Bloor Annex in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Brunswick House
1908
Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2025
1. Brunswick House Marker
Inscription.
Brunswick House. In 1874, Benjamin Hinchcliffe opened the first tavern on this site. It was a two storey, roughcast structure with a stable. In 1908, John Wilson Siddall designed the present building in the Edwardian Classical style. After Albert, Molly, and Morris Nightingale purchased the Brunswick House in 1965, it became a popular drinking and meeting place, especially among students and writers. For 27 years, "Rockin' Irene" Laviolette emceed wild evenings of singing, dancing, and a dizzying variety of other entertainments in the main bar, Pickle Alley. The upstairs jazz and blues room, Albert's Hall, hosted artists like Climax Jazz Band and Etta James. Other performers included Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Carl Perkins, and k.d. lang, as well as many other blues and jazz legends. In the 1970s; the variety TV show Peter Appleyard Presents was also filmed here. "The Brunny" changed owners, was renovated, and reopened as a drugstore in 2017.
In 1874, Benjamin Hinchcliffe opened the first tavern on this site. It was a two storey, roughcast structure with a stable. In 1908, John Wilson Siddall designed the present building in the Edwardian Classical style.
After Albert, Molly, and Morris Nightingale purchased the Brunswick House in 1965, it became a popular drinking and meeting place, especially among students and writers. For 27 years, "Rockin' Irene" Laviolette emceed wild evenings of singing, dancing, and a dizzying variety of other entertainments in the main bar, Pickle Alley. The upstairs jazz and blues room, Albert's Hall, hosted artists like Climax Jazz Band and Etta James. Other performers included Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Carl Perkins, and k.d. lang, as well as many other blues and jazz legends. In the 1970s; the variety TV show Peter Appleyard Presents was also filmed here. "The Brunny" changed owners, was renovated, and reopened as a drugstore in 2017.
Erected by Heritage Toronto.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the
Location. 43° 39.952′ N, 79° 24.436′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Bloor Annex. It is at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Brunswick Avenue, on the right when traveling east on Bloor Street West. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 396 Bloor Street W, Toronto ON M5S 1X4, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto and on the Golden Horseshoe. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 8, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 8, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
