The original Hox has been holding it down in Shoreditch since 2006 – once a humble East London car park, now freshly revamped for 2025. Two decades in the neighbourhood deserved a proper knees-up, so we threw a “Party Like It’s 2006” bash: a love letter to early-noughties East London and the golden era of Shoreditch nightlife.
Over the weekend we invited our global Hox Friends crew over to check out the new digs, delivered an itinerary packed with activities to show off our shiny new space, and the neighbourhood we’ve always called home.
We caught up with Hox Friend, partner and local creative Barney Pau to chat about what went down.
You’ve been part of East London’s creative scene for a while. What does the neighbourhood mean to you now, and how does it feel compared to when The Hoxton opened 20 years ago?
I moved to Old Street in 2012 as a fresher, and Shoreditch was my baptism of fire… I was only 17 at the time, coming from the quite streets of Bath, and entering into the chaos of East London did it’s fair share to shape me. 14 years later, I’ve stayed local, moving first to Haggerston, then Dalston for the past decade, so I’ve seen the area change a lot.
One thing living in the area has taught me, though, is that I can really be myself. With it’s rich history of queer nightlife, creative inhabitants, and diverse culture, I really came into my own here and haven’t looked back since!
“With it’s rich history of queer nightlife, creative inhabitants, and diverse culture, I really came into my own in Shoreditch and haven’t looked back since!”
What was your standout moment from the 20 Years weekend – one that really summed up Shoreditch energy?
I can’t lie, it’s hands-down the night out for me. Nothing says ‘Shoreditch’ to me like a guaranteed messy night. It was a nice touch to start off with some classy drinks in The Hox lobby, before packing off to the pub for a classic quiz. Karaoke was the cherry on the cake. After shamelessly refusing to accept we didn’t win the quiz, getting escorted off stage for stealing the mic, and wolfing down a gyros; the short walk back to The Hoxton was an absolute blessing, and the complimentary breakfast at Bambini sealed the deal.
Close second, though, was the house party… even though the queue for tattoos was too long, we more than made up for it with the 00’s bangers we were belting out in the karaoke room, not to mention dancing with Jedward.
Tell us about the workshop you hosted with us – what sparked the idea, and how did the neighbourhood shape it?
So when the Hoxton asked me to develop a food-focused event, I immediately thought of doing a plating workshop. I bring a selection of pre-made edible elements inspired by the theme, as well as plates and cutlery to play with. Guests can then construct their perfect plate without the faff of cooking.
What’s more East London than picky bits and small plates? Shoreditch’s rich food scene of different cuisines, restaurants and eateries, combined with its high concentration of foodies, means it’s overflowing with culinary creativity, and in this, the small plate reigns supreme. So much so that it’s become somewhat of a cliche… So I fully leaned into the silliness of it, and went all out on your usual suspects: pickles and preserves, radicchios, herb oils and vinegars, caviar and more… all the guests had to do was create their perfect plate!
We threw it back to 2006 for the party – so for nostalgia’s sake, where were you and what were you up to back then?
Ooph… well considering I was only 12 at the time, I was either belting out Rihanna’s S.O.S. at full blast in my bedroom shaking my shoulder-length hair, or anxiously making my way through year 7 without trying to draw too much attention to myself… Jury’s out on which.
And finally, give us your Shoreditch hit-list: your top five spots for food, drink, culture, or just a good time.
You can’t go wrong with a delicious glass of natural wine at Sager + Wilde on Hackney Road. Leila’s Shop is a must where you’ll invariably find a selection of citrus you didn’t know you needed, or some unknown Italian brassica which you have to take home and try.
I love a pint at the Birdcage on Columbia Road – it’s packed on most weekends, but the fact that it’s on a quiet street means everyone can spill out easily.
Troy Bar is an absolute institute, serving up Shoreditch’s best lunchtime deal of a massive plate of Caribbean food. And lastly a shoutout to Maximilian Wölfgang Gallery tucked away in Cleeve Workshops just off Boundary Street. I discovered it when I had an artwork in a show there last year, and have enjoyed all their exhibitions since.
Come check out our original Hox in Shoreditch – fresh new look, same great vibes.
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