What is your full name and age?
My Name is Benjamin Breyton, and I am 31 years old.
What is your current job position?
I am the co-owner of the East Rooftop cocktail bar and owner of the Lucky 13 sandwich franchise in Hua Hin. Both businesses are located in soi 94.
How long have you lived in Hua Hin or been coming to Hua Hin?
I have been living in Hua Hin for a bit more than a year now, I moved here from Phuket after a lengthy investigation on where to invest and buy a business in Thailand.
What did you know about Hua Hin before you moved here?
Over my 5 years in Thailand, I always heard good things about Hua Hin, so I came to visit on weekends a few times before I decided to move here. I knew this area is quite famous as a retreat for Bangkokians, as well as famous for the kitesurf community. I myself do not kite but have been involved in water board sports for the past few years and looking forward to kiting.
What do you like most about your profession?
My interest for the hospitality business came quite young as i wanted to be a chef, in my young years of professional experience, I started to develop an attraction to the front side of the business, in touch with the clientele rather than in the kitchen. After a few years in restaurants, I started work as bartender in a night life venue. The combination of Entertainment, Food and Beverage is what i like most in this profession.
What do you like least about your profession?
Well, things are different now that I own a business, but I would say one of the constraints of hospitality, which is also what makes this profession beautiful, is that you are always working when others are having fun, weekends, holidays, new year eve, every celebration, this is a profession that requires passion.
What do you like most about Hua Hin?
I very much enjoyed my life in Phuket before I moved to Hua Hin. To compare, I find Hua Hin to be peaceful, and I appreciate that. It is a close community where you can develop long term relations with locals, both Thais, and Expats. There is a lot of support and solidarity in this town, which has been a blessing during the pandemic and these difficult times we share. I haven’t yet discovered as much of the area as I would like to because of work, but everything comes in time.
What is your favourite restaurant and why?
I highly recommend the restaurant of V Villa resort. I’ve gotten to know Cedric, their F&B manager, over the past year. He arrived in the same period as I did. We had the pleasure to celebrate my mom’s birthday on her last visit in March, with a private dinner on the beach. It was so very well organized and I’ve been back many times since. Their food quality is very high, very fair pricing and very professional staff. I also want to mention “Little Spain,” I won’t spoil any details, just google it and make a reservation!
What do you like to do in your free time and why?
Meeting and hanging out with friends has been my biggest occupation besides work since I moved to Hua Hin. I’ve gotten to know so many great people over this past year and made a whole lot of new friends.
What would you recommend to new-comers to do in Hua Hin and why?
Hua Hin has an incredible choice of luxury hotels, therefore a wide range of high-quality hotel restaurants. Treat yourself to a great brunch, seafood buffet, BBQ by the beach … and much more.
Tell us a surprising fact that the public might not know about you?
Well, this is no secret, but I adopted a Siberian Husky puppy in my first month in Thailand. She’s been with me for 4 years now, and she enjoys her life very much! Some people might think it’s too hot for a Husky in Thailand, but she was born in Phuket, and her favourite thing is taking a nap in the sun at 2pm by the swimming pool!
What is the most outlandish thing you have ever done and why?
Back when I lived in New Caledonia (French island in South Pacific), my favourite activity was spearfishing. I had the chance to dive and fish on the second biggest reef eco-system after Australia’s great reef barrier. Locals with many years of experience took me fishing to the edge of the lagoon barrier where you can barely see the coast anymore, diving with all sorts of sharks and other marine animals. It is an experience both frightening and exciting. The water is so clear, and diving in apnea, in its immensity, is literally breath-taking !