over the past few days, it doesn’t sound like he will open soon unless there is a sudden change of circumstances.

    Cheers, Boyce

  10. boyce July 4th, 2009 10:11 pm

    @ MH,

    Thanks, and also a hat tip to you for first letting me know re the closing of Cheers. By the way, I saw some of the Xinjiang guys playing at Red Rose tonight, so there is at least one other place to still catch them.

    Cheers, Boyce

  11. boyce July 4th, 2009 10:13 pm

    @ Thomas,

    Agree, it is sad to see the place go. Hope to see you there later tonight…

    Cheers, Boyce

  12. Thomas July 6th, 2009 12:07 am

    I went around 02 expecting it to be fairly bustling on it’s last night, but it was pretty dead – I suppose you had already made the conclusion at that time. I don’t know if everyone was at the beach or doing July 4th things, but I guess they did also have these slow nights – and some deficits in the summer – so time will show if anyone can create a more profitable bar there. I have a feeling the whole bar street will see some changes anyway.

  13. suibian July 6th, 2009 11:37 am

    As what I heard from Chris last night, who is the business partner of Leo and the bartender of the bar, Cheers is not going to close at all and the Xinjiang band will also keep playing there as usual. But just Leo is going to quit the business for kind of investment reason. Anyway, really hope the bar would keep running since love it a lot!!!!!

  14. suibian July 21st, 2009 12:06 am

    Supper!! Our favourite Xinjiang band is going back on this Friday and Saturday night at this one of the hottest pubs in the Jing. Even better they are going to offer “buy one get one free” deal every night before 10pm.

    Is there anything better than hearing this?? NONE!!! Let’s get it rock!!!!!!

Leave a reply