A review of “New” APK just stumbled upon
3/20/2013 First to Review
Boston, USA
This is the third incarnation of this venerable London institution, recently opened on Clarence Street. The original incarnation was my favourite haunt in college – a place with great beer, music and also, pretty much everybody I knew in London was likely to be found at the Alex.
The second incarnation was weirdly located, and wasn’t a great space, but I don’t have much to say about that since I didn’t live in London at the time.
I can’t say I’m thrilled that the Alex reopened *again*, but I’m not that surprised that it did in a town where culture changes at the speed of uphill molasses.
So what can I say? The new space is strangely shaped, but its nicely painted and got cool art up, even if the furnishings are a bit lacking. The beer selection is ok, but promising, featuring some local (St. Thomas) brews and a few others.
Location-wise, its a huge step up from the old place. I think trekking to a place past Fort Galleria was just too much of a mental barrier for many… this new place is next door to CTO and a short block from some of the places on Richmond, so it feels more in the scene.
I don’t know if this place has a patio, but I hope it does. That was a classic of the original apk scene.
Finally: we went here on thrash metal night. It was a benefit, so I don’t know if that’s representative of the typical programming at the new apk. I hope not, because…well, its not exactly consonant with the apk image.
But to be fair, this new (and hopefully final) iteration of the apk should strike out and do its own thing. Live by the sword, die by the sword. Strike out and do something new and bold, new-new apk, or die for whatever reasons your brethren did, and let something new in both name and concept take over.
Saved. Thanks!
4 out of 5 Stars!
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/the-apk-london
