S'pore Cricket Club may rename Men's Bar over discrimination worries

The general committee of the Singapore Cricket Club (SCC) will be holding a meeting on Sep. 23 to discuss the potential renaming of the Men's Bar, after members raised concerns that the name perpetuates gender stereotypes.

On Sep. 3, around 56 members signed a letter to the SCC's president requesting for the meeting to vote on several resolutions.

They include changing the name "Men's Bar" to a new and neutral name chosen by members, and ensuring that no facility at the SCC will be named on the grounds of race, religion, or gender.

Among 160 members polled, an "overwhelming majority" expressed that they wanted the Men's Bar to be renamed, according to the letter.

'Not just a name'

In their letter, the members asserted that "the use of the name Men's Bar encourages discrimination. It is not just a name but fosters a manner of thinking. It reinforces gender stereotypes and reflects a discriminatory mindset."

The name "implicitly suggests that men are favoured in this Club, contradicting the fact that men and women enjoy equal membership status," they added.

Established in 1852, the SCC was originally an elite colonial sports club that catered mostly to men from the British merchant community, according to Singapore Infopedia.

The SCC website describes the Men's Bar as "a cosy underground retreat for men and ladies" to enjoy drinks and games such as billiards, bridge, and darts.

Yet for 155 years, the Men's Bar was an all-men enclave where women were only allowed once a year during the club's annual New Year's Eve party, until they were finally given full, permanent access in 2007.

According to the members' letter, in the early 20th century, certain races were also not permitted entry into the club.

Seeking to move away from this history of the club, the members propose that the club preserve the "true tradition" of the club instead, based on values such as fairness and respect for others.

Alternative names

Through a poll with 80 respondents, two alternative names for the bar were chosen to be voted on in the Sep. 23 meeting: 1852, and Captain's Bar.

Both options reflect the SCC's heritage well, the letter said.

"1852" marks the year of the club's founding, while "Captain's Bar" is a nod to the club's grounding in sports, as all sports teams are led by a captain.

The principal officer of the SCC is also known as the Captain.

Previous attempt reversed

This is not the first time members have expressed a desire to rename the Men's Bar.

According to the Sep. 3 letter, the club's general committee led an initiative in 2023 and 2024 to change the name to "1852 — Heritage Bar", and members voted to pass the resolution.

However, through another resolution, the original name was reinstated on Apr. 29, 2025.

"The name 'Men's Bar' is steeped in heritage and has, over decades, come to represent a distinctive and valued aspect of the Club's identity," the April resolution stated.

On the other hand, the name "1852 — Heritage Bar" "lacks the same historical resonance and emotional connection for members, and has not been broadly embraced as a meaningful improvement", it said.

It added the original name was "not a practical barrier to inclusion" given that women had already been welcome and actively patronising the Men's Bar for years before the renaming.

Although the new name was introduced to promote inclusivity, it "has not resulted in a noticeable increase in female patronage", according to the resolution.

Undeterred

Responding to these justifications, the Sep. 3 letter said that while the ban on women in the bar was lifted, "the restrictive connotations of the name continue".

The members behind the letter also urged the club and its committee to consider whether the name is the reason why many members do not visit the bar.

"Beyond abandoning the discriminatory name", the club could look at how the bar can be rejuvenated, the members suggested.

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