Last party for nightclub Mink

The club makes way for a new one called Bang Bang after tonight's event

During its three-year run, hot nightclub Mink would be so full on some nights that even those with reservations had to wait to get in.
During its three-year run, hot nightclub Mink would be so full on some nights that even those with reservations had to wait to get in. PHOTO: ST FILE

After three years, nightspots Mink and Royal Room have met their Match and are closing with a Bang Bang.

Club lounge Royal Room at the Pan Pacific Singapore closed about two weeks ago, while nightclub Mink at the same hotel is hosting its last party tonight.

Taking over the two outlets will be a new modern dining restaurant called Match Restaurant and a luxe commercial dance club called Bang Bang. Both concepts are expected to launch in July.

Renovations are expected to take six to eight weeks. Massive Collective, which operates Royal Room and Mink, did not say how much will be spent on the revamp, but that the outlets will have "a brand new state-of-the art L Acoustics sound system and a high-resolution LED wall" among the new fittings.

Royal Room's old space will be transformed into Match Restaurant, a modern dining establishment with a bespoke element to the menu which will allow patrons to "create your own perfect dish".

Taking over Mink is Bang Bang, which Massive Collective director Phillip Poon, 37, says "combines the premium service and exclusivity of a lounge with the high-energy experience of a mega club".

It will "cater to the discerning and mature partygoer looking for an over-the-top escape", he adds.

On the impending changes, he says: "The nature of the nightlife industry in Singapore is constantly evolving and clubgoers are always on the lookout for the latest trends. As such, we felt that Royal Room and Mink had run their course in the last three years."

Mink and Royal Room, which are co-owned by nightlife group LifeBrandz and F&B operator The Prive Group, opened in 2011 and quickly became leading nightspots in Singapore. On weekends, the 3,000 sq ft Royal Room would often have a packed house, while the 5,000 sq ft Mink would be so full on some nights that even patrons with table reservations had to wait up to an hour to gain entry.

One of Mink's resident DJs, Alex Tran, 26, says: "Mink at its prime was booking some of the world's best DJs and the local residents were all top-notch."

Finance executive Jerry Wong, 33, who used to frequent Mink, notes that "the crowd there had petered out and the partying had moved on to Fenix Room" in the past few months.

Fenix Room, owned by Lifebrandz and operated by Massive Collective, is another hot club lounge at Clarke Quay packed to the gills on weekends.

According to partygoers such as Mr Wong, who says he will party at Mink tonight for its farewell, the changing fortunes of local clubs are a given. He says: "Things have changed such that a club's longevity does not matter to clubbers as much anymore. Clubbers are always looking for new places and experiences."

melk@sph.com.sg

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