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.