Making wine in the centre of London? Sounds like a Renegade move to me…
With over 4000 railway arches rented out in London, you can be sure of finding some gems inside them. Now, if you could combine the winemaking pedigree of a French vineyard, with the cosy atmosphere of a London wine bar – well, you’d be pretty chuffed, wouldn’t you? Best be on your way to Bethnal Green then, where Renegade London Wine run an urban winery and wine bar inside the arches of the Overground.
The decision to set up an urban winery in the heart of a busy city isn’t one taken lightly. Founders Warwick Smith (the visionary) and Josh Hammond (the expert winemaker), deciding that London needed a fresh approach to wine, embarked on a mission to “burn the rule book for traditional winemaking”, as Smith puts it. At this point, you’re probably starting to see why the name Renegade was chosen…
Taking grapes from across England and Europe, Renegade whips up wines both still and sparkling, in white, red, and rosé varieties. Being a thoroughly non-traditional winery allows them to experiment with new blends, resulting in some deliciously offbeat creations. Amongst their stock are unique versions of sauvignon blanc, bacchus, and chardonnay – affectionately nicknamed the Shardonnay, given the illustration on the bottle (all of their bottles feature a different London landmark).
Don’t just take our word for it: Renegade’s in-house taproom stocks all of their creations, awaiting your judgement. Cocktails await those wary of the grape, whilst the summer specials include the frankly brilliant frosé. They also offer cheese and charcuterie platters, making it an uber-cute spot for a date – particularly if you can snag a spot on their outdoor terrace. A seat inside sets you amongst the presses, pumps, and barrels used to make the wine, so if you knock anything over, you’ve probably ruined next year’s vintage…
Renegade sell their wines by the glass, bottle, or case, so you’re covered whatever your wine ambitions are. Personally, those ambitions are ‘as much as possible’. Honestly, it’s an absolutely corking place for a visit!
Location: Arch 12, Gales Gardens, E2 0EJ. Nearest station is Bethnal Green (Underground). See it on Google Maps.
Opening hours: 5-11:30pm (Wed to Fri), 2-11:30pm (Sat), 2-10.30pm (Sun).
Price: a glass will set you back between £6 and £8.50.
More information: on their website.
Featured image: @nerdybooze