For our newly relaunched Homage Cocktail Friday, which now we will be making bigger and badder once a month instead fo every week, we couldn’t think of anyone better than Gerry Calabrese’ place in London, The Hoxton Pony.
Review from View London
As you walk into the Hoxton Pony the natural inclination is to head down the stairs immediately opposite you but it’s worth taking a moment to soak up the wow factor of the upstairs space. A bar stretches across the far wall, a ripple of silver which is backed by waist to ceiling display cases housing stuffed owls and bright green leaves which lift the otherwise black, white and silver colour scheme. In the past, the wealthy used to bring back unusual birds and animals from their travels to show to those less fortunate and although it’s not intentional, it’s not hard to draw a comparison with the Hoxton Pony and the quality of cocktails it’s offering amidst a sea of bog standard bar menus that’s previously been the only thing bringing down the otherwise eclectic quality that the Hoxton scene is famed and loved for.
When you’re facing the bar, to the right there’s an open kitchen where the chefs rustle up East End grub and to the left an installation that’s part of a crushed car spray painted white hangs over the seating and mirrored wall. Downstairs, it’s dark, loud and high energy. The DJ’s tucked into the nook of space beneath the stairs, there’s seating to left and right and another long bar is perfectly placed for nipping to when you’re not tearing up the space in front of the decks.
