Tipsy Collective co-owner Derek Ong dies at 35, Tipsy Unicorn Beach Club opening postponed

Derek Ong, the co-founder of homegrown hospitality group Tipsy Collective, died suddenly on Saturday (Aug 26). He was 35.

Christian-based funeral parlour Green Pasture posted an online memorial for Derek on its website. His cause of death was not revealed. According to Ong's Instagram page, he has two children.

HE WAS DUE TO OPEN A NEW BEACH CLUB

His death came just days before the grand opening of the Tipsy Unicorn Beach Club on Sep 1. The company’s biggest concept to date, it is an ambitious large-scale venue at Sentosa’s Siloso Beach Walk that takes over former club Wave House.

Boasting 500 indoor and outdoor seats, the Tipsy Unicorn has a pool, private cabanas, VIP lounges and live performances.

Ong had been due to host media representatives for a preview on Monday at the beach club but the preview and opening have since been postponed to an unspecified later date.

RAN 13 F&B CONCEPTS

Under the Tipsy Collective, Ong ran 13 F&B concepts including the restaurant expansion of home-based business Jelebu Dry Laksa, hip Filipino diner Kubo Woodfired Kitchen, rooftop bar Lady Wu and seven restaurant-bars under the Tipsy brand.

This includes Tipsy Flamingo at Raffles City Shopping Centre which was opened in partnership with Pierre Png and his wife Andrea De Cruz.

Despite his young age, Ong had over 10 years of experience in F&B. The Republic Polytechnic graduate started working in the industry at 17 as a bartender trainee and went on to open his own eateries like the Friends-themed Central Perk Cafe in 2016, and the first Tipsy outlet called Tipsy Penguin in 2018.

This story was originally published in 8Days.