Exclusive: Soho House Takes Over Singapore's Oldest Nightclub For F1 Weekend
An electric, boogie-infused showcase celebrating the city's vibrant subculture
For one night only, Singapore's oldest nightclub transformed into the hippest, most of-the-moment global hotspot in town. With the support of global creative hub Soho House, glittering culturati from all over stopped by Hawaii Nite Club Thursday night to kick off one of Singapore's biggest weekends of the year, the annual Formula One Singapore Grand Prix, with the help of a star-studded lineup of local entrepreneurs, DJs and other cultural tastemakers. Curated and hosted by CWH Singapore member Earn Chen, "Soho House Presents: Discoteca" brought local DJ Nicolette as well as Hong Kong-based DJ Mr Ho and music collective Yeti Out to this special stage, with cocktail creations courtesy of Johnnie Walker and Nutmeg & Clove, one of Singapore's top-ten entries on Asia's 50 Best Bars list.
Made possible by Soho House's Cities Without Houses (CWH) membership, the event marked a new high for Singapore's local CWH community, a testament to both the city's strong creative spirit and the growing impact of the programme. Like its name suggests, the CWH membership affords members residing in cities without a physical Soho House many of the same benefits they would expect from standard membership, including monthly events and opportunities to meet other members, and access to Soho House locations around the world. As a successful exercise in community building, one only needs to look to the global members' club most recent openings around the world to see fruitful results; houses from Tel Aviv to Copenhagen sprouted up thanks to the hard work and creative energy of CWH communities established years earlier.
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It's no surprise, then, that Thursday's night out at the discotheque brought together so many of Singapore's best and brightest creative talents. From longtime MTV VJ Hanli Hoefer to top fashion model Fiona Fussi, there was no shortage of stylish guests keeping up the good vibes from the bar to the dancefloor. And speaking of the bar, one would be remiss not to mention the delectable drinks on the special menu for the night, which not only shined the spotlight on the city's F&B talent, but also the legendary staff serving up drinks at Hawaii Nite Club for over thirty years.
Just as they do in cities with a physical Soho House present, Cities Without Houses members are often treated to premier cultural experiences and opportunities to mingle with members of the global creative community. Photo: Ashley Mak
Hanli Hoefer, Fiona Fussi
First opened in 1977, Hawaii Nite Club not only evokes nostalgia for a Singapore of decades past (straight from the disco era, nonetheless), but also uncovers a side of Singapore so oft overlooked by those who only see the glitz and glam of its more recently-developed facade. Yes, Singapore has grit - unpolished, authentic corners which show off both its multicultural, industrious roots and unbridled potential as one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing cultural meeting points. "Soho House Presents: Discoteca" was an ode to that illustrious history, as well as the creative connection which brings House members together.
Hawaii Nite Club, which has been in operation for over three decades, is hidden deep inside an old shopping centre located in Singapore's Kallang neighbourhood. Photo: Ashley Mak
Soho House Discoteca
And perhaps no one knows that better than the mastermind behind Thursday night's festivities, Earn Chen, a founding father of Singapore's subculture scene, whose multi-label boutique Ambush was first established in another classic Singaporean shopping centre, Far East Plaza, and whose more recent successful business venture, Cherry Discotheque, has now become a mainstay of the city's nightlife scene. Chen was the perfect candidate for Soho House to have in mind when it came to curating an event as eclectic and special as this one, held at just the right place, at just the right time. Ever true to the Soho House and Cities Without Houses spirit.
Soho House's Cities Without Houses membership is priced at US$3,520 annually, and a discounted price of US$1,650 for members under the age of 27.