or generations, the Brunswick House has been a fixture for study-stressed students to release their anxiety (and hormones) by drinking, fighting and, to some degree, puking. Rumours abounded that beer was recycled for re-sale by pouring what was left in cups back into the containers. If girls wanted to slut it up and get lucky by heading to a veritable sausage-fest, the “Brunny” was an ideal choice. The venue was not pretty; the main area was made up of picnic tables, and the décor was dingy. But the beer was cheap. So they went. In droves. Eventually, to combat the seedy reputation, owners attempted to implement a strict dress-code. This kept out the out the undesirables just fine. Unfortunately, it kept out everyone else as well. Who the hell would want to dress up to go to the Brunny?

The post-reno Brunny is a different place (well, sort of). Opening at 5 p.m. daily, the front of the Brunswick serves as a bar and restaurant. On weekends, the back is opened up and used as a dance floor. A theme for this new incarnation of the Brunswick House seems to be “inclusion.” All age groups are welcome; though Thursday through Saturday nights are still aimed at the university crowd, you won’t hear endless top-40 blared from the speakers. The music played by a DJ (alone or with a band) is described by the manager, Ross Carmody, as “wedding music” – music that doesn’t exclude any one demographic segment of the population. This was one of the only aspects that made me uneasy about the new venture. University kids, en masse, like top-40 music. Clubbers like house and trance, R&B, hip-hop, alternative. Who likes wedding music? Well, as it turns out, people that were partying there 30 years ago do.

As for the décor, the overall feeling is European and regal. Immediately upon entering the front door you see arches, dark wood composing the flooring, bars and tables, and dark red fabric hanging between the pillars. A large chandelier hangs over one bar. The walls are painted gold, or covered in deep red or purple ornate velvety wallpaper. The ceiling is painted dark brown and the overall effect is of a medieval castle. The bars gleam, as the dark wood contrasts the brand new stainless steel taps. The dance floor no longer holds picnic tables; instead the open space is punctuated by several metal railings, the use of which was beyond me. The stage is still present, but also painted and re-furnished.

The new-ish Brunswick House is indeed cleaner and more respectable than it ever was. The renovated space, the location, and the history make it possible that this will continue to be a popular hotspot in Toronto. To please everyone however, will be a huge challenge. I am personally curious how Martini Saturdays ($4 martinis) will work out. But, since drinks are affordable and pretension isn't part of the bar's persona, making The Brunswick a great place to wait out the bad times, totally trashed, I’m willing to give it a shot. - T.F.