New pub replaces Toronto bar that closed after 16 years in business

A Toronto bar with a cult following closed down last winter after 16 years, and it's finally been replaced.

It's been eight months since cult-favourite Dundas West sports bar (and former home of Slammie Sammies), Opera Bob's, closed its doors after 16 years, much to the disappointment and dismay of its devoted regulars.

The pub was a local staple for a casual drink, lively night out, and especially for Manchester City football match screenings, as the Manchester City Football Club Toronto has called the bar home for nearly as long as it's been around.

Last year, during the Premier League championships, it even got a considerable shout-out from the New York Times.

Alas, as Nelly Furtado once said, all good things come to an end, and, in the winter of 2024, the pub closed its doors for good, setting its devoted fanbase adrift, searching for somewhere new to take root.

Now, at long last, the space has officially gotten a new lease on life, and Opera Bob's replacement might just have what it takes to fill the hole the bar left behind.

Open seven days a week, Roxton Pub (or Public House, if you want to get fancy with it), is everything you want out of an English pub with none of the bells, whistles or gimmicks that modern-day pub interpretations tend to come with.

How do we know? The team that opened Roxton are the same folks behind Ossington's iconic Man of Kent Pub, beloved for its sports screenings, lively atmosphere, and far-above-average pub food.

If Roxton's anything like it — which we suspect it will be — it'll make a very welcome addition to the neighbourhood indeed.

Who knows, maybe it'll even become the new home base for the city's displaced Manchester City fans.

Roxton Public House is located at 1112 Dundas St. W.