Singapore’s nightlife boring? Unshackle us from the red tape and it won’t be, operators say

To many politicians in the Lion City, club culture represents little more than crime, illicit substances, vice and overindulgence

But businesses say the nightlife sector is ripe for a renaissance, if only officials would see the light

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Mega club Zouk was in 2016 forced to relocate from its location on Jiak Kim Street because developers began building flats around it. Photo: AFP

Published: 2:30pm, 25 Aug 2019Updated: 5:19pm, 25 Aug 2019

From Japan to Germany, governments are unveiling policies to support nightlife in cities, but in Singapore, one of Asia’s major entertainment hubs, operators say the sector is suffering from neglect.

Restrictive policies and structural disadvantages are hurting entertainment companies small and large, according to entrepreneurs and major players, who say the Southeast Asian nation’s stringent rules on land zoning, licensing and noise pollution are taking their toll.

Urban planning laws limit the number of venues that can cater to “alternative” tastes, making it difficult for musicians, artists and other creatives to stage events perceived as out of the ordinary. The result is a nightlife scene that is unable to hit its full potential.

“Nightlife isn’t officially regarded as a positive contribution to the overall gross domestic product of the city state,” says Dean Chew, co-director of design agency Fuur as well as co-founder of local record label Darker Than Wax.

To many local politicians, club culture represents crime, illicit substances, overindulgence and vice. But the sector also generates valuable social capital.

Land zoning laws are a hindrance to nightlife venues, businesses say. Photo: Broadcast HQ

Naomi Xiao, who works with Midnight Shift Records, an electronic music imprint based in Singapore and Berlin, says a city’s culture is not just about art and food.