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Empty bars, high prices and early nights: Singapore's dying nightlife could have wider repercussions
With more people working from home and rising transport costs, fewer are going out to drink after work and bars are suffering. As nightlife operators shutter, this will have a far-reaching impact on Singapore's attractiveness as a tourism hub, experts warned.
Mr Seva Baskin from eastern European country Belarus left his rented apartment in Singapore at midnight on a Friday, sometime in early November. He was intending to check out a bar, only to realise that all MRT train services for the day had already ended.
“(That timing) is quite early for European standards. Usually, when I go out in Europe, public transport works late. And in Singapore, as soon as the clock strikes 12, taxi prices double from what it was in the daytime,” the 31-year-old founder of a real estate technology startup said.
Mr Baskin, who recently spent three months in Singapore while working remotely, wanted to immerse himself in local culture. He thought that bars would be good places to mingle with Singaporeans.
However, the lack of affordable transport options in the wee hours made him wonder what nightlife in Singapore would be like, and what type of people he would see at these night establishments.
“Who can then afford to go out? Are young people going out early and then trying to be home by 12, or is it the people with money who are going out? So was I going to meet a diverse audience, or just rich people?” Mr Baskin asked.
His concerns and doubts were shared by many foreigners, Singaporeans and nightlife business operators who spoke to CNA TODAY over the past week.
Early closing times at clubs, prohibitive costs of alcohol and private transport, as well as more people choosing to stay at home have led to a lacklustre nightlife scene, which had already been badly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Capucine Picquet, a 20-year-old exchange student, felt that there was not much to do here due to how expensive partying has become.
Although she appreciates that entry to Zouk, a popular nightclub, is free for students, she said that alcohol prices here are at least twice as much as in France, her home country.
“Clubs here also close quite early. I remember Zouk closed at 4am. In France, it’s more like between 5am and 7am,” she added.
This early closing, combined with other factors, is not only putting pressure on bars to survive but also diminishing the vibrancy of Singapore’s nightlife. Experts warned that this could ultimately reduce the country’s appeal as a tourist destination.
Dr Lewis Lim, an associate professor of marketing practice at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), said: “Together with the late-night food and beverage (F&B) options, nightlife, with all the neon lights, loud music and fashionably dressed crowds adds energy, chicness and a bit of that naughtiness that a world-class city needs in order to attract tourists.”
Thus, even a slight reduction in the lustre of the nightlife industry should be of grave concern for the government and for industry, with long-term effects on Singapore's brand positioning and economy, he added.
LIGHTS OUT ON NIGHTLIFE?
The most recent available data from the Singapore Department of Statistics showed that operating revenue for pubs, night clubs, discotheques, dance clubs and karaoke lounges in 2022 stood at S$284.7 million, a far cry from the peak of S$674.7 million in 2015.
The wider F&B industry, which includes bars and pubs, is facing tough times after an initial post-pandemic spike. More than 3,000 F&B establishments closed in 2024, the highest number in two decades since 2005.
Long-time players were not spared: Among them is Tippling Club, a restaurant and cocktail bar, which shuttered on Dec 31. The business in Tanjong Pagar had operated for over 16 years.
Sixteen Ounces Bar and Kitchen at the Rail Mall had its last day on Oct 26, following seven years of operation.
And wine bar Wine RVLT near the Clarke Quay area will close later this year after operating for eight years, once its current lease expires, due to higher overheads and a decline in customers.
Many more, especially independent establishments with a single outlet, are barely getting by. They told CNA TODAY that they are taking each day as it comes as they battle with increasing rental costs and competition.
Manager Mirza Jasni of craft beer bar The Otherside in Chinatown said: “We’re always striving to just keep it open for the next month. As long as we can do that, we’ll continue working.”
Head bartender Ritz Ang at Enclave bar said that revenue has dipped by 30 to 40 per cent since it reopened along Neil Road in Tanjong Pagar in May last year.
Singapore Pub Crawl, an event organiser that brings participants to different nightlife establishments around Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, said that its average group size has reduced significantly for each tour.
Mr Mogan Vithilingam, its chief operating officer, said that there used to be 40 to 50 people joining each crawl pre-COVID-19. Now, even just having 30 participants would be considered a good night, as the business struggles to reach that number.
Venues also find it more difficult to offer attractive discounts. He said that in the past, bars could give deals for as low as S$12 for two bottled beers. These days, that would be the promotional price for a single drink.
Singapore Pub Crawl’s clientele mostly consists of tourists. “I think people have forgotten the idea of pub crawls after the pandemic,” Mr Vithilingam said.
The atmosphere at key nightlife spots has also dulled. Mr Mark Ng, the co-owner of The Coup, said that the surrounding areas at Ann Siang Road and Club Street have changed dramatically.
“These streets used to be bustling at night. Before COVID-19, the roads used to be closed. The bars here would put tables and chairs on the road. People would stream in from Chinatown after dinner. Ann Siang Hill, as it was, was like a tourist attraction.”
Mr Ng added that many more establishments opened past midnight. There was a "price war" going on back then and almost every establishment was offering one-for-one or happy hour deals. These promotions are now rare.
WHY IS SINGAPORE'S NIGHTLIFE DECLINING?
A confluence of factors has contributed to this decline. Other than costs creeping up, consumers’ habits and lifestyles have changed, industry players observed.
The work-from-home culture birthed by the pandemic has had far-reaching implications, Mr Mirza from The Otherside bar said.
“Because they are at home, their F&B choices are limited to going around their residential areas, so they probably won’t drink.
“It changes the whole ball game. Bars had to close because they just weren’t getting the same footfall as last time,” Mr Mirza added.
Mr Ng from The Coup said that if people were at the office more often, they might consider grabbing drinks with colleagues nearby before going home. Since they are mostly working at home, the chances of them stepping outside to head to a bar in town are much lower.
“We run a business that requires people to come to our establishment. However, fewer and fewer people are coming out to visit bars like us and we lack the dinner crowd. The F&B sector as a whole is not what it used to be anymore.”
The new normal is now organising house parties, or going out to drink and meet friends once or twice a week at most, Mr Ng added.
He compared it to the era before COVID-19 when people tended to drink and party more often, even on weekdays. “There was happy hour, ladies’ night, something was going on every other weekday."
Both Mr Mirza and Mr Ng observed that some operators are pivoting to e-commerce instead of running F&B outlets. Mr Ng cited the example of craft beer shop Thirsty, which ran physical stores until 2019.
Mr Roland Utama, Thirsty’s managing director, said that the company decided to switch to an online-only business model because of manpower shortages and high rent.
“After COVID-19, we observed more consumers preferring to enjoy drinks at home, appreciating the convenience of ordering online and getting the heavy packages delivered straight to their doorstep.” Source: CNA
