Social clubs like The Tanglin Club and Mandala Club aren’t your average hangouts – these ultra-exclusive spaces are members-only and come with membership fees that put them firmly out of reach for most of us mere mortals. Among them was 1880, a private members’ club tucked along the Robertson Quay waterfront. But after seven years of stylish soirées, 1880’s Singapore branch is closing its doors for good.
1880 first opened in 2017, founded by Canadian entrepreneur Marc Nicholson. The club was home to a fancy schmancy co-working space, restaurant, bar, grooming salons and even a spa for its members, and quickly became known amongst notable figures. The club has hosted diplomats, business leaders and cultural icons, including former Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo and diplomats Kishore Mahbubani and Bilahari Kausikan.
Membership was capped at 2,000 pax when it launched, with a one-time joining fee of $7,000 and annual fees of up to $2,500.
But as of today, June 17, 2025, it's officially the end of an era. In a message sent out to members, the club announced its immediate closure. The statement revealed that its holding company, 38 Degrees, and operating company, 1880 Pte Ltd, have been placed under provisional liquidation – a legal process triggered when a company is unable to meet its financial obligations, pending a court ruling on full liquidation.
All operations have ceased with immediate effect, and the message ended with one final instruction for members: “Please do not come to the premises as the doors will be locked”.
The closure of the Singapore branch comes just weeks after the sudden shuttering of its Hong Kong branch on May 30, 2025, barely seven months after it opened.
At the time of writing, 1880 Singapore’s Instagram account remains active, though no public post has been made about the closure.
While the closure of 1880 Singapore may come as a blow to its members, there’s a silver lining on the horizon. Ebisu Flower Park, the exclusive, floral-themed bar from Tokyo and one of Japan’s most coveted members’ clubs, made its Singapore debut this January. Its exact location is disclosed only to members, but you can find out more here.
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