Zouk expands into Mice and concerts with S$6 million revamp

[SINGAPORE] Entertainment and lifestyle group Zouk is diversifying into the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice) space and concerts, following a S$6 million revamp of its four main Singapore venues that will enable it to host a wider range of events.

This is part of chief executive Andrew Li’s strategy to develop additional revenue streams for Zouk Singapore throughout the week, beyond its regular Wednesday to Saturday night operations.

“Mice is extremely profitable for us because it would mean booking our venues in the day or early evenings, when we’re not operating anyway,” said Li, noting that the nightclub’s fixed costs remain unchanged.

He was speaking to The Business Times ahead of the official reopening of the flagship Zouk Mainroom and Phuture on Wednesday (Jun 17). Rally Clubhouse, which takes over the former RedTail Bar, will open by the end of June this year, while Capital reopened in March.

All four venues were shut for renovation works from the start of this year.

Li is taking a leaf out of the book for Zouk Las Vegas in the US, where Mice has emerged as a cash cow – accounting for 50 to 60 per cent of the outlet’s revenue.

“Operating in Las Vegas has been extremely challenging, just because the DJs there are very expensive,” he said. “It’s also super competitive, so we’ve flipped the model around and are concentrating more on Mice there.”

In Singapore, Zouk Group’s revenue will continue to be led by its nightclub operations.

But Li expects Mice to have a greater impact on the bottom line in the near future. Within the next two years, he aims for Mice to account for 15 to 20 per cent of Zouk Singapore’s revenue, up from the current 10 per cent.

The nightclub’s revamp has been a long time coming. Renovation preparations had, in fact, begun in 2019, prior to its Clarke Quay lease renewal in 2021.

Li noted that nightclubs typically try to upgrade their venues every five years, as audio visual lighting systems “get outdated very quickly”.

But just as Zouk Group was “ready to pull the trigger”, the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Instead of its anticipated transformation, the group found itself fighting for survival as nightlife businesses in Singapore were forced to shut.

To stay afloat, it underwent several pivots, including having its nightclub double up as a livestreaming venue, hosting spin classes, and opening a pop-up restaurant.

Upgrading venue flexibility and versatility

While Zouk Group’s revenues have since recovered, Li refuses to stand still.

“One thing that Covid-19 taught us is that you always need to have backup plans,” he said. “So it makes sense for us to continue diversifying in a strong way, and creating business streams where we see fit.”

One is Mice, which dovetails with the Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB) accelerated efforts to position Singapore as a top Mice destination. Under its long-term tourism road map, STB aims to treble the Republic’s Mice receipts to S$4.5 billion by 2040.

Zouk Singapore’s Mice business has been gradually ramping up. Since 2023, the nightclub has hosted corporate events including networking gatherings for the Bitcoin and fintech industries, car launches and associated after-parties.

Demand is especially strong during the Singapore Grand Prix, Li noted.

To support a wider range of event formats including large-scale conferences, Zouk Mainroom, Capital and Phuture were redesigned to have modular layouts with movable acoustic walls.

These allow all three venues to be combined into a single interconnected space or sectioned off. With the help of Rally’s larger kitchen, the nightclub can also provide in-house catering for events of up to 800 guests.

Another revenue segment Li hopes to develop is live performances, which were previously challenging to stage under the old set-up. These range from smaller-scale concerts and experiential events to intimate music or comedy acts.

“We didn’t have a big stage, so it was difficult to have a band up there. We also had big speaker stacks and a staircase inside blocking sightlines,” he said.

These obstructions in Zouk Mainroom have since been removed, creating a more open space with better sightlines. New high-resolution LED walls and an elevated stage have been added, while speaker systems across all venues have been upgraded to concert-grade technology.

Li hopes that the revamped Zouk can serve as an alternative venue to mid-sized theatres such as The Star Theatre or Live Nation’s upcoming music hall in Orchard. The nightclub, with its venues combined, can fit up to 3,500 people.

“For a (location) with a capacity of 3,500, you can definitely bring in a lot of acts that are not incredibly expensive, but still allow you to get a return on investment,” he said.

Catering to distinct demographics

Zouk Singapore’s transformation takes place amid shifts in the nightlife landscape, where rising costs have weakened the value proposition of late-night clubbing, the CEO noted.

“From the drinks to the taxi ride home, everything is more expensive compared to five years ago.”

This is compounded by an increasingly health-conscious Generation Z who have “different ways of spending their time”, he added.

Against these headwinds, Li noted that Zouk Singapore’s ticketing revenue rose 15 to 20 per cent year on year in 2025. He attributed this to stronger programming and booking “the right DJs that people are willing to spend money for”.

The nightclub has yet to release its 2025 full-year results. Regulatory filings show that its net profit fell to S$2.9 million for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2024, down from S$5.9 million the year before.

Revenue declined slightly to S$22.1 million from S$23.9 million, reflecting the tapering of the post-pandemic revenge spending that drove record highs in 2022, Li said.

This latest iteration of Zouk Singapore – which he dubs as “Zouk 3.0” – draws on lessons the group has learnt over the past decade.

As he sees it, “you don’t need everybody to go clubbing. You just need a small number of people to go clubbing”.

To capture these groups of partygoers, Zouk Group must thus offer differentiated experiences for distinct demographics that “will give them an excuse to go out”.

Take for example Rally, the group’s new day-to-night concept aimed at Gen Zs. The venue will operate as a co-working space with coffee and casual bites in the day, before transforming into a restaurant and bar at night.

It will also host programmes and events throughout the year, including flea markets, arts and skills workshops, fireside chats and open deck sessions. There will be facilities such as photo booths, too.

As for consumers with higher disposable income, Zouk Group has built on its existing premium offerings to offer “even better” VIP experiences, said Li.

The newly refurbished Capital now has a private karaoke room for groups up to 25, complete with a dry bar that comes with personal bartender service.

Guests can also opt for an upgraded VIP sofa experience with plush seating behind the DJ booth at Capital and Zouk Mainroom.

New F&B investments, overseas ventures

Meanwhile, Zouk Group has continued to grow its food and beverage portfolio in Singapore, which Li sees as complementary to its core nightlife offerings.

The group acquired a majority stake in sandwich shop Korio in February 2024, which has since opened two outlets. It also launched bistro The Plump Frenchman in June 2025.

“Having an ecosystem for the consumer journey is extremely important to us. What do you do often before you go to the club? You probably eat,” said Li, noting that partygoers used to dine at RedTail Bar before heading to Zouk Singapore.

There are also opportunities for collaboration between F&B concepts. For instance, Korio’s signature sandwiches and donuts will be served at Rally when it opens.

The group also operates American burger chain Five Guys and cocktail bar Here Kitty Kitty in Singapore.

But not all of Zouk Group’s forays have been successful. Omakase concepts Sushi Ichizuke and Maison Shuko – which were launched in 2021 and 2022 – shuttered in 2023.

Both restaurants sought to capitalise on strong demand for Japanese dining during pandemic-era travel curbs, noted Li. But sales fell once borders reopened and consumers could travel to Japan again.

New overseas ventures may be on the horizon, with the group’s CEO evaluating various opportunities across the region.

China and Vietnam have been flagged as possible markets for a new Zouk nightclub, adding on to outlets in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Genting in Malaysia. The group is also considering the acquisition of a nightclub and restaurant in Bali.

Said Li: “We will have a stronger idea of which opportunity will go ahead within the next three to six months.”