London to get a second Sherry bar

A specialist bar boasting 100 different Sherries is to open in London later this month.

Abel Lusa, owner of Spanish restaurants Cambio de Tercio, Tendido Cuatro and Tendido Cero, is to open Capote y Toros, a Sherry and ham bar with a 100-strong Sherry list, at the end of the month.

Meaning “Cape and Bulls”, Capote y Toros will be just three doors down from flagship restaurant Cambio de Tercio on Old Brompton Road, and will seat just 20 people.

Like Bar Pepito’s tie-in with González Byass, Capote y Toros will be decked out with Osborne branding, from the barrels to the Osborne-owned Cinco Jotas pata negra ham hanging from the ceiling, which will be the only ham served at the bar.

“We buy six hams a week at £500 each from Osborne, so we have a good relationship with them,” says Lusa.

Lusa will offer a simple tapas menu to run alongside the extensive Sherry offering, which will be divided up by bodegas, with flights of five different styles from a single bodega on offer by the 50ml glass.  

“We already have the largest Spanish wine list in London at Cambio de Tercio, so why not have the largest Sherry list too?" said Lusa.

"There will be Sherries on the list at £300 a bottle and £40 a glass. It’s a bold move, but I really want to get behind Sherry and promote it."

The Sherries will be divided by brand behind the bar, with separate spaces dedicated to big guns such as Osborne, Lustau, Bodegas Hidalgo, and the brand of the moment – Equipo Navazos.

Capote y Toros will also offer a Navazos-like selection of fine and rare Sherries bottled exclusively for the bar from specially selected butts through a collaboration with Ehrmanns owner Peter Dauthieu.

Lucy Shaw, 01.03.2011