Genting scion to refresh Zouk in ‘multimillion dollar’ revamp; Clarke Quay lease extended
The renovation will take place in Q1 this year, with reopening targeted for June
[SINGAPORE] Entertainment and lifestyle group Zouk will embark on a “multimillion dollar” renovation across its four Singapore club venues as it aims to host a broader swathe of events.
The phased renovations of Zouk Mainroom, Phuture, Capital and RedTail will begin in the first quarter of this year, with completion targeted for June.
Zouk Group CEO Andrew Li said: “We are choosing to invest ambitiously in expanded capacity, state-of-the-art technology and a rich spectrum of inclusive, multifaceted experiences that include live music and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.”
The renovation comes alongside a lease extension with CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust for its flagship venue at CQ @ Clarke Quay.
Nicholas Lee, the centre manager at the riverside precinct, said the revamp will “directly support our mission of shaping CQ as a dynamic lifestyle destination”.
In Singapore, Zouk said it has enjoyed a 28 per cent annualised growth in total footfall. The club added that it expects a 20 per cent increase in foot traffic following the renovation, driven by the venue’s enhanced attraction value and renewed programming.
Zouk said it has appointed Josh Held Design and Superlative for the makeover, whose work for Zouk Tokyo “led the brand’s global expansion”.
The Zouk Mainroom’s upgrades will include a fully modular layout with movable acoustic walls to allow for spaces to be expanded or sectioned for diverse event formats, from intimate performances to large-scale launches.
All speaker systems will be upgraded to “concert-grade technology”, allowing Zouk to host live acts and experiential events at an “international standard” for an increased capacity of up to 3,500 people.
Zouk Group is owned by executive chairman Lim Keong Hui, the son of Genting Group chairman Lim Kok Thay and the grandson of Genting founder Lim Goh Tong.
Lim Keong Hui bought Zouk Group for S$14 million from Genting Hong Kong, where he had previously served as deputy CEO, through his private investment firm, Tulipa, in 2020.
At the time, Genting Hong Kong had been offloading assets to generate liquidity due to pandemic-related struggles.
The club was founded by retail entrepreneur Lincoln Cheng in 1991 and was originally at Jiak Kim Street.
While it began gaining popularity, it was hit by a Central Narcotics Bureau raid in 1995 where authorities found drugs and arrested 32 people, including Cheng.
Forced to close for eight months, it eventually opened with strict bag checks and grew in popularity and value – estimated to be S$40 million in 2015, when Cheng sold it to Genting Hong Kong.
It moved to its current flagship location in Clarke Quay in 2016 and just a year later was ranked third on DJ Mag’s Top 100 Clubs list – the best result any club in Asia has ever attained.
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