Queen of Hoxton: Hosting the freshest talent emerging from the east side
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The Queen of Hoxton, 1 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3JX
Opening its doors for the first time on Wednesday 18th February, the Queen of Hoxton is a unique new bar experience for London’s east side. Born from a group of local artists, musicians and designers wanting to combine their love for a good party with a platform for their work, the Queen of Hoxton goes beyond just a bar or live music venue.
With references to east end cultures and characters, old and new prevalent throughout the venue, the Queen of Hoxton fully embraces all that makes the east end.
The space is a canvas for local talent, showcasing the best from its network of creatives – all with an east end twist! From DJs to Karaoke, fringe theatre to live bands and skipping clubs to good old fashioned cockney knees up the Queen of Hoxton’s evolving community have created the ultimate venue for like minded locals to kick back, drink, dance and view the latest creative talents from Whitechapel through to Hackney and beyond…
Music & Dancing…
Nights lined up for February at the new Queen of Hoxton include:
” Step in time – featuring honouree Pearly King Jimmy O Brian tickling the ivories and 1950s burlesque dancing ‘Plastic Hearts’ (18.02.09)
” A Love Supreme – new monthly night for lovers of soul, motown, funk and disco (19.02.09)
” Sail on Sailor – night devoted to yacht rock and blue eyed soul helmed by playing the likes of Hall & Oates, Toto, and Fleetwood Mac (20.02.09)
” Casio Club – Monthly club night by L’verge (Fancy Footwerk/Snap Crackle and Pop) that celebrates all things synthy and melodic (25.02.09)
” Fringe – party curated by Skip theatre, an experimental theatrical club night presenting cutting edge performance (26.02.09)
” Colour5 – Nathaniel from Zombie Disco Squad is having his birthday and throwing a bash. (27.02.09)
Art & Design…
Breaking artists and more established locals alike are given the chance to display their latest work. From one off quirky installations through to photographic exhibitions of East End dwellers and sub cultures – an evolving showcase of talent will ensure there is always something new to discover at the Queen of Hoxton. Among the work on display for opening is:
” Remi – South London born and bred (circa 1971) Remi has been breaking boundaries and messing up heads for the past 24 years. Remi’s geometric swashes dominate the ground floor of the Queen of Hoxton
” Washroom Gallery – emerging graduate talent from Goldsmiths and Central St Martins make the loos a pretty place with one off originals in geo-graphic prints, film noir inspired black and white and original photographic prints.
” Stephanie Haddow – east end characters past and present come together in this specially commissioned ceiling mural map from Camberwell grad Stephanie.
” Pure Evil – graffiti artists from Charley Uzzel Edwards’ Leonard Street collective have been let loose in the basement, bombing the walls with surreal imagery, hinting towards the underworld
The Queen of Hoxton was in fact actress Sara Lane; she ran the popular Brittania Theatre on Hoxton High Street during the latter half of the nineteenth century. She was a much loved local figure who staged free performances at the theatre – sometimes up to three or four an evening and always packed to the rafters. She was dubbed Queen of Hoxton by locals for her warm and charitable personality.
The Queen of Hoxton is situated at the corner of Curtain Road and Worship Street. The outside windows are blacked out with only intricate etchings letting in the light. On entering a heavy velvet curtain keeps out the winter chill and leads the way to a warmly lit bar. Dominated by black walls, supporting concrete pillars are softened by gold glowing lighting, and ivy crawls round exposed metalwork. Downstairs creates a different atmosphere, still dark but with tones of the underworld; Neon signs, mirror balls, exposed brickwork and apocalyptic artwork creates an altogether more ‘after dark’ feel.
Combining great music and theatre with the freshest emerging artists and designers from the east end ensures the Queen of Hoxton offers far more than the usual bar.
