Imagine the Burlington waterfront not as a serene park, but as the site of one of Canada’s most glamorous nightlife legends. That’s exactly what the Brant Inn was: a lakeside nightclub that lit up the 1930s–60s era with swing, big bands, and star-studded energy that put Burlington on the entertainment map.
It all began as the Brant Hotel’s Country Club, built around 1900. Soon after, a fire wiped out the original structure in 1925—likely ignited by coal-powered train sparks riding the lake breeze. But legendary entrepreneur A.B. Coleman rebuilt it, and it rose again as the Brant Inn, stronger, glitzier, and ready to shine.
The real magic ignited when John Murray Anderson stepped in. A showman with flair, he took over operations in the 1930s, eventually buying the place in 1939. Under his leadership, the Brant Inn embodied glitz and class—big bands, glittering canyon of dance, and a lakeside stage unlike anything else.
The venue’s centerpiece was the iconic Sky Club, a glamorous outdoor terrace with a revolving stage and capacity for around 1,700 revelers. Inspired by Havana, this spinning dance machine floated over Lake Ontario and gave Burlington nightlife a jet-setting vibe .
It wasn’t just the décor that made it famous—it was the stars. The Inn hosted the biggest names in music: Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Lena Horne, Liberace, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mathis, and many more. These shows were so huge that when Benny Goodman performed, traffic gridlocked for miles—and the cops had to step in to manage the frenzy.
Toronto, Hamilton, Guelph, even parts of New York State sent wave after wave of party-hungry guests. Students from Queen’s and U of T would hop off trains literally at the Inn’s front door. Others arrived by boat, mooring on Lake Ontario just to groove to the music drifting out across the water.
Inside, Anderson didn’t just book stars—he built a full-on entertainment empire. He added fancy lounges, introduced dinner theatre shows, hosted Miss Canada ceremonies, launched the dazzle of “Champagne Hour,” and even ran a live radio show called “Meet Me at the Brant”, broadcasting coast to coast.
Behind the scenes, the Brant Inn operated like tight family central. Staff—waiters, bartenders, hostesses—lived upstairs; friends became family. One waitress recalled staff sneaking afternoon dips off the Sky Club and swimming with Guy Lombardo’s band on their days off.
But like any great scene, the times changed. The 1960s ushered in rock ’n’ roll, television, and a shifting cultural vibe. The Inn tried to evolve—teen dances, tie-and-shirt dress codes, and a Club Lido concept—but the magic started to fade under absentee ownership. In 1968, after a final glamorous New Year’s Eve party, the doors closed—and the place was gone by early 1969.
That wasn’t the end of its legacy. The Brant Inn still speaks to Burlington’s soul. In 2011, the city unveiled a commemorative plaque in Spencer Smith Park—right where the Inn once dazzled—honoring the era when Burlington held its own in entertainment glory .
Today, strolling through Spencer Smith Park—home of Ribfest, Sound of Music Festival, and a few smooth summer nights—it’s wild to imagine that this quiet lakeside was once echoing Ella Fitzgerald’s high notes and shimmering dance floors.
For nightlife lovers, the Brant Inn’s story is pure inspiration: ambition, high energy, and glamour—all built far from the usual TV and film industry centers. It reminds us that the best parties are often where you least expect them… like on the shores of Burlington, lit with music and moonlight.