50 Raffles Place to close for renovation

Sear Steakhouse is one of the outlets at 50 Raffles Place, which will close for a 10-week renovation.
Sear Steakhouse is one of the outlets at 50 Raffles Place, which will close for a 10-week renovation. PHOTO: SEAR

Slightly more than a year after opening, the food, beverage and nightlife outlets at 50 Raffles Place (50RP) on levels 45 and 46 of the Singapore Land Tower will close today for a 10-week renovation.

Nightclub Empire opened in October 2014, while Sear Steakhouse and Angie's Oyster Bar opened a month later.

The sudden announcement to the media and on the Facebook pages and website of the brands was made on Thursday evening.

The 20,000 sq ft space boasts views of the Marina Bay cityscape and is run by restaurant group Hidden Door Concepts and lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality group Massive Collective.

Hidden Door Concepts owns other restaurants such as Spathe Public House in Mohamed Sultan Road and Lower East Side Taqueria in East Coast Road, while Massive operates clubs such as Bang Bang and Match, as well as Vatos Urban Tacos at South Beach Quarter.

Ms Yvonne Yeo, 31, the public relations and marketing manager of Hidden Door Concepts, tells The Straits Times that the 50RP management had been planning to renovate the place in the second or third quarter of this year.

But with the landlord Singapore Land Tower having to carry out "urgent rectification works" to the outdoor area, she says that the 50RP management decided to bring forward the renovation plans.

The current players are likely to stay, while new ones will be launched by end April. There will also be changes to the existing floor plan of 50RP to include more private dining and lounge areas.

Ms Yeo says: "We are looking at expanding our existing menus, and refreshing our furnishings. With the vast variety of lifestyle and dining offerings in Raffles Place, it is important for us to refresh our brand to keep guests coming back."

Diners who have made bookings for Valentine's Day or event bookings at Sear or Angie's Oyster Bar will be contacted to arrange alternatives at Massive Collective's sister outlet 1919 Waterboat House in Fullerton Road.

For those who have bottles of liquor at Empire, the management will also make arrangements for collection or extension of validity. The bottles can also be transferred to 1919 Waterboat House's rooftop bar.

Payment-in-kind, such as dining vouchers, are also available for those who made payments, but choose not to dine at 1919 Waterboat House.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 06, 2016, with the headline 50 Raffles Place to close for renovation. Subscribe