TO to Get First Canadian Soho House

You’ve probably heard your jet-setting colleague mention it, or read our Grey Goose Soho House feature from TIFF last year. Now you’ll be hearing a lot more as NYC, LA and London celebrity staple Soho House announces a permanent home in Toronto. Soho Group announced the second phase of an expansion plan for the private members club, including the launch of five new houses to be opened globally over the next two years; Toronto will be the first this fall. Soho House Toronto will be a 10, 000 square-foot private members’ club for those in the film, media and creative industries. 

After three years of successful Soho House pop-ups during TIFF (Madonna held her star-filled film party there), this year’s TIFF brings the launch of the permanent club at 192 Adelaide St. W, a quick walk from the Theatre District and the TIFF Bell Lightbox. The building dates back to the 1800s and was once one of Toronto’s first hotels. It has recently been restored, brick for brick, and Toronto-based interior design firm The Design Agency is working on the property. 

“I fell in love with Toronto the first time I went there. The city is ever evolving and expanding, as we’ve witnessed first-hand doing our pop-up events over the last few years,” said Nick Jones, founder and CEO of Soho House. “Now more than ever seems the right time to harness some of the seemingly boundless local energy and establish a permanent House in Canada’s biggest metropolis. Underestimate the creative spirit and momentum of Toronto at your peril – as an international centre for the arts, it’s a must for a Soho House.”

Soho House Toronto will be immediately adjacent to the new Shangri-La Hotel and members of Soho House Toronto will have access privileges to many of the Shangri-La Hotel facilities like the screening room, fitness centre, pool, spa, meeting rooms, ballrooms and valet parking.  We have a feeling this may be some of the best news to hit the suave and social Toronto YP ear for a long time. 

Here is what we can expect from the Toronto facilities:

Ground Floor: Outdoor tables and chairs, club bar and library
First Floor: House kitchen and pantry bar
Second Floor: Pretzel Bell Bar Lounge (named after the tavern that originally occupied the building)
Roof: Partially enclosed rooftop with bar and lounge.

New openings are also confirmed for Mumbai, Chicago, Istanbul and Barcelona by the end of 2014. All new locations will retain the Soho House DNA and serve as a home away from home for members globally. Each new site, while being recognizable as a Soho House, will take on a distinct look and feel by drawing inspiration from its local area. During the widespread expansion of the Soho Group, there is also a focus on the existing clubs, including a recent Soho House New York refurbishment and plans for improvements to some of the London Houses on the drawing board for 2013. 

For an early taste of what is in store, Soho House will sponsor the VIP cocktail event at Toronto’s must-attend Power Ball on June 14th.