Sattahip District, Chonburi —
The Never Land nightclub, which was reportedly built on the same grounds as the Mountain B nightclub where dozens of people died in a fire, is currently on a temporary closure after being inspected by Sattahip police on its grand opening day on Saturday, November 19th.
The area where the Mountain B nightclub used to stand was under a five-year closing order issued by the Chonburi governor, according to Pol. Lt. Col. Wuttipong Somjai, Superintendent of Plu Ta Luang police station.
The police were examining the title deed of the mixed bar and restaurant, Never Land, to see if it technically falls on the same grounds and land legally as the Mountain B nightclub and violated the governor’s order. Neverland, which is an open-air venue, is situated close to the demolished club, but not at the exact location where it stood.
However, after the police inspection on November 19, Mountain B’s owner, Pongsiri Panprasong (widely known as Sia B), posted on his Facebook wall, “I am B, the owner of Mountain B. I have accepted my guilt and am willing to compensate for what I never wanted to happen,”
“My life is ruined,” Sai B continued, “I spent all my savings on compensating the victims and their families, and I am willing to sell all my property to compensate them. I am not indifferent to what happened,”
“However, I now need to make a living. Please do not pressure me and let the new venue operators (of Never Land) make their living because they were not involved with the fire or accident…” Sia B concluded, denying online rumors he owned Neverland.
Sia B sold his restaurant, Mountain Bar & Bistro, which was attached to the Mountain B nightclub, to the owner of Never Land some time in the past. The owner of Neverland was not identified by Sia B or law enforcement.
The Never Land nightclub, however, announced on Sunday, November 20th, on its Facebook page that it is on a temporary maintenance closure without stating a date for its reopening.
At least one survivor of the fire, a musician, made a public social media post on Facebook claiming he had still not been fully compensated for his injuries and urging police to not allow any nightlife business to open on the land after the tragic accident. Many outraged commenters online also said they felt the entire area should be bulldozed and turned into a memorial and not used for more nightlife venues.
