1880's liquidator warns members that the club's August reopening is "unauthorized"

Members of Singapore's defunct 1880 private club are caught in an unprecedented tug-of-war after the court-appointed liquidator warned them that the much-publicized August reopening is not authorized and any membership transfers are invalid.

In a carefully worded letter dated July 7 and seen by this publication, provisional liquidator Chan Yee Hong distanced himself from the reopening plans that have dominated headlines since July 1. "Please note that the Provisional Liquidator is not aware of, did not authorise, and did not consent to any transfer of membership from 1880 to a 'new club'," the letter states.

The warning comes just days after multiple news outlets reported that the exclusive Robertson Quay venue would reopen in August with 90% of its former staff and backing from landlord RB Corp. Members had been told they could transfer their memberships without paying new joining fees — typically S$7,000 — with a July 15 deadline to confirm.

Chan, a partner at CLA Global TS with over 25 years of insolvency experience, specifically warned members about communications from the phone number 8227-3708 and email address [email protected]. "Any communications from the said number and/or email account are not made by, and do not represent the views and position of, the Provisional Liquidator, 38 Degrees and/or 1880," he wrote.

The liquidator's intervention transforms what appeared to be a phoenix-like business revival into a potential legal minefield. When 1880 collapsed on June 17 with millions in debt — including HK$20 million owed by its Hong Kong branch — both the holding company 38 Degrees and operating company 1880 Pte Ltd were placed into provisional liquidation.

Under Singapore law, a provisional liquidator takes control of a company's assets and operations. Any use of the company's brand, transfer of its memberships, or operation of its business would typically require the liquidator's explicit approval. The letter suggests no such approval has been given.

The timing of events raises questions about what's really happening behind the scenes. On June 21, Bloomberg reported that staff had made an offer to buy the club's assets with landlord backing. By July 1, members were receiving emails from "Your former1880 family" announcing the reopening. Less than a week later, the liquidator felt compelled to issue his warning.

For the "former 1880 team" led by general manager Tsoler Jekalian, the liquidator's letter creates significant legal uncertainty. If they're operating without proper authorization, they could face legal action for trademark infringement, misrepresentation, or interfering with the liquidation process. The use of the domain "former1880.com" and marketing materials referencing 1880 could be particularly problematic if the liquidator controls these intellectual property rights.

Members face an even more confusing situation. Those who've already indicated their intention to transfer memberships are now left wondering whether any such transfer would be legally valid. With the July 15 deadline approaching, they must decide whether to proceed with a transfer the liquidator says he hasn't authorized, or risk losing their chance to join whatever entity the former staff are creating.

The landlord, RB Corp — linked to RB Capital and property magnate Kishin RK who was involved in 1880's original founding — finds itself in an awkward position. While landlords often have significant leverage in liquidation situations, especially with specially fitted-out premises, operating without liquidator consent could complicate matters.

This dispute hints at deeper negotiations happening behind closed doors. The three-week gap between closure and the reopening announcement suggests there may have been attempts to reach a deal with the liquidator that fell through. The former staff's decision to proceed anyway indicates either supreme confidence in their legal position or a calculated risk that the liquidator won't pursue legal action.

Singapore's private club scene is watching closely. Unlike country clubs which face regulatory oversight, private social clubs operate in a grey area where member protections are limited. The 1880 saga — from spectacular collapse to contested revival — highlights the risks members face when paying substantial upfront fees with little recourse if things go wrong.

The liquidator's letter ends with an invitation for affected members to contact him at [email protected], suggesting he's gathering information about the unauthorized reopening. Whether this leads to legal action, negotiated settlement, or simply serves as a warning shot remains to be seen.

As August approaches, the question isn't just whether 1880 will reopen, but whether it can legally do so without the liquidator's blessing. In Singapore's business landscape, where legal precision matters and reputations are everything, operating in defiance of a court-appointed liquidator is a high-stakes gamble.

For members who've already lived through 1880's sudden collapse, being asked to navigate conflicting claims of authority adds insult to injury. They're not just being asked to trust again — they're being asked to choose sides in a battle where the rules aren't clear and the stakes are their S$7,000 joining fees.

Members seeking clarity can contact the provisional liquidator at [email protected] or the former staff team at +65 8227 3708.

Below is the full text of the letter sent by provisional liquidator Chan Yee Hong to 1880 members on July 7, 2025:

1880 PTE. LTD.
(Provisional Liquidator Appointed)
(Company Registration No.: 201535269C)
80 Robinson Road, #25-00, Singapore 068898
Fax No: 65345766 Tel No: 65345700

Our Ref: ICR/CYH/IN/TYH/SK/1880PL/MEMBERS

7 July 2025

To: The Members of the 1880 club By Email

Dear Sirs,

38 DEGREES PTE LTD (PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR APPOINTED) ("38 Degrees")
1880 PTE LTD (PROVISIONAL LIQUIDATOR APPOINTED) ("1880")

1. As you may be aware, Mr Chan Yee Hong was appointed as Provisional Liquidator of the 38 Degrees and 1880 on 17 June 2025. On 1 July 2025, the Provisional Liquidator was granted permission by the Court to appoint solicitors to assist the Provisional Liquidator in the discharge of his duties.

2. You may have received communications from (1) a phone number, 8227-3708, and/or (2) an email account '[email protected]' purporting to represent 38 Degrees or 1880.

3. Please note that the Provisional Liquidator, 38 Degrees and/or 1880 do not operate the phone number 8227-3708 or the email account '[email protected]'. Any communications from the said number and/or email account are not made by, and do not represent the views and position of, the Provisional Liquidator, 38 Degrees and/or 1880.

4. You may also have read a Business Times article titled "Former 1880 club to reopen in August; current memberships can be transferred without joining fee". There have been several other similar articles regarding the alleged re-opening of the 1880 club (such as a CNA article titled "Singapore private club 1880 to reopen weeks after sudden closure").

5. The Business Times Article purports that members of the 1880 club can allegedly "transfer" their members to a "new club" and that 1880's members who wish to do so can email [email protected] or message it via WhatsApp at 8227-3708.

6. Please note that the Provisional Liquidator is not aware of, did not authorise, and did not consent to any transfer of membership from 1880 to a "new club". The alleged matters in the news articles do not represent the views and position of, the Provisional Liquidator, 38 Degrees and/or 1880.

7. If you have received any correspondence from the phone number 8227-3708 or the email account '[email protected]'. Please contact the Provisional Liquidator at '[email protected]'.

Yours faithfully,

For and on behalf of
38 Degrees Pte Ltd & 1880 Pte Ltd
(Provisional Liquidator Appointed)

Chan Yee Hong
Provisional Liquidator