Curtain Road is one of the more desolate stretches of Hoxton but with the arrival of the Hoxton Pony things are looking up. Housed in the former Pool bar, the venue is testament to the fact that with a clever interior designer, skilled staff and an ingenious menu the best things really can come in small packages and this is certainly no one-trick pony.

The Venue
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.

The Atmosphere
The Hoxton Pony is exactly what Hoxton clubs should be about. Eyecatching design, a fashionable but fun mix of drinkers and clubbers and not a cut corner in sight. All too often Hoxton venues rest on too cool for school laurels and leave quality by the wayside but the Hoxton Pony ticks all of the boxes without ever veering towards contrived. The music is ear bleedingly loud, the tracks hit the spot every time, the cocktails flow and the music is cranked up as French, Italian, Spanish, English (and more) accents layer over each other.

The Music
You'd expect a late night haunt in Hoxton to be big on music and it is. From day to night the tracks spin seamlessly on a musical mystery tour that spans ska, soul, pop and electronica before dropping in a few vintage film soundtracks and more alternative sounds. Some things you can guarantee though. You'll definitely want to dance during the night, there won't be much room because the dance floor is pretty tiny and everyone else will have had the same idea, that you'll still be able to throw a few shapes and that it will be so loud that if you run out of conversation no one will know or care.

The Food
When it comes to the food, three words neatly sum it up – East End grub. Lunch is served until 3pm and then they start serving again from 5pm and don’t stop till 10pm. Small plates of East End tapas (well, if you can have Japanese tapas why can’t London cuisine join in?) keep hunger pangs at bay but if you just want simple, honest fare (think stodge without the sogginess) you can order pie and mash and fish and chips.

The Drink
The staff are as great looking as the crowd – from tattoos and random haircuts to on-trend outfits and the odd piercing, they could have been hired by Hoxton Central Casting - but more importantly they are some of the best mixologists in the business, hand picked from the capital’s finest cocktail bars. Just as impressively they’re able to lip read in most languages, a necessity when the music is turned up full throttle.

As with the decor, the drinks are inventive and high end. The Hoxton Pony infusion jars are a must. Serving multiples of four, you can choose from a base of vodka, whisky, rum, bourbon and gin which are mixed with fruit juices and herbs to create the most unusual cocktails you’ll find in Hoxton. Served with their own specially designed tea cups (with saucers attached) they range from £65-£90 and if you order 24 hours in advance they’ll also come accompanied by a combination of sandwiches and snacks to match the cocktail jar you have chosen so that you can host your very own Hoxton Pony tea party. If forward planning isn’t your forte fear not - you can still order the jars across the bar without the food. And, if cocktails in tea cups sound too well, Hoxton for you then the Hoxton Pony is about the only bar in the area where you can just as happily order a glass of Champagne as a chilled bottle of beer without being asked to explain yourself.

The Last Word
The Hoxton Pony offers late night eating, drinking and dancing in an environment that’s so much fun no matter how hungover you are the next day, you’ll crawl out of your house for more. Its ingenious cocktail jars served with tea cups ensure it stands out from the crowd and it’s a concept that would work just as well in other areas across the capital. Our money’s on a whole troupe of Ponies in the not too distant future.

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