The Toad in the Hole, located at 525 King Street West across from Genco's, was originally opened and run by Pete Jeffery (of "Pete and Marty" fame, for those who recall the nightclub at the Eaton Centre) - and was part of the Empire chain of pubs, such as The Jersey Giant, The Spotted Dick, The Sticky Wicket and The Guv'nor, launched by Stan and Lance Anderson. The small pub was then bought by Joe
Atkins in time for the opening of Skydome in 1989, who hired Graeme Boyce as its manager, who ran it daily for a few years while also running the Raw Energy label from the basement office and hiring various members of King Apparatus to work the lunch hours, as well as his own business partner John Stewart. The pub did well - the food was good and the b**r was cold - and the staff friendly. It was a favourite watering hole for many locals who enjoyed a decent lunch, and on Monday nights Bill's B**r Club, Tuesday was Dart Night and on Wednesday Tamara's Tequila Club (aka Wing Night), and even the occasional live band on Saturday nights.
