The Monarchy Cocktail Bar & Ultra Lounge threw open its doors recently, offering a long-awaited, permanent and spiritual home for the wildly popular Monarchy nights on the rooftop of OUE Bayfront, that were acclaimed as a party playground for the affluent and artistic.
The Monarchy is the brainchild of nightlife veterans, Robbie Hoyes-Cock, the CEO & Founder of the internationally glamourous Formula 1 weekend after-parties The Podium Lounge; and Steve Yallop, former Executive Director of Pangaea at Marina Bay Sands, who have been organising high society events in Singapore since 2005. Housed in a heritage shophouse spread over 3,600 square feet in the heart of Tras Street, this quintessentially British cocktail bar exudes understated luxury and bears a distinctly regal theme, celebrating the Royal Houses of Windsor to Lancaster, and Normandy to the Tudors.
In a tip of the hat to Britain’s constitutional monarchy, guests enter the premises through what is an identical front door to the iconic home of the British Prime Minister; 10 Downing Street.
“We are thrilled to not only rekindle, but remarkably enhance The Monarchy experience for those who have been clamouring for a revival of our Monarchy party nights, and this time re-imagined as something that has never been done in Singapore–a cocktail bar and ultralounge with a unique and cheeky British flavour.
Guests of The Monarchy can enjoy two exciting and distinctly memorable experiences in one single location,” saysHoyes-Cock. For guests, The Monarchy experience begins with an arrival at the instantly-recognisable and world-famous 10 Downing Street door, transporting them back to the heart of power in Westminster, London. Upon entry, the first of a series of specially commissioned paintings celebrating past and present British monarchs sets the tone. A wall-wide British racing green banquette beckons small groups and couples to relax with a cocktail, while larger groups can mingle around custom-built high tables. The central focus of The Monarchy Cocktail Bar is an 8-metre bar with a striking black granite top, seamlessly connecting the two sides of the cocktail area. Large antique mirrors perfectly frame the extensive array of spirits, and allow guests to observe the intricacies of cocktail-making from every angle. Luxurious, high-backed and handmade leather bar stools line the front of the dark wood feature bar, reminiscent of a British private members club for the landed gentry. Royal red booths provide the perfect view of the bar and entrance to the ultra lounge, whilst offering a private and intimate space for guests to gather with their clients and friends.
Helmed by General Manager Rob Scott, former Group Beverage Director of Burnt Ends, Meatsmith & Rogue Trader, The Monarchy serves a carefully curated menu of timeless cocktails through the ages, and will introduce a new cocktail list quarterly, ensuring guests can take multiple journeys through the history of Great Britain’s most popular tastes and tipples of the day. Drawing on traditional cocktails for inspiration and utilising novel ingredients with a twist, The Monarchy is set to leave an indelible mark on Singapore’s cocktail scene. The Monarchy has brought together what is possibly the best bar team in Singapore, bringing unprecedented experience from many of the island’s most well known bars and clubs: 28 HongKong St, Pangaea, 1880, Employees Only, Lulu’s and The Cufflink Club to name a few. For its opening, The Monarchy has introduced a mouth-watering cocktail offering entitled “Cool Britannia” in celebration of the modern, outward-facing Britain of the 1990s.
Led by the success of Brit-pop, this period of increased pride in the culture of the United Kingdom and its giddy cultural fantasia became known as Cool Brittania – the name itself a pun on the title of one of Britain’s most patriotic songs, ”RuleBrittania”. Inspired by the most popular British songs over the decades, The Monarchy has conceptualised and crafted 18 bespoke cocktails to evoke the very same feelings of euphoria and optimism stoked by the Cool Brittania movement, and assembled a corresponding playlist to further elevate the sensorial experience.
Examples of these cocktails include: Champagne Supernova – a fruity; light and refreshing cocktail inspired by Oasis’ smash hit comprising Pimm’s, watermelon, lemon, cucumber, mint, ginger and champagne.
The Led Zeppelin inspired Stairway to Heaven – a delightfully fruity, sweet & sour refreshing cocktail comprising vodka, lemon, apple liqueur, rhubarb and soda.
Message in a Bottle – a cocktail tribute to The Police’s iconic hit consisting of Scotch whisky, Dubonnet, sweet vermouth, orange liqueur and maraschino.
The cocktail bar seats 60 people between comfortable booths, social banquettes, high tables and three dedicated cocktail-making stations for those who wish to interact with the bartenders, and observe the sophisticated style of making their beverage of choice.
On weekends and eve of public holidays from 10:00 pm, as the night builds up and the lights go down, the music starts pulsing from state-of-the-art (made in the UK)Funktion One speakers and The Monarchy’s dazzling ultra lounge comes alive. A clandestine door hidden at the end of the cocktail bar then swings open to reveal a dark and intimate ultra lounge lined with leather Chesterfields and dancing platforms, where guests can party with the best local, regional and international house music DJs and live celebrity acts. Adorning the boudoir-like walls of this late-night hot-spot are similarly commissioned acrylic paintings of pop icons and famous British figures throughout modern history.
‘’This “secret” ultra lounge elevates the evenings journey from cocktail bar chill, to naughty nightclub night. It will be a wonderful surprise for first time guests as the doors open, and a moment of anticipation for our regulars, especially those who remember the heady days of Pangaea,” says Yallop.
