The lights went out suddenly at the exclusive Singapore private members club on June 17 as Club 1880 Singapore announced it was closing its doors for good. Just the day before, the club was still abuzz—promoting events and welcoming members to its stylish Robertson Quay venue. However, the abrupt shutdown sent shockwaves through the city’s social and business circles with the founder citing the need to go into liquidation after eight years in business. Here’s what we know about the 1880 Singapore social club closure.
Why did 1880 Singapore shut overnight?
The closure was confirmed in a late-night email to members, leaving many to wonder how such a prominent institution could vanish overnight. Meanwhile, Club 1880 Singapore ran out of funds to pay both its staff and suppliers—a situation made clear in the email sent to members late on June 16.
The club’s founder, Marc Nicholson, explained that declining member spending and fewer visits had eroded the club’s financial base, and despite three separate offers to invest in or acquire the business—none were successfully finalized. Therefore, the management had no other alternative but to close down.
The closure of 1880 Singapore comes just weeks after its Hong Kong outpost shuttered amid mounting debt, including unpaid rent and salaries for more than 100 people.
Resultingly, the club’s holding company, 38 Degrees, and its operating entity, 1880 Pte Ltd, have entered provisional liquidation—leaving employees and vendors unpaid as mentioned above. Plus, Nicholson took personal responsibility for the club’s downfall as he wrote in the email: ”I am solely to blame for the failure of 1880.”
1880 Singapore social club was founded in late 2017 before quickly becoming a hub for Singapore’s movers and shakers, offering a blend of co-working spaces, fine dining, a bar, a spa, and a calendar packed with high-profile speakers and social events.
The management has promised further details about the liquidation process and an upcoming creditors meeting. Certainly, the sudden demise of 1880 brings a cautionary tale about the risks of rapid expansion and shifting consumer habit in the city’s elite circles.
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