The Hoxton Pony

xxlouisexx

The Hoxton Pony 28th July 2009

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I went to this place last weekend and thought it was really good. I have never really been out in the Shoreditch way but my friends and I were up for trying it out and I am so glad that we did!
The music was really amazing and the sound system that they have there was wicked!
We got there about 10:00pm and it was buzzing with atmosphere and we ended up staying there for the rest of the night.
The staff were so friendly on the door and at the bar. The cocktails were shockingly good! And they had such a selection of them that it was too hard to choose!
It closed at 2:00am but I wish it stayed open later as I was having such a good time!
Would definitley recommend this place to anyone who wants a fab time out with their friends and enjoys a cosmopolitan.... or two!!

lenalouise

Another trendy bar 29th March 2009

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The Hoxton Pony isn't really my cup of tea, a bit too trendy and cool for me! They do have a good corner mirror downstairs that works with the light to make it seem like the room goes on and on. A bit confusing for the drunk :p

As I said, it's not really my kind of place but it did have a good atmosphere. I also had a bad experience here as someone stole mine and my boyfriend's coat and we had to go home in the freezing cold brrr

chrisp

Off to the glue factory... 11th March 2009

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I wouldn't, under any circumstances, expect to get the meal of my life in any of the flashy bars in Shoreditch. People don't go to places like the Electricity Showrooms or the Light Bar for that - they go to drink pints of Hoegaarden and sugary mojitos and shout at their friends. There's a very clear distinction between places you go to eat (Hawksmoor, Saf, The Diner, Rivington Grill) and places that serve food to go with your drinks (everywhere else). And so I wasn't getting my hopes up about the food at the Hoxton Pony, especially after reading this at the top of their menu:

Our vision is one of simplicity and tradition, taking classic British staples and applying a modern interpretation. In layman’s terms we’re celebrating the food that London was built on!

It's the kind of PR guff that strikes fear into the heart of any diner, and nothing more than PR guff it most certainly is, given that "celebrating the food that London was built on" at the Hoxton Pony appears to involve such traditional East End dishes as Welsh Rarebit, Grilled Goats Cheese Salad and, my lunch yesterday, burger and chips.

Though not quite inedible it was a pretty forgettable plate of food. The meat was overcooked and grey, topped with a miniscule circle of bacon and inside a horrible dry and crumbly bap. It was also served with (I can hardly say this phrase without wincing) Fat Chips, although to be fair these were pretty nice - soft inside and crunchy out. It was just as well that a companion's Fish and Chips came with the same chips as the fish itself was pretty awful - thin, flaccid batter covering a slimy portion of haddock. Worst of all, rather than the "mushy peas" mentioned on the menu, it arrived with a tiny pot of what I can only assume was crushed pea casings, dry, tasteless and offensively bad. God knows what they were thinking - or even if they tasted it before serving - but this awful concoction should never have seen the light of day, never mind been served to a paying customer.

There are good things about the Hoxton Pony. The room is quite stunningly designed, all moulded plastic and curvy mirrors, and the lighting is so effective it's currently up for an award. The bar looked well-stocked and even though I was on the wagon due to it being midweek on a school day, my Virgin Mary was well made and nicely spiced. Service too was friendly. Just none of the good things involve anything produced by the kitchen.

Look, I know what you're thinking. "Poncy Shoreditch Bar In Mediocre Food Shock!". But just because you're essentially a drinking den that has to serve easy food to increase your profit margins is not an excuse for doing it cynically or incompetently. The Music Hall, just a couple of doors up on Curtain Road, is basically a live music venue that serves simple grub to soak up their excellent selection of Belgian beers, but their food is honest and pretty tasty and very reasonably priced. And they don't bang on about "sustainable sourcing" or "modern interpretations" in an attempt to cover for the fact they're charging a tenner for a crappy burger.

By all means, go to the Hoxton Pony, order a mojito and shout at your friends. But if you start feeling peckish after that third drink, settle your tab, walk up Curtain Road and feed your hunger at the Diner. You'll thank me in the morning.

shonalessels

Don't waste your time or money 11th January 2009

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Booked the Hoxton Pony tea party at the beginning of December to celebrate my 30th for me and 20 friends. Was very difficult to get in touch but persevered and received a confirmation. Having read some reviews on this site and others re people turning up but not having record of the booking I went prepared with the confirmation e-mail. Turned up at the door to be told they had no record of my booking. Some arguing, with what may have been one of the rudest bar staff/managers I have had the displeasure to come across. tried to blame me and said I'd made up teh booking, had to back down when I showed the confirmation. Managed to find a table for us (although had we been any later we wouldn't have been so lucky) and offered free bar food, as they couldn't provide the tea party as it hadn't been ordered. Most of the food went to waste, as it was all hot and people were arriving at different times, so the novelty of the whole thing was lost! Infusion jars were overpriced and oversweet, very strong though and the teacups were cute. Amusingly some other people I knew had also booked tea parties for their 30th birthdays that night too, and when they turned up they claimed not to know anything about their booking too! I mean, sort it out! Did feel sorry for the wait staff who had to deal with it all, one girl tried hard to make up for it but the whole night had been spoilt from the off.
Full of essex wannabees trying to be a bit 'shoreditch', falling all over the place and throwing drinks about and the dj was shocking...could have done better myself, and that's saying something! Only reason we stayed is because it was too difficult to let everyone else know that we'd moved. All in all completely spoiled my birthday. Won't be back, avoid at all costs! And if you must, make sure you book by e-mail and have some confirmation. Be prepared to be very disappointed!

CristinaA

Amazing cocktails 22nd October 2008

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Set up by Gerry Calabrese and Andy Pearson, bar industry afficionados. Everything is superbly presented, slick and conceptual. It's impressive selection of spirits and makes it perfect for those with an interest and taste for complex and modern cocktails.

Stay on in the basement club as they spin an eclectic selection of music late into the night

kellytron

Souless west end vibe in Hoxton - why bother? 25th July 2008

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This place didn't appeal to me at all.

Sure it's nice and sleek looking, and the cocktail list was impressive, but I found the whole thing too slick, the crowd fairly dull and the whole thing lacked soul.

It has a real west-end vibe if that's your bag: but there are dozens of better options within a one kilometre radius - including sitting in Hoxton square with drinks from the offie.

Hoxtonite

A great addition! 30th May 2008

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I'd really recommend this place. Great food - pie and mash is especially yummy - and suprisingly very affordable given the quality (main dish & glass of wine just over a tenner). In the evening it's all about the cocktails - classics are all £6 and for the more adventurous at heart there a some delights on the menu for a touch more. Really nice to find somewhere which has some decent music playing throughout the day - the djs I've heard in the evening have been spot on too.

If you like to enjoy quality that is suprisingly affordable this a good look for you - big time.