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Top new entries in this year’s Wine List Confidential

03 December 2020 By Phoebe French

We round-up the top new entries in this year’s Wine List Confidential, which sees 22 restaurants make their first appearance in the guide.

In what has been an exceptionally tough year for London’s restaurants, this year’s WLC includes 22 new entrants. Of these, there are some that opened following the publication of the last edition in May 2019 such as Trivet, Davies and Brook, and Silo.

Others, however, have been around for longer, but improvements to their wine offering, as well as resilience and ingenuity demonstrated in the most challenging of years, has earned them a spot in 2020’s top 100.

There are also a further 13 restaurants that, while not included in 2019’s edition, have featured in previous editions of the guide or on the WLC website.

Here we present the top new entrants to London’s wine-focused restaurant hall of fame. To read the full guide, please click here to purchase the digital edition.

Trivet, Bermondsey

A newcomer to London Bridge brought to you by former Fat Duck chef Jonny Lake and sommelier Isa Bal MS.

Visit for: A chronological wine tome, bottles from further afield, and top sauces.

Matteo’s at Annabel’s, Mayfair

The luxurious new Italian at Annabel’s club under the direction of Clement Robert MS.

Visit for: Encyclopaedic Barolo and Dom Pérignon collections, truffle-scented pastas and lavish loos.

Davies and Brook, Mayfair

The London outpost of Eleven Madison Park chef Daniel Humm’s empire, located in Claridge’s hotel.

Visit for: The expertise of wine director Gabriel Di Bella and his team, posh fried chicken, and an all-encompassing list kept current using software BinWise.

Sketch Lecture Room and Library, Mayfair

A three-Michelin starred dining experience with kaleidoscopic interiors.

Visit for: Older vintages from small producers and seasonal cooking from chef Pierre Gagnaire.

Louie, Covent Garden

A gastronomic and wine journey through Paris, New York and New Orleans with a “luxury house party atmosphere”.

Visit for: A strong selection from Champagne as well as Burgundy, Bordeaux, USA and Italy. Dishes with French and Creole influences.

The Black Book, Soho

Formerly the members’ club Trade (which featured in WLC), co-founder, Xavier Rousset MS has rebranded the site as The Black Book, which is now open to the public.

Visit for: Wine underground, the expertise of two Master Sommeliers (Xavier Rousset and Gearoid Devaney), and a core list as well as a hand-written ledger of rare bottles, after which the new venture was named.

Amazonico, Mayfair

Located in Berkeley Square and adorned with plants and stuffed peacocks, its list is overseen by global wine director Vincent Pastorello.

Visit for: Flights of Rioja, celeb-spotting and a 600-bin list.

Quality Wines, Farringdon

Adjoining the Quality Chop House (which has featured in WLC), Quality Wines is a wine bar-shop-restaurant hybrid that is part of the Woodhead Group.

Visit for: Regularly changing, affordable and far-reaching wine selection.

Le Colombier, Chelsea

22-year-old classic French brassierie with a 350-bin list of French bottles, with a focus on Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône.

Visit for: Premier Cru wines for the price of Villages wines and a large choice of half-bottles.

Theo Randall at the InterContinental, Mayfair

A long-established Park Lane Italian headed up by former River Café chef Theo Randall and Sicilian-born Stefano Filistad.

Visit for: A strong Italian selection and wine-pairing dinners.

LPM Restaurant & Bar

London’s La Petite Maison relaunched as LPM with a seafood bar near Claridge’s.

Visit for: Rosé taken seriously, flights of Domaine de Trévallon and Jean-Louis Chave, and an 1830 Madeira.

Ampéli, Fitzrovia

A new Greek eatery launched by Athens-born former photojournalist Jenny Pagoni, with a wine list by Master of Wine Yiannis Karakasis.

Visit for: An exploration of Greek wine, Josper-grilled Souvlaki, and pairings with retsinas.

Restaurant Story, Bermondsey

A Tooley Street stalwart headed up by chef/patron Tom Sellers with wine guidance from head sommelier Jonathan Kleeman.

Visit for: Beef dripping candles and dripping bread, elaborate drinks pairings and older vintages.

Goodman Maddox Street, Mayfair

One of a trio of established London steak restaurants, which isn’t afraid to pair white wine with beef.

Visit for: Wines from the USA and large format bottles.

Lady of the Grapes, Covent Garden

Located on Maiden Lane, Lady of The Grapes showcases “organic, biodynamic, natural and vegan” wines which have been “touched by a woman”.

Visit for: French tapas style dishes and service with a smile.

Arros QD, Fitzrovia

The first international restaurant of three Michelin-starred Valencian pioneer of avant-garde cuisine and rice-lover, Quique Dacosta.

Visit for: Wines from the Mediterranean and paella as you’ve never had it before.

Silo x Wine Bar, Hackney Wick

Zero-waste and resourceful wine bar with its origins in Brighton, head up by chef/patron Douglas McMaster and sommelier, Ania Smelskaya.

Visit for: Upcycled plates and crockery and low intervention wines and ciders, with beers from neighbouring Crate.

Sussex Bar & Restaurant, Soho

Sister restaurant to The Shed, Notting Hill, Chelsea’s Rabbit, and Nutbourne, Battersea owned by the Gladwin Brothers, Sussex brings farm-grown food straight to the capital.

Visit for: Wines, including magnums, from the family’s Nutbourne Estate and dishes such as marmite éclairs and South Downs hare.