Is Singapore saturated with expat pubs?

AtticusFinch · Post by **AtticusFinch** » Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:05 pm

Myself and a few colleagues who have worked in the pub industry in Asia are thinking about setting up a new establishment loosely modelled on the Irish pub concept.

Singapore is on the list of locations, but I worry that it's already saturated with such pubs. Investment would be substantial (about SG$600,000), so it would hopefully be in a prominent location and well presented.

Thoughts from SG expats and locals would be appreciated along with suggestion of locations (popular and up-and-coming... in Singapore or elsewhere)

Yours aye,

Jimmy

Post by **sundaymorningstaple** » Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:59 pm

Without around 1.5M I don't think I would bother. Even then, you have less than 50:50 odds of surviving the first year. We have at least 6 or7 and possibly more Irish pubs including one new one just opened.

http://www.st-patricks-day.com/irish-pu ... apore.html

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Sat, 12 Mar 2011 12:04 am

Per....lea...se!

No more Irish pubs

Post by **Strong Eagle** » Sat, 12 Mar 2011 7:21 am

Very many already, especially if you throw in 'modeled after'. Molly Malone's, Muddy Murphy's, Highlander, Mulligan's Irish Pub, Penny Black, and of course, Harry's pubs with locations all over the place. Then, there are various micro breweries, all offering a 'pub like' experience. And there are the pubs that offer many different kinds of beer, like the one in Suntec.

Very competitive, very high rents for prime locations.

What I think would go over would be the 'hawker center experience' for expats... $5.30 big Tiger beers, western finger foods, and something besides plastic lawn furniture for tables and chairs. Set one up next to Harry's, offer a reasonable 'atmosphere' and sell booze for half the price.

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Sat, 12 Mar 2011 7:38 am

All these faux Irish names do my nut in. And that's before I even get in the door. I mean who in heaven's name do they they think they are trying to pull this stuff off!?

Dirty Mollies, Mollie Dirties, Dirty Batties, and so on and so on and so on.

The pastiche is worn out to nauseating oblivion.

What is an '''Irish Pub''', a non-denominational plastic, mass-market drinking establishment? It sure as hell is like nothing I experienced in Ireland.

ev-disinfection · Post by **ev-disinfection** » Sat, 12 Mar 2011 10:53 am

If I had a lot of spare cash, i would open a Singapore Expats restaurant / pub called "The Forum" and make it an "Expats only" club, locals can come if invited by an expat,

Divide the place into few sections..
one for the bikers (harleys / big bikes)
one for the pool players, have competitions and such.
one for the expat ladies gatherings (in the afternoons)

There will be many events, catering for expats, like:
Organizing trips to surrounding countries,
Inviting service contractors to give presentations (Q&A sessions)
eg. air con guys, real estate agents.....etc
Movie night on a big screen (open air maybe)
Wine tasting nights (Get suppliers to sponsor)

This place will get discounts / free entry passes...etc to plays, zoo, bird park, sentosa, restaurants, cinemas, budget airlines, tour packages, lower % commission from agents....etc

I am sure that there will be many suppliers (Espeacially those who only cater to expats.... Tiger beer, mothercare... etc) who would sponsor things, like carpentry, plumbing, furniture, kitchen / bar equipment ...etc

This place would be a hang out for all expats, and linked back to a online expat's forum. probably get members to pay a small membership fee, and they will get admission and a newsletter (which approved advertisers can pay to be on it)

What do you guys think .....?

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Sat, 12 Mar 2011 6:46 pm

JR8 · Post by **JR8** » Sat, 12 Mar 2011 7:35 pm

p.s. there could be an ante-room for hosting the Ladies Mutual Support Group. Strictly only tea and polite conversation allowed.

aster · Post by **aster** » Sun, 13 Mar 2011 10:04 am

Aren't pubs aimed at (though obviously not restricted to) a certain country in terms of general "theme" pretty popular? Boomerang, Brussels Sprouts, etc.

ev-disinfection · Post by **ev-disinfection** » Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:17 pm

JR8 wrote:p.s. there could be an ante-room for hosting the Ladies Mutual Support Group. Strictly only tea and polite conversation allowed.

Yes JR8, in my post, this group is not left out...

aster wrote: Aren't pubs aimed at (though obviously not restricted to) a certain country in terms of general "theme" pretty popular? Boomerang, Brussels Sprouts, etc.

Well, those are aimed at Aussies and Belgians, my idea will be a place like "Handles Bar" which will be closing and moved off the Seletar Camp area... to maintain their moldy look.

