Pictured from left to right: Rhys Jenkins, Ryan English. All Images, unless otherwise specified: Kerry and Ivy Knight
Name/Alias: Rhys Jenkins/Chief/DJ Buttercup
Ryan English/Ronnie/DJ Ronnie Fresh
Current Bar: The Peacok
How long in the business: Between the two of us we have a combined 23 years in the industry.
First drink/drunk: Rhys — Spiced Rum and Canadian Club — was studying for an exam. Ended up at the hospital with alcohol poisoning.
Ryan — Tequila and Mikes Hard at a House Party. Puked. ALL NIGHT LONG.
What influences us: We’re inspired by people who love to have a great time, dance to epic music, and who like to drink heavily — i.e. the Peacok!
Best barfly: Rhys —We used to be the barflys before owning our own place. Rhys even showed up to one of our regular spots in nothing but a Speedo and cowboy boots one night and still got let in without hesitation. That’s love! At another one of our regular spots Rhys showed up later in the night to find Ryan already at the bar — shirtless- in the middle of a packed crowd. Without missing a beat Rhys threw off his own shirt and joined him and the two topless beauties partied all night.
Cinematic bartender: Definitely not Moe cause he’s miserable — although he did get the Red Hot Chili Peppers to play there once. “LOL”
Rules: It’s a VODKA SODA, not a “soda vodka”. NEXT.
Image: Benjamin Ayers
Celebrity experiences: Last year we were honored to host a pre-party for the Deadmau5 show at the Rogers Centre. We were contacted by Deadmau5’s sister who was looking for a private place to have friends and family meet and have a drink prior to the show. We’re both from the Niagara region, like Deadmau5 and his family, and they had heard The Peacok was an awesome spot owned by two local guys. After the show we were given VIP passes to hang out with Deadmau5 in the greenroom.
Best late-night places: Ryan — best late night food — Lakeview (Ossington and Dundas) Great late-night menu
Rhys — cool place for a quiet drink — Goodnight! (Spadina and Richmond) Amazing drink menu
Morning-after? Rhys — the only place I’ll go to cure a hangover is Rodney’s Oyster House (King and Spadina) for the best Manhattan chowder and fresh baked bread
Ryan — Fusuraos — amazing Italian food, huge portions of pasta to kill a hangover
Best /worst tip: Best tip — 100%. Worst Tip — no “thank you.”
Image: Benjamin Ayers
Favourite cocktail/beer/wine right now: Ryan — Strongbow mixed with redbull – “Strongbull”, shots of anything.
Rhys — Gin or tequila with water, shots of anything.
Watch for: Wednesday — Live Band — “The World is Yours”
Thursday — DJ Tommy Rckbttm — Mashups/Retro/Hip Hop
Fridays — DJ Tigerblood — Indie/Rock Electro
Saturdays — Different DJ every Saturday, honorable mentions: DJ Matty Ryce and DJ Mister Karpf
Sundays — DJ Add Audio — Old School/Hip Hop/House
Ask your bartenders for a Burt Reynolds and a soon-to-be revealed Peacok Punch
The Peacok
365 King Street (Basement) (King and Blue Jay Way)
Twitter: @thepeacok
Facebook.com/thepeacok
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Kerry and Ivy Knight write the XX Files column for Toronto Standard. Follow them on Twitter at @keppsterr and @IvyKnight.
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