Singapore private club 1880 closes down, says it has no funds to pay staff and suppliers
The private club in Robertson Quay said spending and visits by its members have been "trending down".
A sign outside 1880, a private members' club in Singapore, pictured on Jun 17, 2025. (Photo: Â鶹/Faith Ho)
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
SINGAPORE: Singapore private members' club 1880 announced on Tuesday (Jun 17) that it would close permanently and enter liquidation.
The club, located in Robertson Quay, was founded by Mr Marc Nicholson and opened in late 2017.
As of Monday, the club was still open to members and promoting upcoming events on its social media accounts.
The abrupt closure comes after 1880's Hong Kong branch shuttered on May 30, less than a year after opening.
In an email seen by Â鶹, which was sent to members late on Monday night, 1880 provided brief reasons for the closure.
"Spend and frequency per visit of our members has been trending down. The company needed an injection and some efficiency optimisation," the email read.
"We had three offers to invest in or acquire 1880. Anyone of these would have restored us to health and given a runway to building a global brand.
"We were however, unsuccessful in getting those offers over the line. With no further funds to pay our staff or suppliers, we have no alternative but to close."
The email alluded to expansion as a reason for the business' failure, stating: "We created a brand that earned a reputation that brought opportunities for expansion that I could not resist."
It also stated that the club's holding company 38 Degrees and operating company 1880 have been placed into provisional liquidation, with details about the liquidation process and creditors' meeting to come.
When Â鶹 visited 1880 on Tuesday morning, the entrance was blocked. A sign on the third level, where the club is located, indicated it was "permanently closed".
Â鶹 has contacted 1880 for more information.
An 1880 employee, who did not want to be named for this article, said she was "extremely shocked" by the closure as it came after staff were "reassured of a potential takeover or new buyer".
Staff were aware of 1880's financial difficulties, but Mr Nicholson and CEO Jean Low stayed "so silent throughout all this", said the employee, expressing disappointment.
"The uncertainty is torture," she said.
"There were so many efforts to keep the business going, every department was trying their best. We were just kept in the dark till the end."
The employee added that staff have been receiving their salaries without any issue, but she had heard the club was having trouble paying suppliers.
Founding member Steve Okun, who is the CEO of APAC Advisors, told Â鶹 "yesterday was like any other day at 1880 Singapore".
"I hosted a meeting that morning and stayed to work through the day. There was no indication that such news would come out when it did," said the geopolitical analyst, who was also working with the club on another event.
Mr Okun said that 1880 created a community that benefited its members.
"It brought together people from diverse backgrounds and experience from which we could learn. Many of us benefited socially and for business as well.
"My thoughts are with the talented team and trust they will have little difficulty in finding other positions," he added.
1880 Singapore offered social events and spaces, including a restaurant, bar, spa and co-working space.
Past speakers it has hosted include former Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo, veteran diplomats Kishore Mahbubani and Bilahari Kausikan, and the host of Netflix series Mind Your Manners, Sara Jane Ho.
South China Morning Post previously reported that 1880 Hong Kong was entering liquidation with debts of about HK$20 million (US$2.5 million).
The Hong Kong club reportedly owed rent and two months' worth of pay to 100 employees.
