The Hoxton is the new club and event venue occupying what was Sixty-9 on lower Bathurst. The velvet curtains, antique-esque mirrors and stripper pole (alas) have all been taken away, leaving a cleaner (take that as you will) blank canvas with an industrial edge. While The Hoxton had its soft opening in early August, I went to check out the space last night for the club's official launch party.
With music pumping from the DJ onstage, I circled around the 8,000 square-foot space, which has been outfitted in the most minimalistic sense. Bare painted brick walls (minus a few projected images) enclose an open wooden dance floor, two bars, and a mix of hanging, track, and snake-like lighting. The lack of excessive décor is a deliberate way to accommodate corporate and private bookings, which will be slated between concerts and nightclub events.
The Hoxton is the latest project by business partners Richard Lambert and Jesse Girard, who are known as the brains behind Parts & Labour and The Social (the latter of which closed in early July). The pair teamed with comedian Kenny Hotz (who became my personal hero after I watched him defeat Spenny in "Who can be tried to a goat the longest?"), who is known perhaps most widely for his role in the TV show Kenny vs. Spenny. Much to my chagrin, I didn't meet Hotz at the launch, though I do plan to return tied to a goat at a later time--or else, tied to one of the goat-resembling shrugs that were abundantly draped on some in attendance.
The booths, like the rest of the club, are sleek and basic--and are actually more benches than booths, arranged adjacent to the raised stage. A few pops of colour can be found behind the bar and in the bathrooms, where basin sinks are tinted a surprisingly not-abhorrent salmon pink and powder blue. The space was designed by Castor--the same studio that did Parts & Labour.
The Hoxton is open to the public Fridays and Saturdays for DJ sets and live music.
Additional Details
- Beers on Tap:
- N/A
- Signature Drink:
- N/A
- Bar Snacks:
- N/A
- Patio:
- No
- Music/Genre:
- A bit of everything; electronic/hip hop/indie
- Live Music:
- Yes
- Who Goes There:
- Skinny jeans aren't over yet
- Hours:
- 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends
Discussion
38 Comments
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I have to say for the show Hotz puts on with KVS and TOTW this venture seems more like what I've heard his personality is really like. Should be interesting to check out.
The name makes me barf. Name a club after an intersection in London. How sad. Plus it looks like Devil's.
But London is cool and we also wish to be cool.
on opening night at the hoxton people who had bought advanced tickets to see the twelves were denied entry because the owners had let too many of their friends in on guestlist and the club was at capacity.
not letting ticket holders in is absurd and seeing as richard and jesse have experience in the industry, it is pretty much inexcusable. this happened at the social with some frequency and chances are it will happen as frequently at the hoxton. super lame. dont make the mistake of buying advanced tickets.
"not letting ticket holders in is absurd and seeing as richard and jesse have experience in the industry, it is pretty much inexcusable. this happened at the social with some frequency and chances are it will happen as frequently at the hoxton. super lame. dont make the mistake of buying advanced tickets."
Pretty much encapsulates that entire scene doesn't it? "You must be this cool/connected/hip to enter"
..."Who can be tried to a goat the longest?"
How does one try a goat?
You don't wanna know.
Cool! Checking out the spot tonight. Wanna see how things have changed.
looks like just another cocaine and douchebag gathering place.
prediction: will not be open next year at this time.
I'm just happy that the venue is still a nightclub, even if I won't be going there anytime soon.
I've been there enough times in the past and have seen enough other club spaces die (aka transformed into retail locations) to know the value of a good mid-sized club downtown.
Poor King West.
The little engine that couldn't.
I had a great time! Rad club - go check it out
tickets from the twelves have been honoured since for other events. it's a great venue, very well put together. Great dj, great crowd, the space has really been transformed.
full of douchbags but glad they have a place for them far away from ossington st.
full of douchebags but glad they have a place for them far from ossington st.
its just open from 10pm to 2pm? that's only 4houres?!
We bought advance tickets. After fighting our way though a line/disorganized crowd of douchebags for at least 30 mins we got in. Numerous people were skipping the line and getting in- I'm assuming they knew people or were greasing the bouncers. The crowd inside were a bunch of yuppie jerks and I will not go back.
totally agree with jason. a group of six of us went last weekend, having bought tickets, we still waited in line for probably 45 minutes before being let in to this douchebag-filled bar. music was good but crowd was horrible. thumbs down.
