This is the shocking moment a party-loving British tourist allegedly attacked his best friend - because he wanted an early night in Thai 'Sin City' Pattaya.

The revellers were drinking together on Wednesday evening but Louis Linwood, 32, from Romford, started walking back to his hotel in the bustling coastal destination.

Furious pal Ronnie, from Brentwood, demanded they carry on partying together. He unleashed a torrent of abuse at tired Louis before repeatedly punching him in the face in front of a kebab shop just before 11pm.

He's heard in the video shouting: 'Are you joking me? What's up? '

Louis shoved the other Brit into a parked motorcycle, causing the two-wheeler to fall over. He then tried to hug Ronnie, in a white bucket hat, before the row escalated into a full-blown drunken scuffle in front of the Master Cafe and Restaurant.

The holidaymaker was quickly overpowered and pounded into the pavement. He was heard crying for help as the alleged attacker walked away.

Police and paramedics arrived shortly after 11 pm. They found Louis lying on the pavement surrounded by cafe workers and other tourists. He was taken to a hospital to be treated for a laceration to his left ear and bruises across his body.

Speaking today, the shopkeeper said: 'These two were actually very good friends, he told me that. But they started fighting outside the shop.

'They were both drunk, but the chubby guy didn't want to go back to the hotel with his friend. The chubby one was shouting at his friend, but the other one told him to calm down. He pushed him away and said he didn't want to fight. But the attacker continued shouting.

'It was a violent incident for my staff to witness, so I checked they were all fine.'

Police Lieutenant Anirut Jehroh of Pattaya city police station said: ‘The victim has not come forward to give a statement, and no complaint has been filed. 

‘They were friends drinking together, they were very drunk, and then had an argument.  When we arrived, his friend had already fled. 

‘At this time, we do not have any information about the friend who assaulted him.'

An onlooker Joy, 50, said the pair were friends from the UK who went partying together at the bar.

She said: 'They had both been drinking and walked out of the bar when the other man invited his friend to go back. But the friend said he wasn't drunk and wanted to keep drinking.

'The guy walked away and that's when his friend became angry and attacked him.'

Police said they have collected security camera footage as evidence and advised Louis to file a report.

Tourists are regularly attacked or caught up in crime, leading Pattaya to be dubbed 'Sin City'. It has even been dubbed 'Benidorm on steroids' after the notorious Spanish destination known for its nightlife and popularity with Brits.

Embarrassed officials in the central government have launched tourism initiatives to attract families and rebrand Pattaya as a safe destination.

Authorities have also introduced safety measures, such as improved lighting and CCTV.

Despite some success in cleaning up the town's image, alcohol and sex remain its biggest draws, often leading to a high rate of crime and accidents.