Seven VIP tables and Chesterfield sofas provide a home-away-from-home for those who crave a more sophisticated and private late-night experience. Each of the VIP tables comes with a dedicated hostess and are named after a British icon.
The regally-appointed VVIP table, The Winston Churchill, The Audrey Hepburn, The George Michael, The Amy Winehouse, The John Lennon, The Hugh Grant and The Helen Mirren.
The table prices are “minimum spends” and guests are free to order anything off The Monarchy bottle and cocktail menus. The Monarchy Ultra Lounge has a capacity of 100 people and is open till 3:00 am on Fridays and 4:00 am on Saturdays and eve of public holidays. As a late-night house music club, it is The Monarchy’s approach to hosting that sets it apart. The über-chic venue redefines the standard of nightlife hospitality in Singapore, with unrivalled VIP bottle and table service that takes clubbing to the next level for the jet-setting party elite, and will cement The Monarchy as the number one celebrity entertainment destination par excellence.
Illuminating the back wall of the cocktail bar, the large feature display window perfectly frames the work of Singapore’s top bespoke tailor Kevin Seah. Renowned for creating garments that balance classic elegance and comfort, an old school British sensibility with tropical chic and subtle nods to Singapore’s colonial past, Seah was commissioned to specially design and craft the uniforms for The Monarchy. Inspired by the ”dangerously dapper” sartorial terrain explored in acclaimed TV series Peaky Blinders, he says, “The 1920s was a golden era for men’s style, and it is a period I constantly reference in my work.” Also specially-tailored by Kevin Seah, The Monarchy monogrammed jackets will be available for sale soon, opening up eye-watering perks and privileges for gentlemen wearing the jacket through the 10 Downing Street door of The Monarchy, including exclusive invitations to cocktail tastings and closed-door events.
The Monarchy Cocktail Bar & Ultra Lounge has exclusively partnered with internationally renowned artist Alex Wakefield, who has built a globally recognised name from his Formula 1 and motorsport themed artworks. Wakefield’s art is collected around the world and were recently on display at a three month long exhibition at The Museu do Caramulo in Portugal where his works were showcased alongside iconic artists, including giants Salvador Dali and Picasso. Wakefield’s stunning portraits at The Monarchy comprise those of royalty Richard the Lionheart, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles II and Princess Diana, and British icons, Sir Winston Churchill, Amy Winehouse, Audrey Hepburn and George Michael to name a few. All of Wakefield’s specially commissioned artworks on display at The Monarchy are for sale, and include their lavish gold frames. The price range includes a special delivery presentation.
The Monarchy has also partnered with leading experience design consultancy Equal Strategy to further distinguish its guest experience. Upon entering the cocktail bar, guests will note a distinctive spicy scent with a discerning suave and masculine undertone, reminiscent of James Bond’s aftershave, evoking feelings on a subconscious level of warmth, class and sophistication. ‘’The cedarwood base note seamlessly interconnects the bar with the ultra lounge,” suggests regarded Canadian perfumer Tracy Pepe, who has been working with Equal Strategy’s CEO Simon Faure-Field to create a “stately home” experience with notes of pepper berry, red wine, cedar, cigar and leather.
In homage to Henry VIII, the King of royal excess, The Monarchy has partnered with wine makers Peccavi Estate to produce a Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon 2016 white wine blend and Cabernet Merlot 2017 red from the Margaret River region in Western Australia. Both wines are available at the venue.
All commissioned artworks at The Monarchy are available for sale. Please direct enquiries to rob@monarchy.sg or enquire with any member of The Monarchy team at 56 / 58 Tras Street
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Robbie Hoyes-Cock founded The Podium Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore in 2009 and has built this Grand Prix Season VIP Party into a global brand and destination for Formula 1 drivers, celebrities and royalty in Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Monaco & Melbourne. Whilst studying at Eton College, Robbie rubbed shoulders with Great Britain’s landed gentry and shared his time at the public school, built by King Henry VI in 1440, with HRH Prince William of Wales, HRH Prince Harry Duke of Sussex, Prince Nirajan of Nepal and Prince Faisal Bandar of Saudi Arabia. Robbie is also a partner of The Singapore International Jazz Festival (The Late Show) at Marina Bay Sands and CEO & Founder of GreatNewPlaces.com, which boasts a member base of 75,000 expats, socialites and high affluence segment event-goers.
Steve Yallop is a Founding Partner of The Royal Jesters Group which was founded in 2018 with a particular focus on establishing luxury lifestyle concepts, including cocktail bars, restaurants, nightclubs and top of the range retail brands. Before his widely acclaimed role as Executive Director of Marketing & Entertainment at VIP Bottle Club Pangaea at Marina Bay Sands (working directly under the founder Michael Van-Cleef Ault). Steve was the GM of Ministry of Sound’s 2,800 capacity super club in Bandar Sunway, Opening GM of Malaysian Royalty’s favourite hangout The Sultan Lounge in KL, Beverage Director of The Mandarin Oriental in Singapore as well as the GM of Crazy Horse Paris at Clarke Quay. Steve has also been a long term partner of The Podium Lounge assisting founder Robbie Hoyes-Cock in the global expansion of the luxurious Formula 1 Weekend After-Party to Abu Dhabi, Monaco & Melbourne.