I went to the Hoxton on Friday, September 30.
First off, the Facebook page stated a $10 entrance. I arrive there and the girl says "It's $15. $10 on guest list." I really wish they would've clarified that on their Facebook page here http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=256295064408683.
Second, that same girl was the most incompetent & unpleasant human being I've ever met in my entire life. She basically made $20 off me because I had to pay her twice since she wasn't paying attention when I paid her the first time. She was rude, had anger issues, and was just a complete and utter B!TCH! Whoever she was, I know karma is going to kick her in the butt 10x over.
Overall, the Hoxton was fun, but the false advertising needs to stop and that girl needs to go.
hey daniel, go kill yourself. Who says this: "Looks like just another cocaine and douchebag gathering place". Daniel, you are a worthless member of society, please refrain from speaking and go die alone in a dark cave.
daniel, please see my post below. thanks,
the best way to avoid lineups is to arrive as early as possible for events :)
the best way to avoid line ups is to arrive early for special events :)
That bartender's chin looks long enough to hang an ice bucket on. Scary.
DOUCHE BAGS
r u sure that is true?
http://www.ladisfunzioneerettile.com/
hey buddy, this is a very interesting article
Hmmm... I'm from Montreal and my friend bought us tickets to go on New year's eve, these comments do not look good.. Hope it's fun!
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quite possibly the worst sound i have ever heard at a venue, including high school gyms.
this should be a blog post on it's own. I just don't get places that try to be classy and hip like this place, and then put a worker a in the washroom that mans the paper towels and expects you to tip them. I can pee, wash and dry my hands on my own. What club owners think that the majority of club goers like this service? i think most people find it annoying.
on the plus side, it fits a good number of people, the club is well staffed with a long spread out bar, so waiting for drink is rarely an issue.
RIDICULOUS! This is the WORST venue i have ever attended. We went with a party of 20 girls for a bachelorette. They charged half the party cover after the girl who'd organized the event had gone inside (no one was supposed to pay since we had purchased so many bottles) the bride arrive behind the party, they had her pay cover, then wouldn't let her in the bar OR give her he money back, because one of the bouncers claimed she looked like she'd be crying. Half the girls left because A the bride wasn't there and B the venue was so bad. Didn't see a server the whole night, they placed 5 bottles on the table when we arrived for the 13 girls who actually got in and didn't show up until it was time to pay the stupid waitress her 18% gratuity. After we paid the bill the bouncers stated kicking girls out. I was grabbed so hard from behind without so much as being asked to leave that I had the imprints of the bouncer’s hands on my arms the next day! (Picture to come) Once i was outside they tried to tell me they didn't have my jackets, purses, wallet or cell phone and that they wouldn't be giving them back. Then they laughed in my face. This was of course, right after i had paid the 1300 dollar bill. Don't waste your time or money on this place, it's a nightmare.
Do not go there! The bouncers don't respect their paying customers and the management doesn't seem to care, as long as they get your money. I went there for my girl friends birthday. There was only 3 of us. I was driving. I take drinking and driving very seriously! But, when i went out for a cigarette with one of my girl friends they wouldn't let us back inside because i was "to intoxicated"!! They were over-capacity, that's why they wouldn't let me back in. This was after forking over 300 dollars for bottle service. I NEVER WILL I GO TO THIS PLACE AGAIN!
I expect someone to send me an email about why my post was removed. Bad service. Trying to hide it?
I had got a desire to make my own company, nevertheless I didn't earn enough of cash to do it. Thank God my friend suggested to utilize the business loans. Therefore I took the commercial loan and realized my old dream.
Did you know there's a hotel in London called The Hoxton? I don't think there's any other connection apart from that, but thought I'd mention it! I'm not really a clubber (well, not anymore!), but from your description, it's the kind of place I wouldn't mind attending for a corporate shindig.
I was overcharged here. Drinks were added to my bill that I never purchased. I would shrug this off as a honest mistake except they didn't give me an itemized bill until I requested it.
If you start a tab with them, make sure to get an itemized receipt and look it over. If they overcharge you they will take the items off.
Also the sound mix was too loud, ruined the show.