A HDB cafe along Yishun, Hood Vibes, was previously mentioned by Nee Soon GRC MP Derrick Goh in a Facebook post for what he described as “clearly a liquor joint”, after he heard “rumblings” that a pub had started at Block 468A @ Meadow Spring.
The cafe in question, spoke to Shin Min Daily News and said that they are indeed a cafe with a license to sell alcohol, but they are not operating as a pub.
The owner of Hood Vibes said that their establishment only operates from 11am in the morning to 10pm at night, and clarified that they do not have live performances.
She said that they only play soft background music and are only a cafe selling pasta, chicken chop and etc.
She also added that Nee Soon GRC MP Derrick Goh’s post about her cafe on Facebook had negatively affected her business, and described his claims as being misleading – the relevant authorities had performed a previous spot check and found nothing wrong.
On the complaints by residents of noise late at night, she said that her workers go home after 10pm when they close, so the noise couldn’t have been generated by their cafe.
Ordered to cease operations
Following the news and HDB investigations, Hood Vibes will be required to cease their operations and return the premises to HDB by the end of August for breaching their tenancy conditions.
HDB said that the outlet was rented out to be operated as a cafe, and they they first received feedback from residents back in June 2023.
Through follow-up investigations over a few visits, the cafe/pub had been found to have breached their tenancy terms, and that it was selling mainly alcoholic drinks with no food menu or food being served to customers.
HDB added that they had warned the cafe/pub several times to cease the unauthorised usage of the premises and to operate it as per the intended use stated in the tenancy agreement but they had “not been cooperative”.
A notice to quit was then served to Hood Vibes in July 2023.
Derrick Goh’s Facebook statement
[“Pub” @ Meadow Spring]
Recently, I heard rumblings that a pub had started at Blk 468A @ Meadow Spring. I did not believe that such a licence would be granted and hence decided to personally check this out.
Last Saturday, I visited the unit accompanied by the Resident’s Network Chair Farhan along with HDB officers from the Commercial department and Yishun Branch.
We entered the unit and was surprised to indeed see a pub set-up. Beer and hard liquor were available for sale, and there were patrons most of whom I did not recognise as Nee Soon Link residents.
I did not get to see the owner known as a Ms Poh, but instead met Praveen and Vinod who said that they were operators of the place.
HDB had clarified that a cafe licence was granted and were also surprised to see what was clearly a liquor joint. HDB assured me that they are investigating into the potential breach of licensing conditions.
I hope residents of Meadow Spring are assured that HDB are looking into this matter and will do its part to prevent dis-amenities, and mitigate disturbance to the peace and safety of our neighbourhood.
Thanks to Forest Meadow RN members and HDB’s Bee Lan and DD Gwen for joining me.