SINGAPORE – Private members’ club 1880 is looking to reopen at a new venue, after its brand and rights were acquired by the group behind Mandala Club.

Luxury lifestyle and hospitality group ICON1C announced on Sept 3 that it had acquired the intellectual property of the now-defunct club, which

closed suddenly in June

after eight years.

It did not disclose the acquisition price.

“The move ensures that one of Singapore’s most distinctive private members’ communities will continue to live on, with its culture, conversations and connections preserved while plans for a new home are developed,” said a statement from ICON1C, which is backed by Catcha Group.

Catcha , a Kuala Lumpur-based tech company founded by Mr Patrick Grove, joined hands with Mandala Club founder Ben Jones in early 2025 to form ICON1C, with the aim of acquiring a premium portfolio that includes members’ clubs, hospitality, luxury experiences, sporting events and wellness.

In the interim, while a new location for the club is sought, the group has teamed up with former staff and members to launch an 1880 Community on WhatsApp.

From September, members will receive updates on monthly mixers, cultural events and collaborations, and be the first to hear updates about the opening of the new club.

Founded in 2017 by Canadian entrepreneur Marc Nicholson at Robertson Quay, 1880’s holding and operating companies were placed under provisional liquidation after it was unable to secure an investor or buyer.

The club was mired in debt, especially after expanding aggressively into Hong Kong and Bali, with several suppliers telling The Straits Times they were owed payments. A provisional list of creditors as at June 9 showed over $3 million owed.

In response to queries from ST about the debt, a spokesperson said: “ICON1C acquired the brand, community assets and rights to open 1880 again. Debts and liabilities remain with the former operating company.”

As for how the company will ensure profitability, unlike its predecessor, the spokesperson said that “1880 was more a victim of circumstance than anything else”.

“The community bore the brunt of those circumstances, but the brand remains loved and the support for the club’s reopening is strong.”

The acquisition comes after months of start-stop announcements in the m edia about the club reopening at its Robertson Quay location in August, backed by its then landlord RB Corp – a member of property investment and development firm RB Capital Group.

These announcements also said 1880 would be run by the same team, and that current members could have their memberships transferred without a joining fee.

However, an e-mail from the provisional liquidator sent to members on July 7 quashed such claims about the alleged reopening of the club.

“Please note that the provisional liquidator did not authorise, and did not consent to, any transfer of membership from 1880 to a ‘new club’,” the e-mail said.

When asked how ICON1C will reconcile owning a former competitor, the spokesperson said: “Mandala Club and 1880 each have distinct heritage and personality. Our role is stewardship, not duplication.”

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