Patrons remember it for lively entertainment, strict style rules and lasting bonds
KOTA Kinabalu’s nightlife scene remained largely subdued in the 1970s and early 1980s before new venues began bringing more life to the city after dark.
Shenanigan’s Fun Pub at Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu in Sabah was one such draw, attracting a diverse crowd that included flight attendants and pilots.
Opened in October 1994, the club became a fixture of the city’s nightlife before closing in 2023.
Setting the tone for its early years, Filipino band Braun-Awt performed at Shenanigan’s opening, followed by Centerfold the next year.
Known for its mix of commercial hits and R&B, the fun pub also stood out for its deejays, including DJ Syful Najee, who brought a different musical flavour to the dance floor.
“Before I introduced the crowd to R&B, I used to spin commercial music, including songs by New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC and Britney Spears.
“The energy was always high at Shenanigan’s as it was a popular party place.
“It was good to see people enjoying themselves there,” he said.
Syful particularly remembered a singer from Filipino band Musika who looked like Usher.
“This band returned to Shenanigan’s many times because they brought in the crowd, and women were crazy over the Usher lookalike.”
Syful said the fun pub also hosted themed parties, retro and R&B nights to offer customers variety.
He added that in its later years, Shenanigan’s opted for local bands instead of foreign acts.
Regular patron Roland Hadjiril said Shenanigan’s lineup of top performing Filipino bands was a crowd-puller.
“I used to go to Shenanigan’s for the bands. Even the deejays played music you could enjoy, rather than techno,” said Roland.
He said there were very few clubbing opportunities for people in Kota Kinabalu before Shenanigan’s.
The former banker recalled that when he moved to Kota Kinabalu from Tawau in 1995, a huge discotheque in Karamunsing called Tiffany’s was the popular party spot among locals.
Tiffany’s, according to Syful, had been around since the 1980s.
Shenanigan’s, however, brought a different energy to the city as it became a favourite haunt for working professionals who stopped by after office hours to unwind over drinks.
Despite its modest size and low ceiling, Shenanigan’s was often packed, particularly on weekends.
Roland said airline crew staying at the hotel added to its appeal.
“In the late 1990s, people would queue up to get in.
“On weekends, it was tough even finding a place to park your car.
“This was back when there were no e-hailing services.
“I did not mind the crowd because many of the patrons were regulars.
“We knew one another, or at least acknowledged each other.
“It was a place where people connected,” he recalled.
Beyond the friendships forged on its dance floor, Shenanigan’s also played a part in some patrons finding their life partners.
“I remember one night when a few women were dancing in front of my friends and me.
“The space was so tight that one woman’s hair kept brushing against my friend.
“She overheard him commenting about her hair and, instead of taking offence, came over for a chat.
“They eventually got married and they have been together ever since,” Roland said.
Shenanigan’s remained a nightlife favourite for years, although competition eventually emerged as Kota Kinabalu’s waterfront, facing the South China Sea, developed into a dining and entertainment hub.
Part of Shenanigan’s enduring appeal was its reputation as a safe place for locals and foreign visitors to let their hair down and party into the night.
“Security-wise, it was a safe place to go. Shenanigan’s also enforced a dress code, so you could not enter wearing slippers, shorts or T-shirts,” said Roland.
K. Veronica also recalled the pub’s stringent security and the strict dress code.
“I remember many foreigners frequenting Shenanigan’s.
“It was a happy place to be, with people dancing and partying, especially when the band started playing.”
She said Shenanigan’s offered a welcoming atmosphere at relatively affordable prices compared with pubs and bars in Kota Kinabalu today.
“I miss what Kota Kinabalu had to offer in the 1990s and into the early 2000s,” said Veronica.
