[
Just as a wave of new private members’ clubs began reshaping Singapore’s social scene, a dramatic collapse has shaken the region. In under a year, 1880 launched its bold expansion into Hong Kong, only to shutter the space seven months later amid unpaid salaries and mounting debt. Now, less than three weeks after the Hong Kong club’s demise, its Singapore flagship has followed suit — blindsiding members and signalling a hard reckoning for the once-promising lifestyle brand.
In the early hours of 17 June 2025, Singapore’s private members’ club 1880 has just announced that it will be closing its doors and entering liquidation. It informed its members through email and WhatsApp messages. The club first opened its doors in late 2017 at Robertson Quay, and as recently as earlier this week, it remained operational and was still promoting events via its social media. The surprising closure follows the shutdown of its Hong Kong counterpart on May 30 2025, which came less than a year after launching.
1880 Hong Kong opened at Taikoo Place, Hong Kong, in November 2024. However, just seven months later, 1880 Hong Kong announced its permanent closure and left over 100 employees without pay. The Hong Kong club has gone into liquidation with debts reportedly amounting to HKD 20 million, a collapse some insiders attribute to the company’s failure to grasp the distinct dynamics of the city, mistakenly assuming it would operate much like Singapore. The speedy closure highlights how rapidly the landscape of the luxury lifestyle and leisure industry, particularly private members’ clubs, is shifting in 2025, especially as regional nuances prove more complex than anticipated.
1880 Hong Kong Promotions Amid Collapse Spark Probe and Ballooning Debt
Before its closure, 1880 Hong Kong’s last-ditch attempts to promote referral packages and prepaid memberships, only weeks before shutting down, are currently being investigated. Even though the club’s leadership was aware that the operation would end, members say they were nonetheless encouraged to sign up in late April and mid-May 2025. Potential violations of the Trade Descriptions Ordinance are being looked into by the Customs and Excise Department.
According to sources, 1880 Hong Kong went into insolvency and owed about HKD 20 million (approximately USD 2.5 million), which includes supplier obligations, staff salaries and rent. One former employee commented, “They just assumed Hong Kong was going to be the same as Singapore.” Experts blame inadequate financial planning and a lack of understanding of the local market.
Cash Crunch Sparks Abrupt Exit
A sudden cash-flow crisis and the breakdown of a promised investment transaction were cited as reasons for closing the 1880 Hong Kong. “I thought I could raise the capital to save the company, but I was wrong and I’m deeply sorry,” founder Marc Nicolson acknowledged in an internal memo. Staff members were instantly let go, and all memberships and access rights were immediately revoked. According to reports, more than 100 workers, including front desk and culinary personnel, were unpaid for two months. There were numerous requests for assistance coming to the Labour Department. In the meantime, due to growing arrears and unpaid rent, landlord Swire Properties has repossessed the property.
The Sudden Closure of 1880 Singapore
The closure of Singapore’s 1880 club was attributed to declining member spending and visit frequency, alongside unsuccessful attempts to secure new investment or a buyer. In a message to members, the club revealed, the holding company 38 Degrees and the operating company 1880 Pte Ltd, had been placed into provisional liquidation. The founder also informed members, ““The club and all its operations will cease immediately. Please do not come to the premises as the doors will be locked.” It had considered three separate acquisition or investment offers, but none materialised. With no additional funds to continue operations or pay staff and suppliers, the business ultimately opted for liquidation. The club’s founder also admitted that expansion efforts may have stretched resources too thin. Staff were reportedly left in the dark, despite recent reassurances of a potential rescue deal, and expressed shock over the abrupt shutdown.
Bottom Line
This is a red flag for hospitality firms growing in Asia, according to analysts. An editorial in Time News highlights the necessity of improved employee protection, more openness in prepaid offerings, and more robust cash-flow management.
Images from 1880 Singapore
The collapse of 1880 in both Singapore and Hong Kong exposes the volatility of the luxury hospitality sector and the relevance of the private members’ club sector in 2025. Once deemed as an exclusive haven for connection and curated experiences, these clubs are now facing mounting pressure to be both financially viable and locally attuned, particularly at a time of economic uncertainties where consumers are tightening their belts. Paying a membership fee towards a private member’s club could be seen as indulgent. As consumer habits evolve and economic uncertainty deepens, regional miscalculations, rapid expansion without sustainable foundations and opaque operational practices can quickly unravel even the most ambitious ventures. The swift unravelling of 1880 club’s going belly up serves as a cautionary tale — not only about overextension, but about the urgent need for accountability and being able to adapt in the cultural fluency of Asia’s fast-changing luxury landscape.
Singapore was once regarded as a natural home for ultra-wealthy networks — a financial safe haven and playground for Asia’s elite. But the downfall of 1880 signals that even in this wealth-dense city, the private club model must evolve. Success today demands more than prestige and programming. It requires agile leadership, deep local relevance, and a recalibration of business fundamentals to reflect changing consumer values, growing scrutiny and the end of blind brand loyalty.
For more on the latest in lifestyle reads, click here.