Bars & Pubs

Strange that this most traditional of London shops should have decided to import a flavour of the New World: its revamp has created a bar that wouldn't be out of place in Melbourne or San Francisco. Making a feature of a temperature-controlled, walk-in wine cellar, having style bar-esque slatted wood surrounds, 1707 follows through with the store's great Bordeaux and Burgundy range omitted in favour of New World beauties such as Grosset's Polish Hill 2007 riesling from Australia; Santa Maria pinot noir from California's Au Bon Climat is another excellent bottle. The food to accompany all this is stronger on turf than surf, a pork pie with scotch egg far superior to potted shrimp lacking in mace and overdoing the butter. But overall this is one of the snazzier places for drinking wine in the city.

Time Out Bars, Pubs & Clubs Guide 2008/9