Hugh's Room, after being displaced from their original home on Roncesvalles due to rising rent costs, now has a permanent home in East Chinatown.

Originally founded by Richard Carson in 2001, the new Hugh's Room Live was filled with an excited buzz on their official opening on September 20th in their new location at 296 Broadview Avenue.

What was once a church, now bears a large sign reading "Hugh's Room," prominently lighting up an otherwise quiet street on the average night.

Entrance to the space does require going up a couple of small sets of stairs and the washrooms are located in the basement, however, the venue is committed to raising the money for equipment to make it fully accessible in the future.

You check in at a small desk at the front, with images of the old venue on Roncesvalles up on the wall. A few steps deeper into the space, you're greeted by the vast, but intimate-feeling hall, with ambient lights filling the walls.

Photos that once hung on the walls of the original Hugh's Room, featuring famous artists that had performed there, are now up in the new space - alongside scriptures, stained glass windows, and a large mural of sunlight cracking through a blue sky above the stage area.

At the back of concert hall is a small, but well-stocked bar where you can drink anything from wine on tap, to local Ontario canned drinks, and plenty of non-alcoholic options.

Prices for canned beer, cocktails, ciders and seltzers range from $9.63 to $13.20, while the Peller Estate red and white wine on tap could be purchased for 8.54 a glass.

As for the non-alcoholic options, Hugh’s Room offers sodas, water, and non-alcoholic beer. It should be noted that they don't accept cash payments.

The space has capacity for about 175 people, with extra seating on the balcony. The audience area is set up concert-style, versus the table seating in the original venue, with a combination of cushioned chairs and old church pews- which happen to make for excellent seating.

The house was full for their kick-off night, featuring the UK-based Grace Petrie, who led an eager and participatory audience in a call and response for the first song in the new space.

The audience ranged in age, with a couple of young faces excitedly singing along in the front row.

The original Hugh's Room location was known for serving excellent food - something the team hopes to bring in the future as well.

This venue came together quite quickly since they only took ownership of the building in July 2023, putting the majority of the space together in the two weeks prior to opening.

The baffles on the walls for soundproofing happen to be dividers they found in the basement while renovating.

This new space is a triumph, but it's just the beginning of the vision the team behind the venue has. For now, it's a concert hall, but in the future, the hope is that it can "become the hub or meeting place for Toronto's diverse music community" according to their website.

The vision for the future includes renovations to the basement so they have a working commercial kitchen, as well as studio and rehearsal spaces for artists in the community.

The venue is very accessible by car or TTC if you take the 505 Dundas or 506 Carlton streetcars. There is street parking available for free after 6 p.m. in the surrounding area, and a couple of Green P lots nearby on Gerrard St and Broadview Ave.

If you're in the mood for a walk, you can stroll south from Broadview station for about 15 minutes, taking in the city skyline on your way, passing by Riverdale Park East.

Doors at Hugh's Room open at seven, with shows starting at eight. They already have an impressive and varied lineup set for the first couple of months.

The space may be new, but the spirit of the beloved Hugh's Room and legacy they built remains - and I have no doubt will continue to grow as they establish themselves in their new neighbourhood.