Toronto restaurateurs Chef Nuit Regular and Jeff Regular celebrated the grand opening of UP Events on October 28, welcoming guests to their new private event venue at 22 Duncan Street in the city’s Entertainment District. Located directly above PAI, the space is now fully operational and hosting private functions, with events planned through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.
Guests were invited to explore the venue, sample food and beverages prepared by Chef Nuit’s culinary team, and meet vendors involved in its event offerings.
UP Events is a collaboration between the Regulars and Janet Zuccarini, founder and CEO of Gusto 54 Restaurant Group. The partners already work together through PAI, and the new venue extends that relationship into a dedicated private-event operation.
Jeff Regular said the October 28 celebration represented an important milestone for the business.
“UP Events has been something we’ve been looking forward to bringing to life for a long time, so seeing it all come together on October 28 during our media launch was incredibly rewarding,” he said. Regular added that the response from guests was encouraging, with attendees recognizing the venue’s potential for different types of celebrations.
Expanding Beyond Traditional Restaurant Dining
The venue addresses a practical challenge for the restaurateurs, whose existing restaurants have attracted interest from customers seeking larger private gatherings. In an October interview with yourcitywithIN, Chef Nuit discussed requests for large parties and restaurant buyouts that could be difficult to accommodate because of limited space or busy dining rooms.
A separate event venue gives the operators another way to accommodate those requests while maintaining regular restaurant service. It also provides a setting where food, room configuration and event programming can be organized around individual functions.
UP Events draws on the culinary experience of By Chef Nuit Hospitality, whose Toronto restaurant portfolio includes PAI, Kiin, Sukhothai, Thai Tavern, Chaiyo and Makilala. The group has experience serving customers through its restaurants, catering operations and corporate partnerships.
The connection to PAI is particularly relevant given the venue’s location directly above the restaurant and the existing partnership with Zuccarini. UP Events brings that hospitality relationship into a format designed specifically for private bookings, with its own event facilities and culinary service.
Inside UP Events
Designed by Toronto-based Studio Uva, the open-concept venue incorporates warm wood finishes, natural marble and preserved brick. It accommodates up to 125 seated guests or 200 standing, according to the operators, allowing for different event formats.
The space includes a dedicated entrance, private bar, green room, bridal suite and audiovisual facilities. Its intended uses include corporate gatherings, brand launches, weddings, film-related events and private celebrations.
Chef Nuit oversees menus prepared by the venue’s culinary team in its own kitchen. Clients can select passed appetizers, food stations, family-style dining or multi-course meals, with offerings drawing on the group’s restaurant concepts alongside Western-inspired selections.
The combination of a dedicated kitchen and flexible event space allows the operators to tailor food service to different occasions. Corporate receptions, seated celebrations and larger standing functions can each be organized around the venue’s available capacity and catering formats.
Early Interest and Upcoming Events
The venue is already receiving inquiries from prospective customers, according to Jeff Regular. While the operators have not disclosed booking numbers, Regular said conversations are underway about upcoming functions.
“We’re already having lots of great conversations and receiving inquiries for upcoming events,” he said. “It’s exciting to see people beginning to envision what they can create here, and we’re looking forward to welcoming even more guests to celebrate UP.”
Touchwood PR confirmed that UP Events is fully operational and hosting private functions through the remainder of 2026 and into 2027. Prospective clients can submit booking inquiries through the UP Events website.
Retail Insider first reported on the venue in September, ahead of its planned October launch.
