Singapore’s clubbing scene is not dead, it just lost its soul

Since the start of the year, several news headlines have painted a dying nightlife scene in Singapore. Operators are struggling to stay afloat, as evidenced by the shocking closures of Holland Village’s longtime tenant Wala Wala Cafe Bar and private members club 1880 (though it has announced a reopening this month).

I’m not a hardcore clubber, but I love busting out a move on the dance floor at any opportunity. So, these recent headlines got me curious if the local club scene is really as dead as the news implies. To find out, I headed to Clarke Quay with my best friends to celebrate my 25th birthday and see it for myself.

The plan was simple: pregame at a random bar (we decided on Chupitos as we were lured by a buy two, get one free shot promotion), squeeze in a two-hour karaoke session, and then head next door to Capital Zouk at 2AM to dance the night away. 

However, the night felt too polished and commercialised—fun, yes, but lacking substance. Despite enjoying myself, I’m not hitting the clubs again anytime soon, and here’s why. 

Nightlife is a luxury

When we were at Chupitos, I noticed that more than half of the patrons were tourists, who were either exploring the area or brought in by locals. They spent money on trays of shots, which cost between S$38 and S$88, and left after getting their drink counts in.

We also spotted some tourists when we stepped foot into Capital Zouk, but they did not form the majority. Instead, there was an overwhelming number of high-flyers who were dancing in crisp, tailored shirts and suits on a packed dance floor.

There were also a few groups who opted for sofas and bottle service that night, which we later found out requires an over $500 deposit and a minimum spend ranging from S$1,000 to more than S$2,000.

I’ve spent just over S$100 that night, and this was all at Chupitos. I didn’t fork out a single cent at Capital as my ticket was complimentary for ladies and came with a free drink. Overall, my spending felt tame compared to the hundreds and thousands splashed by those lounging on the sofas. 

Just from these observations alone, it dawned on me that the clubbing culture today prioritises capital to cater to a changed demographic. What was once a fun, coming-of-age ritual has become a “premium lifestyle product” targeted at those who can afford it. 

As for the average Joe? They have to find ways to have a similar experience through cheaper, more flexible alternatives, like hunting for clubs or bars with promotions, but even then, it often remains too expensive.

From my observations that night, many clubs that offered multiple promotions still struggled to keep their dance floors consistently packed, often relying on a handful of high-spending patrons to justify the night.

COVID-19 wasn’t the only killer

The challenges facing nightlife establishments began with the pandemic in 2020. It brought Singapore’s party scene to a hard stop. Social distancing rules, which lasted close to two years, made the very idea of clubbing impossible.

Popular venues like Get Juiced, F.Club, and Bang Bang couldn’t survive the prolonged closure and shut down for good. Others like Zouk had to pivot drastically, renting out their space for spin classes or becoming a temporary movie theatre just to stay afloat.

But even as the restrictions lifted, the challenges didn’t end.

Opening and running a club in Singapore is no easy feat. Owners are required to obtain licenses such as a Public Entertainment Licence and a Liquor Licence, and comply with numerous regulatory conditions. That’s before you even factor in the financial burden.

With most clubs located in high-rent areas like Clarke Quay or the CBD, overheads are astronomical. Think million-dollar setups, covering renovations, salaries, liquor import costs, and taxes—all for an industry that operates just for a few hours a night, and only on select days of the week.

According to CNA, the most recently available data from the Singapore Department of Statistics showed that the operating revenue for pubs, night clubs, discotheques, dance clubs and karaoke lounges fell sharply to S$284.7 million in 2022, a sharp drop from its peak of S$674.7 million in 2015.

And in a time where both consumers and operators are more cost-conscious, many are struggling to survive, let alone thrive.

More options to party

Back in the 90s and 2000s, many viewed clubbing as a bucket list item and a fun opportunity to meet new people. This coming-of-age activity carried on into my generation, where my peers pregamed on the streets before club-hopping until the ungodly hours of the next morning. 

I had always thought of it as something to experience in my twenties, but when I finally hit the milestone, COVID-19 hit too. My coming-of-age moment had to wait until the pandemic was over, and I wasn’t alone. 

But even when the clubs reopened, I found that my generation’s relationship with partying had shifted.

Natalie Teo, a 25-year-old account executive at a public relations firm, shared that she used to go clubbing regularly as a poly and uni student. But the experience became too expensive and tiring for her as she could not afford cab rides and had to wait for the first train ride the next day. 

“The next day would be a write-off as I’d be too tired to do anything else, and it started feeling like I was wasting my weekends. Now, I think a lot of people feel the same,” she said. 

Instead, many younger Singaporeans are now gravitating towards more affordable, wholesome alternatives.

Event collectives like Culture SG and Ice Cream Sundays have tapped into this shift with wholesome theme events and parties that wrap by 10PM, aimed at fostering a stronger sense of community.

At the same time, day clubbing has also gained traction. Held in locations like cafes, rooftops, and even barbershops, partygoers sip on coffee and matcha instead of cocktails.

Take Beans and Beats, for example. The daytime party collective sells tickets at around S$20 for sessions from 2 to 7PM, giving guests a taste of club energy without burning a hole in their wallets or sleep cycles—something that disillusioned clubbers like Natalie have opted for. 

“The energy is still there, but the intention feels different, and honestly, much more meaningful.” 

Singapore’s nightlife = a hollow shell  

No longer are nightclubs the go-to places for a fun night out, and their appeal appears to have lost relevance among younger Singaporeans.

The high costs of travelling and overwhelming number of cash grabs also suck the life out of the clubbing experience, making it only enticing to high flyers or tourists who can afford it. 

The Singapore nightlife has changed from the vibrant subculture it was known for into a hollow shell of what it once was. It’s now a polished, commercialised activity that has become increasingly inaccessible in today’s economy.   

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Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post