Just over three years on from closing the doors of their longtime west-end location, the minds behind storied Toronto venue Hugh's Room Live have revealed the acquisition of a new space for live music.
Today, the venue's board of directors and staff announced that Hugh's Room will soon occupy a former pews room, having officially completed their purchase of a 19th-century church at 296 Broadview Avenue in Toronto's east end.
Writing to supporters in the latest edition of the venue's newsletter, board chairman Brian Iler explains, "Owning our own building means that we control our own destiny, can present shows any day or night of the week, and can establish a world-class performance and music hub for artists, music lovers and the surrounding community."
Hugh's Room Live announced the permanent closure of its Dundas Street West location, where they had hosted shows for two decades, due to a rent escalation in March 2020. The venue had previously closed in 2017 due to financial troubles, resulting in a restructuring and eventual reopening.
Notably, the venue's new home at 296 Broadview was designed by architect E.J. Lennox, who also designed Toronto landmarks like Casa Loma and Old City Hall. Since 2013, it's been known as Broadview Place, a "centre for arts, faith and education."
Iler notes that the goal is to have the main hall of their new space ready to host performances this September following "modest renovations" to the building. Above, you'll find an artist's rendering of the venue's facade, complete with Hugh's Room Live signage, while you can find a shot of the main room's interior below.
Further outlining the board's goal of creating a "groundbreaking music sanctuary," Iler writes, "Our vision for this space includes dedicated support for artists, performance studios, and vibrant community musical activities," he shared. "It will take some time to build our capacity. Priorities are accessibility and a commercial kitchen. These will be a key focus in our immediate fundraising efforts. Until then, while we will not be fully accessible or have food service, we remain committed to these goals."
Until the new space is ready to open, Hugh's Room Live continues to host performances in venues across Toronto, a slate of concerts you can find via the venue's official website.
Today, the venue's board of directors and staff announced that Hugh's Room will soon occupy a former pews room, having officially completed their purchase of a 19th-century church at 296 Broadview Avenue in Toronto's east end.
Writing to supporters in the latest edition of the venue's newsletter, board chairman Brian Iler explains, "Owning our own building means that we control our own destiny, can present shows any day or night of the week, and can establish a world-class performance and music hub for artists, music lovers and the surrounding community."
Hugh's Room Live announced the permanent closure of its Dundas Street West location, where they had hosted shows for two decades, due to a rent escalation in March 2020. The venue had previously closed in 2017 due to financial troubles, resulting in a restructuring and eventual reopening.
Notably, the venue's new home at 296 Broadview was designed by architect E.J. Lennox, who also designed Toronto landmarks like Casa Loma and Old City Hall. Since 2013, it's been known as Broadview Place, a "centre for arts, faith and education."
Iler notes that the goal is to have the main hall of their new space ready to host performances this September following "modest renovations" to the building. Above, you'll find an artist's rendering of the venue's facade, complete with Hugh's Room Live signage, while you can find a shot of the main room's interior below.
Further outlining the board's goal of creating a "groundbreaking music sanctuary," Iler writes, "Our vision for this space includes dedicated support for artists, performance studios, and vibrant community musical activities," he shared. "It will take some time to build our capacity. Priorities are accessibility and a commercial kitchen. These will be a key focus in our immediate fundraising efforts. Until then, while we will not be fully accessible or have food service, we remain committed to these goals."
Until the new space is ready to open, Hugh's Room Live continues to host performances in venues across Toronto, a slate of concerts you can find via the venue's official website.