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The third Thursday of November might not mean much to you, but for the wine world, it’s one of the most exciting days of the year. It marks Beaujolais Nouveau Day – the day that the first vintages of wine produced in the Beaujolais region of France are released.
Beaujolais Nouveau is a simple, fruity red known for being the world’s ‘fastest’ wine. It’s a ‘vin de primeur’, best consumed as soon after harvesting as possible . It’s illegal to sell ‘Bojo’ before 12.01am on Beaujolais Nouveau Day, so when that time finally does roll around, wine lovers rush to get their hands on a bottle and festivities erupt all over France and beyond.
And in recent years, London’s wine-lovers have started celebrating too. Every year, some the capital’s finest restaurants and wine bars host tastings, suppers and parties to welcome the newest batch of Beaujolais. This year, Bojo Novo falls on Thursday, November 20. Here are all the best places in London to celebrate.
The best places in London to celebrate Beaujolais Nouveau Day 2025
The Plimsoll
Atmospheric north London gastropub The Plimsoll is taking on a subtly Lyonnaise flavour on Tuesday November 25. There’ll be a Beaujolais Nouveau bottle menu including Château Cambon and Magnums from Jean-Claude Lapal. Pair their rich and fruity flavours with dishes inspired by the flavours of the region – think beef tartare with chips and John Dory meuniere – from Head Chef John Swinney.
52 St Thomas's Rd, N4 2QQ. Prices vary.
Noble Rot
This year, the Noble Rot team is joining forces with Parisian bistro Vantre for a one-night-only takeover. Owner Marco Pelletier will curate a special wine list, while head chef Satria Vue will serve up eclectic delights including Cantonese steamed turbot and wild fowl and foie gras wellington. The full menu will set you back £125, excluding wine and service. But if you want to treat your tastebuds without spending all that dosh, fear not. From 4.30pm-7pm you can stop by Noble Rot's bar on Lamb’s Conduit Street for a free tasting with some of Beaujolais's finest producers.
51 Lamb's Conduit St, WC1N 3NB. £125 per person.
Le Beaujolais
Where could be a more appropriate place to mark Beaujolais Nouveau than Le Beaujolais? Just show up at Covent Garden’s old school French wine bar to taste the new vintage, and enjoy a fun celebration with decades of history under its belt.
25 Litchfield Street, WC2H 9NJ. Prices vary.
Toklas Bakery
At Toklas, you’ll find six tipples from different producers across Beaujolais, so you can compare and contrast their colours and flavours like a pro. Soak up all that top quality vino with a selection of Lyonnaise bouchon (that’s French nibbles to you and me) available.
9 Surrey St, WC2R 2ND. £40 per person.
The Jugged Hare
For Beaujolais Nouveau Day, chef Rafael Liuth is concocting a lavish five-course French menu taking inspiration from Lyon’s traditions. That means unusual offerings including pike quenelles and cervelle du canut, a cheese dish beloved of Lyonnais silk workers. Of course, the menu is paired with glasses of Beaujolais Nouveau that’ll match its generous flavours.
49 Chiswell St, EC1Y 4SB. £65 per person.
The Buxton
This east London boozer is partnering with award-winning Lyons restaurant Le Kitchen for its Beaujolais Nouveau revels. Le Kitchen will make its London debut with a four course menu by chef Connie Zagora celebrating organic regional produce. It’ll be accompanied by plenty of vin once the tables are cleared.
42 Osborn St, E1 6TD. £60 per person.
Gordon’s Wine Bar
Of course, the oldest wine bar in London is getting in on the festivities. And it’s kicking things off bright and early at 8am. Gordon’s’ Beaujolais Nouveau Breakfast will see glasses of the good stuff served alongside a full English breakfast, coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice. If you can’t quite stomach red wine that early on a Thursday morning, you’ll still be able to sample this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau in its basement vaults throughout the month.
47 Villiers St, WC2N 6NE. Prices vary.
Top Cuvée
Top Cuvée is marking Bojo Novo Day with a right old party. At its Highbury outpost, there’ll be a special four course set menu featuring rabbit saddle, the famed sausages from Perry’s Butchers and apple tarte tatin to go with the new juicy red. Over at its Shoreditch bar, it’ll be a full on wine-fueled fête with hot dogs and a two for one deal on glasses of Beaujolais all night long.
177B Blackstock Rd, N5 2LL. £65 per person.
Davy’s at Vintners Yard
Besides the latest vintage, Davy’s Wine Merchants will have a selection of Beaujolais wines to sample as part of its festivities, with a ‘Guess the Beaujolais’ game to really test your palate and French cheese, charcuterie and sausages to graze on between sips. There’s no prize for guessing your wines right, but there will be a reward for the best French fancy dress of the evening. Berets at the ready.
Vintners Yard, Greenwich High Rd, SE10 8JA. £45 per person.
La Fromagerie
The La Fromagerie team is gearing up to race across the Channel to get its hands on a couple crates of the latest Beaujolais Nouveau-Village to bring back to the Big Smoke. Apparently, its chosen variety has a fruitier tinge to it, with lingering notes of wild blackberry and blackcurrant. On the big day, it’ll compliment the vintage with an oh-so-French menu featuring snails on toast, beef bourguignon and, naturally, a cheese board.
2-6 Moxon Street, W1U 4EW. £60 per person.
Find more delicious food and wine at the best French restaurants in London and the best gastropubs in London
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