London Tap House - Page 12

raisethehammer · #**221** Posted **Jun 4, 2008, 6:39 PM**

[QUOTE=fastcarsfreedom;3592870]Monopoli--wow...I hear you brother...went there a couple of times, at some point I had to cave in and own something other than jeans they heavily favored black there--a funny story the urbanists here will enjoy--I distinctly remember stopping to talk to someone in line once (I wasn't going in)...and was wearing my 'uniform' at the time of jeans, a plaid shirt and a ballcap--and a girl actually saying to me "Where are you from, Ancaster?"...

haha...that's a funny story.
I recall sitting at the long gone Burger King on Barton East once with a bud from Ancaster.
They had a big map on the wall where you could put up a pin indicating where you lived.
He stuck his out in Ancaster somewhere and I started yelling and making a big scene saying "YOU SISSY! YOU'RE FROM ANCASTER???".
Everyone was looking and he almost took off out of the store.
lol.

Gurnett71 · #**222** Posted **Jun 4, 2008, 8:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastcarsfreedom

Monopoli--wow...I hear you brother...went there a couple of times, at some point I had to cave in and own something other than jeans they heavily favored black there--a funny story the urbanists here will enjoy--I distinctly remember stopping to talk to someone in line once (I wasn't going in)...and was wearing my 'uniform' at the time of jeans, a plaid shirt and a ballcap--and a girl actually saying to me "Where are you from, Ancaster?"...

Mostly went to Rockabilly's and The Border--I think Rockabillys was Friday night, The Border was Saturday...I actually remember back in my pre-19 days when Tailgates first opened, downstairs was called Aztex...I think it was a nightclub with some sort of southwestern theme. Went to Fever once I think, it was a bit 'edgy' for me...and I remember someone there thinking I was plainclothes HWPD...the memories are very patchy...not sure if it's the passage of time or intoxicants at the time.

I can't believe NRG was still around...wow...as a kid reared in the burbs I remember thinking that place was utterly lame and a terrible and uninteresting location...only place I liked in Burlington was Emma's Back Porch. Heck, anyone remember Crobar in the westend?

Oh, yeah! The ol' Crobar, or Pipeline as I remember it (mostly!). Practically lived there for a time! I can recall heading downtown to Fever and of course Aztex, The Border, all the pubs at Hess & Augusta. NRG and Emma's in Borington and there was another place way out in the Creek, Cosmopolitan or something...think it was across the street from Goemans, but again, very fuzzy memory there...

fastcarsfreedom · #**223** Posted **Jun 4, 2008, 9:27 PM**

Pipeline...that's it...couldn't remember the other name for that place. Never made it out to Stoney Creek--that was too damn far for me--though I remember once going to a Y95 event of some sort at a place called Mustang Sally's--seems to me it was in a very exciting location next to Zellers on Queenston Road.

As for my suburban "uniform"--I'm pretty sure protesting and explaining that I was in fact from Flamborough and not Ancaster probably wouldn't have gotten me very far...I don't think anyone was as white-bread as I was back then.

IronWarrior · #**224** Posted **Jun 5, 2008, 4:19 AM**

I remember going to all of those clubs/bars...I remember going to Fever on the Wednesday nites they had 102.1 the edge there on that nite then, I can remember Tailgates being packed on tues,thurs,fri, and sats! and the nite to be at Rockabillys was Friday! Does anyone remember the Xclub downtown on king william? how about Amigos in Hess Village? its now the Funky Munky...I actually likes hess back then!lol...much different now I think!..lotsa fun and crazy time!! the mid 90's was a fun time for bar hoping in downtown Hamilton!

raisethehammer · #**225** Posted **Oct 16, 2008, 2:52 PM**

wicked photo of the TapHouse:

http://londontaphouse.com/hamilton/p...48&photoID=465

So, they're preparing to open one in Toronto now too.

crhayes · #**226** Posted **Oct 17, 2008, 2:37 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by raisethehammer

wicked photo of the TapHouse:

http://londontaphouse.com/hamilton/p...48&photoID=465

So, they're preparing to open one in Toronto now too.

I've been to the taphouse once, but I was too drunk to remember...disappointing LOL. Definitely nice though, wish I could remember how the music was...

thistleclub · #**227** Posted **Jan 17, 2009, 6:05 PM**

Unrelated but curious: It's just gone 1pm and the London Tap House's blast shields are still down.

SteelTown · #**228** Posted **Jul 17, 2013, 10:57 PM**

London Tap House taps out downtown, vows to be back

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/38...ws-to-be-back/

A major downtown night spot has closed.

The lights have gone out at the London Tap House at John and Main streets, but the president of the company that opened the bar five years ago promises the business will be back.

In an email exchange, Gibbons Hospitality Group president Joey Gibbons said ownership of the Hamilton location has been turned over to his brother Matthew "and he has some great plans for the building and the business."

Neither of the Gibbons brothers responded to requests for more information.

Located at the northeast corner of John and Main streets, the five-level London Tap House opened in May 2008 and includes a dance floor, a basement lounge for events and private parties and rooftop patio.

The 163-year-old building had been home to a grocery, a shoemaker, a winery, a veterans' hall, beauty salons and a restaurant called Sundried Tomatoes before taking on its new life.

The Gibbon's Group purchased it for $500,000 and spent just under $4 million getting it ready. About 100 staff were hired for the venture.

