Out with the old, in with the new – just three months after the established private members' club 1880 announced its sudden closure due to a lack of funds and its founder’s subsequent bankruptcy, another contender enters the scene. A new exclusive social club, The Nanson, is set to open on the former premises of 1880 at Robertson Quay in early October.
Backed by the same RB Group that owns the adjacent InterContinental Hotel, the club will take over the 22,000-square-foot location and offer members access to the hotel’s gym facilities and preferential room rates. The Nanson says its members will also be exposed to “intellectual, cultural and wellness content”, “industry-leading tech events” as well as “elevated dining experiences”.
And it’s already got its first event lined up: a dialogue session with Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani on geopolitical issues, set to take place on October 6. This continues in line with the high-profile guest appearances at 1880, which saw the likes of former Foreign Affairs Ministers George Yeo and diplomat Bilahari Kausikan, among other business leaders and cultural heavyweights.
The Nanson will sport a fresh aesthetic, with a velvety, forest-green entryway and a shimmering gold logo. But not everything will be new. Most noticeably, the former 1880’s core team remains at the reins, including general manager Tsoler Jekalin, executive chef Colin Buchan and events director Sophie Fitsall.
Now, you may be wondering about the price of joining an exclusive, members-only social club like this. From January 1, a single membership at The Nanson will set you back an eye-watering $6000, while a couple membership costs $9000. A handful of founding members have already been pre-selected and offered memberships, with their joining fees waived until the end of the year.
Despite the shocking end to 1880 after a glamorous eight-year run, it seems that private members' clubs are seeing a mini resurgence, what with the news of another $30 million club, Vanta, opening this December. But whether they’ll be here to stay, only time will tell.
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