Sunny Side Up: This Boozy Brunch Series Represents A New Chapter For 66 Boat Quay

There’s a new brunch contender in town, but it’s a preview of something much bigger (Credit: Colossal Photos)

The number “66” and the letters “HQ” probably mean something if you’re a local nightlife veteran. If these codes need to be cracked for you, they colloquially refer to the address of 66 Boat Quay that houses prominent techno den, Headquarters, and its river-facing waterhole, Upstairs, which opened during the dark days of the pandemic. While the former has remained dormant (although time will tell if it will reopen as a club), the latter has kept the institution active with its F&B programme and guest DJs. The idea of culinary expansion has always been on the table for the beloved business, and it now takes its vision a step further with this new ‘sunny’ chapter.

Sunny Side Up is the establishment’s debut foray into the boozy brunch milieu, with a desire to revive the joys of daytime partying. The monthly brunch series will feature a rotational menu of weekend comfort food and a lineup of selectors on decks, pairing eats with beats in settings familiar to deprived clubbers. Sunny Side Up successfully launched its inaugural edition on 16 April 2022 at Upstairs, and it introduced a menu – curated by ex-Les Amis chef, Brandon Lee – of Avocado Toast, Eggs Benedict and the Good Morning Burger, along with sides of Tater Tots and Hot Wings. Frequent residents, Amber H and J.Goh, laid out the jaunty soundtrack with tunage ranging from melodic house to progressive techno. In all, the four-hour feast offered a vivid glimpse into what the future of 66 Boat Quay entails.

Amber H was one of the guest selectors who played at the debut of Sunny Side Up (Credit: Colossal Photos)

As it turns out, the rollout of Sunny Side Up represents more than just a new brunch contender, but a fresh pursuit for the venue’s owner, Clement Chin. The outlets of 66 Boat Quay are no longer considered businesses of The Council – which has since ventured into a different direction – and are now re-emerging as offshoots of Thugshop, a new group of local companies helmed by Clement. The nightlife business veteran, who steered entities such as The Council and KOI Izakaya over the years, now hopes to build Thugshop’s growing list of concepts which includes Headquarters, Upstairs, and Tuff Club (which is promoting its new Tuff Cantin table service to meet the demands of a reawakening nightlife economy). Thugshop also intends to unveil more F&B venues and pop-up parties in the near future, all part of the big dream that Clement has in mind.

But right now, the spotlight is on Thugshop’s Sunny Side Up Series, and it’s already scheduled to come back on 21 May at Upstairs. “I’ve always enjoyed daytime events. I was inspired to do this after attending an All Day I Dream party inside a warehouse in Amsterdam. The weather in Singapore is too hot for a daytime outdoor party, so I had an idea to create one in an indoor and air-conditioned space, ideally with sunlight passing through,” shares Clement on Sunny Side Up’s inception.

With Sunny Side Up, Clement also wishes to alter the flawed perception of party culture in Singapore. In today’s circumstances where parties are gradually returning, we need this positive insight now more than ever. “There’s something different about daytime parties. Everyone’s nice and chill with smiles all around. We’re not here to get piss-drunk. We just wanna have a good time, with good food, drinks and music,” reassures Clement.

Both the arrival of Sunny Side Up and Thugshop are sizzling developments, stimulating a smouldering scene that’s getting brighter bit by bit. The pandemic is yesterday’s news. It’s time to bust out of the past and lunge headfirst into the future. Just take a cue from Thugshop.  

See you at the next one (Credit: Colossal Photos)

Thugshop presents Sunny Side Up, 21 May 2022, 1pm-5pm, Upstairs at 66 Boat Quay, Singapore 049854. $40/pax – includes one main + one drink. For reservations, contact +65 9667 9424. Follow Thugshop on Instagram to stay updated with its developments.