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The more the merrier: Nightlife venues branch out

It seems it is never enough to be just a bar, a restaurant, or a cafe nowadays

It seems it is never enough to be just a bar, a restaurant, or a cafe nowadays. These days, an establishment is just not cool unless it is housing a combination of uses within the same space.

Take Clarke Quay’s new tenant VLV, which opened in the middle of September. The 20,000sqft space is no ordinary spot — it combines a stylish modern Chinese restaurant, a glamorous Club Lounge, an al fresco courtyard bar and a riverfront dining area in a historic building along the riverfront, which was built in the 1880s.

The venue prides itself on offering customers a “new level of dining and entertainment that displays a distinct flair of Asian hospitality yet familiar and curated for an international crowd”, so you can wine and dine on more than 60 fine Chinese delicacies at the VLV Restaurant, and then hop over for a party on the dancefloor at the VLV Club Lounge, which will be headlined by rising DJs.

Dolores Au, VLV’s chief executive officer, said: “I’m inspired to create concepts based on the unique spaces I find. This century-old structure really spoke to me, and I envisioned enhancing the space while embracing the rich history rooted in the Singapore riverfront.”

Having a multi-concept venue also means that the clientele will be varied, as each group of patrons look for different experiences on a night out.

“The beauty of this venue is that it speaks to a wide market, we see a lot of potential for the space to be a landmark destination for tourists in Clarke Quay,” added Au. “Our four zones allow us to capture audiences that are looking for different experiences. The lounge is for elegant, glamorous, nightlife-seeking individuals; the courtyard bar for fans of live music and casual tipples al fresco-style; the restaurant for a dining experience for the well-heeled; and riverside dining for seafood and supper appeals to both locals and tourists.”

Au believes that multi-concept venues will be the norm in Singapore, as partygoers’ tastes get more sophisticated. “Singapore is more than ready for an exciting new concept, and VLV is here to set that standard. I don’t believe in following trends, but to create new formats, up the bar and shape the dining and entertainment landscape of Singapore,” she said.

Another multi-concept venue here is Hive by Wala Wala, which opened in March and comprises a 13,700sqf space on Havelock Road. Its vast size justifies the presence of four different concepts in one venue — a bar, a restaurant, a cigar room and a wine retail store.

In fact, there is even an ice-cream counter, and all their breads for their sandwiches, as well as cakes, are made in-house. As its name suggests, it is owned by the man behind the very successful cafe-bar Wala Wala in Holland Village.

“It’s basically a restaurant and bar, but because of its size, we are able to include a number of other features into Hive,” explains owner Stanley Yeo. “Hive is a huge venue to fill. To only target one segment in the market might not be a big enough draw. We needed a way to bring in different types of crowds into one venue.”

The site also hosts live bands every day and shows sports on its TV screens. Both the indoor and al fresco areas are able to seat 400 people, and its menu serves a good mix of local and Western food all day.

The wines in its retail store are available for dine-in or home purchase. If wine is not your tipple of choice, there are 35 types of beers and ciders to choose from there, as well as a unique range of whiskies.

The multi-concept approach here has attracted its fair share of customers.

“After having Wala Wala Cafe Bar for the past 23 years, we know many enjoy the al fresco atmosphere,” said Yeo. “Sports on cable is certainly a draw with big games and not forgetting the live music, too. We tried our very best to duplicate this at Hive on one single level, plus a few other features, too. This concept, we feel, is the ultimate of all multi-concepts.”

Millian Singapore, which opened in February at St James Power Station, also comprises a live concert venue and a club. Its director, Ryohei Sakai, describes its concept as “a fusion of Japanese influence, while incorporating the Singaporean and South-east Asian music and entertainment industries, too, with the aim to cater to a larger crowd and not just one niche clientele”.

Millian’s live venue plays host to DJs and performers from all over the world — previous performers include Japanese bands Noisemaker and Man With A Mission.

“Millian is, firstly, a concert venue; bands from any part of the world can perform here so their fans have the opportunity to experience their music with authentic sound, followed by a club and an event space,” said Sakai.

“Having modular settings also allows the venue to create a different energy and vibe that each occasion calls for.”

The venue hopes that by mixing the concepts of a concert venue and a club, it will attract music lovers and partygoers, who are just out to have a good time. And they believe that the scene is ready for this.

“With the right team, direction and belief, we have proceeded with our vision,” said Sakai. “We intend to grow while sustaining our image. Singapore’s nightlife scene is constantly changing so it’s all about figuring out what the next pattern will be.”

 

VLV is at 3A Merchant’s Court, River Valley Road, #01-02; Hive by Wala Wala is at 407 Havelock Road, #01-01 Furama Riverfront Hotel; Millian Singapore is at 3 Sentosa Gateway, #01-05.

 

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