Cork & Bottle Information

Wine Bars should be fun places for relaxing, eating, drinking and some wine education if so desired. Often they are exactly the opposite. In 1972 Don established the Cork & Bottle in the middle of theatreland, in the heart of London’s West End. The area was great, but the site was unlikely – next door to a fish and chip restaurant, and underneath an adult shop. Well, both have gone and the building is distinctly smarter! Over 38 years he has presided over a number of other West End establishments. SHAMPERS (now owned and run by my good friend Simon Pearson), BUBBLES, METHUSELAHS and THE HANOVER SQUARE WINE BAR & GRILL. Now, although he is semi-retired, he still oversees his “first born” with as much enthusiasm and attention to detail as ever. He has a great management team headed by Vash Sedlak and Christelle Lecomte, who are delighted to continue the ‘Hewitson Tradition’. Our beliefs are simple – in a world full of so much terrific food and wine, why settle for a slab of quiche and a glass of boring plonk? Our food is innovative, fresh and tasty… and available at all hours. The wine list speaks for itself – “Legendary for its iconoclastic notes. It doesn’t necessarily tell you what the wine tastes like – you have to make your mind up. It’s there to provoke interest”, says Harpers, the wine trade magazine. As Barossa wine making supremo John Glaetzer puts it so succinctly, “Don, this is not just a wine list – it’s a book”. And a readable one at that!