Post by **nakatago** » Sun, 13 Mar 2011 1:10 pm

ev-disinfection wrote:
JR8 wrote:p.s. there could be an ante-room for hosting the Ladies Mutual Support Group. Strictly only tea and polite conversation allowed.
Yes JR8, in my post, this group is not left out...

aster wrote: Aren't pubs aimed at (though obviously not restricted to) a certain country in terms of general "theme" pretty popular? Boomerang, Brussels Sprouts, etc.
Well, those are aimed at Aussies and Belgians, my idea will be a place like "Handles Bar" which will be closing and moved off the Seletar Camp area... to maintain their moldy look.

Don't forget mixer events for single people in their 20's and 30's!

ev-disinfection · Post by **ev-disinfection** » Sun, 13 Mar 2011 2:56 pm

nakatago wrote:
ev-disinfection wrote:
JR8 wrote:p.s. there could be an ante-room for hosting the Ladies Mutual Support Group. Strictly only tea and polite conversation allowed.
Yes JR8, in my post, this group is not left out...

aster wrote: Aren't pubs aimed at (though obviously not restricted to) a certain country in terms of general "theme" pretty popular? Boomerang, Brussels Sprouts, etc.
Well, those are aimed at Aussies and Belgians, my idea will be a place like "Handles Bar" which will be closing and moved off the Seletar Camp area... to maintain their moldy look.
Don't forget mixer events for single people in their 20's and 30's!

Ok, Nakatago will be in charge of the Mixer events,
JR8 --- Sercurity
SMS --- Overall direction
SE / MS / Plavt / WIMH / Anne ...
please advise the board, what you roles would be...

ksl · Post by **ksl** » Sun, 13 Mar 2011 3:20 pm

ev-disinfection wrote:If I had a lot of spare cash, i would open a Singapore Expats restaurant / pub called "The Forum" and make it an "Expats only" club, locals can come if invited by an expat,

Divide the place into few sections..
one for the bikers (harleys / big bikes)
one for the pool players, have competitions and such.
one for the expat ladies gatherings (in the afternoons)

There will be many events, catering for expats, like:
Organizing trips to surrounding countries,
Inviting service contractors to give presentations (Q&A sessions)
eg. air con guys, real estate agents.....etc
Movie night on a big screen (open air maybe)
Wine tasting nights (Get suppliers to sponsor)

This place will get discounts / free entry passes...etc to plays, zoo, bird park, sentosa, restaurants, cinemas, budget airlines, tour packages, lower % commission from agents....etc

I am sure that there will be many suppliers (Espeacially those who only cater to expats.... Tiger beer, mothercare... etc) who would sponsor things, like carpentry, plumbing, furniture, kitchen / bar equipment ...etc

This place would be a hang out for all expats, and linked back to a online expat's forum. probably get members to pay a small membership fee, and they will get admission and a newsletter (which approved advertisers can pay to be on it)

What do you guys think .....?

It's great, see if you can get them to sponsor the rent too

work out the numbers of those that can afford it. I'm guessing at 200k, though many also like their own privacy of not mixing with certain larger louts, so you could have the animals den for the heavies.
The Swedish rooms, The Finnish Room, The Polish Room, The Danish room, The German Room, and so on, all with their own cultural pass times, and food, you can supplement with retail stores for all those missed goodies, with a monthly delivery service with a minimum spend of a $100.

Not forgetting an export display of manufacturing goods from each country, also sponsored from manufacturers and government grants department for exports.

Though we would need something like Suntec City in the Centre

ev-disinfection · Post by **ev-disinfection** » Mon, 14 Mar 2011 6:38 pm

KSL, (you will be in charge of the health drinks)
Suntec would be too expensive to rent, was thinking more on the lines of Pasir Panjang area, Labrador Park..... Sad that Pasir Panjang village row of pubs / restaurant will be torn down by this year, heard that the new owners are the Frangrance hotel group...

have a childcare company start one next door, so that while the kids are with their peers, the moms can relax and be with theirs......

Parking, local transport must be easily assessable too, for those who drive and not.

I wonder if we can buy 2 semi-d's to convert them into the "Forum"?

AtticusFinch · Post by **AtticusFinch** » Mon, 14 Mar 2011 9:46 pm

Thanks for the feedback: that was the sort of response I was expecting.

Without naming businesses, I have indeed heard horror stories of pubs with plastic tree stumps as chairs. It sounds like you guys are after something akin to the old village hall for community projects combined with a flow of beer and tea.

It looks like Pyongyang is the place for me, unless other locations can be suggested?

SINGAPORE EXPATS FORUM
Singapore Expat Forum and Message Board for Expats in Singapore & Expatriates Relocating to Singapore

Is Singapore saturated with expat pubs?

Is Singapore saturated with expat pubs?

Who is online