The Hamilton restaurant was one of three London Tap House locations operated by the company — the other sites were in London and Toronto. The Toronto site has been turned into a music venue and renamed the Adelaide Music Hall. The bar's first and second floors have been converted into a live concert space while the third floor functions as a restaurant during the day and rock bar at night. It also features a remodelled rooftop patio.

SteelTown · #**229** Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 1:26 AM**

Looking at Matt Gibbsons business he only owns music venues, located at Vancouver, Toronto and LA. Hamilton could definitely benefit with a 1000 seat music venue.

Dr Awesomesauce · #**230** Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 3:33 AM**

Too bad, though I never really cared for the place - I guess I'm not the only one. Just the other week I was thinking how I missed the 'old' building without its stucco embellishments and plexiglass cornice. Perhaps it'll be reborn yet again in some new form.

ScreamingViking · #**231** Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 7:40 PM**

I've only been on the first floor a number of times, and on weekday evenings. What was the rest of the place like on a busy night?

I don't think it was a particularly noteworthy pub, but it wasn't a bad place. It could have used a broader beer selection, but it had a nice interior and the food was decent.

SteelTown · #**232** Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 7:43 PM**

Hamilton needs something like Beertown in Cambridge. All the beer you could think of is available, plus whatever is their special is on tap right at your table.

http://www.beertown.ca/

king10 · #**233** Posted **Jul 18, 2013, 9:25 PM**

when it first opened it was a hot spot for the friday saturday night party goers... but as the novelty wore off it was not as busy. thursday nights however was always a big draw for mcmaster students and was relatively busy. the rooftop patio gave great views of the city. its a nice building although its space is limited in use because of the length of the building and lack of width.

however, I can definitely see another establishment opening up in this building as the owner stated

woreg75 · #**234** Posted **Jul 19, 2013, 2:41 AM**

Yeah.. I agree!
Love that place....
as for London tap house... condo plans maybe? more.. a part of them/?

Dr Awesomesauce · #**235** Posted **Jul 19, 2013, 2:44 AM**

They did a nice job with the renovation and the rooftop was great but again, not a fan of all that stucco. And yes, the beer selection was poor. Not sure why they never managed to sort that but I don't suppose that would matter terribly to the university crowd.

Pearlstreet · #**236** Posted **Jul 19, 2013, 4:17 AM**

The stairs! Those never ending stairs!

thistleclub · #**237** Posted **Aug 1, 2014, 12:00 AM**

A short stagger from the Residences of Royal Connaught...

Country bar moving into vacant Main East venue
(Hamilton Spectator, Saira Peesker, July 31 2014)

Hold on to your cowboy hats. A country-and-western themed bar with a mechanical bull is coming to Main Street East.

The Rock 'N Ranch Saloon will occupy the former home of the London Tap House, a five-floor party palace on the corner of Main and John Streets. Billing itself as "Hamilton's hottest new country destination," the bar will be open to the public on Aug. 16.

The establishment is owned by Matthew Gibbons and his company MRG Group, spokesperson Liz Reid confirmed to the Spectator on Thursday. In its London Tap House days, it was owned by Gibbons' brother Joey and his Gibbons Hospitality Group.

The previous bar closed last July after being open for about five years. The 164-year-old building had housed a dance floor, a basement lounge and rooftop patio.

The Gibbons Group bought the building for $500,000 but spent just under $4 million in renovations. Other London Tap House bars were located in London and Toronto.

The Rock 'N Ranch is also part of a series. Its management calls it the "sister bar" to Toronto's Rock 'N Horse Saloon, located in a former Tap House location in that city.

The Toronto bar hosts concerts with big-name artists on Wednesdays — Tim McGraw was there in July — and theme nights the rest of the week including Hoedown Thursdays, Cowgirl Fridays, and Cowboy Up Saturdays.

The Toronto building also contains Adelaide Hall, a two-floor venue that hosts country and non-country concerts alike. It has rock and dance events booked for the near future, as well as the Pancakes and Booze Art Show on Oct. 3.

HillStreetBlues · #**238** Posted **Aug 1, 2014, 12:15 PM**

I wasn't personally too happy when I read about this this morning. I know that it's a matter of taste and plenty of people (not entirely explicably to me) like this new country, but if you think about places like the Ranch in Guelph and the Corral and Cowboy's in Kitchener, it's in some ways not the ideal kind of establishment for a downtown.

Not just because I'm be narrowly more likely to go, a more relaxed type of place catering to an older crowd would add more value to this location (just in my opinion).

Also, "Hoedown Thursdays, Cowgirl Fridays, and Cowboy Up Saturdays"? Are these really different theme nights?

interr0bangr · #**239** Posted **Aug 1, 2014, 1:50 PM**

I'd take a legit established "higher end" establishment over a vacant building all day, every day. I've been to the Toronto location for a work party and while it wasn't really for me, I could still appreciate what they were going for.

thistleclub · #**240** Posted **Aug 1, 2014, 1:53 PM**

According to the company's site, the Rock 'N Ranch Saloon opens as a single-floor 225-person capacity venue, so the building may still be largely dark.

As far as precedent, two blocks northeast, Dirty Dog Saloon is basically a compact version of the same "country-and-western themed-bar-with-a-mechanical-bull" concept and has been in business for about a decade. (And of course 77 King William was Texas Border Grill & Boot Bar long before that.)

We'll have to see where it all goes. The MRG Group is apparently also behind Vancouver's Vogue Theatre, Toronto's Adelaide Hall and London's Hideaway Records & Bar.