British Hainan will bid goodbye to its Kallang Way premises after eight years.
The restaurant will be moving out soon, announced owner Frederick Puah in a Facebook post on July 23.
“After more than eight wonderful years at this location since 2018, it is with a heavy heart that we share some news,” he wrote.
Frederick, 70, explained that British Hainan was asked to vacate its premises in Performance Building at 158 Kallang Way by the building’s management.
This is because Performance Building’s lease is ending and it will be handed back to the authorities.
“We are now looking for a new home,” Frederick said, asking for recommendations on a suitable location for the restaurant.
He also thanked longtime customers for their support over the years.
“This chapter is closing, but a new one is beginning,” he wrote.
Relocation ‘very stressful’
Frederick told AsiaOne that the restaurant’s last day of operations will likely be in mid-October.
He was disappointed to hear in June that it has to move out from Kallang Way, as he has been focusing on this outlet following the closure of British Hainan’s Joo Chiat branch in 2025.
“It’s been very stressful… All of a sudden, after becoming stable amidst the high-tech industry here, we have to relocate again. It’s quite sad,” he said.
Frederick added that customers have expressed their sadness at the upcoming relocation, pointing out that a new location might not have the same convenient parking facilities or ample space for the restaurant’s iconic vintage decor.
When asked about his search for a new location, the restaurant owner said that he has been contacting nearby food courts and viewing some units.
While he has some options in mind, he has to consider whether they are suitable for British Hainan’s warm and homely atmosphere.
The 70-year-old said he hopes to serve customers for a long time and has plans to expand island-wide.
British Hainan first opened in 2013 at the cross junction of Carpmael Road and Crane Road in Joo Chiat, later opening outlets at Kallang Way and Purvis Street.
In a 2022 interview with Time Out Singapore, Frederick said that the restaurant’s decor was inspired by his collection of vintage items.
“The entire British collection is mine, with the entire restaurant built with all the knickknacks I collected in mind,” he said.
He also revealed that he opened the Kallang Way branch to employ ex-offenders after pledging to help them with a Christian missionary.
The Purvis Street location, on the other hand, was selected as it is a “very Hainanese enclave” with eateries such as Chin Chin Eating House and YY Kaifen Dian, he added.
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The Kallang Way outlet is British Hainan’s only remaining outlet, Frederick confirmed with AsiaOne.
British Hainan shuttered its Joo Chiat restaurant in March 2025 after 11 years, as the landlord wanted to redevelop the area.
The outlet along Purvis Street, Mama’s Pot by British Hainan, was sold to a franchise in 2023 as a result of manpower issues during the Covid-19 pandemic, Frederick told us.
British Hainan started as a homage to Frederick’s father, who was a cook on board a British ship.
The eatery serves traditional Hainanese cuisine with English influences such as Traditional Oxtail Stew, Braised Lamb Shank and Hainanese Pork Chop.
Address: 158 Kallang Wy, #01-06A, Singapore 349245
Opening hours: Tues-Sun, 11am to 2.30pm; 5.30pm to 9.30pm (Closed on Mondays)
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bhavya.rawat@asiaone.com
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