Small underground bar with vaulted ceilings, named after the founding date of the shop and built when the shop was refurbished just a few years ago. Designed by David Collins, who worked on the Wolseley. Similar clientèle to the Fountain restaurant upstairs, in the evening it is a little less formal and a resident guitarist soothes away your troubles whilst you can enjoy any bottle from their shop at a mere £10 corkage charge. This is an enlightened policy which is bound to bring success, as the wine shop stocks some fabulous wines. This is a discreet place with great charm, and smart too. The ambiance suits the quality of the wines on offer. A great place to take people to try some spectacular wines. They also offer some excellent snacks. Their basic wine list has an attractive feature to accompany your lunch – 'Wine Flights' – 3 wines on a theme – Provence, Iberian, Pinot Noir. There are plenty of half bottles available too. Sit down and enjoy a rare bottle of La Tâche for a mere £2,950. Their Brut Reserve (Fortnum & Mason) made by Billecart-Salmon is a more modest £36/bottle – good value. Bollinger Special Cuvée £55/bottle – is also excellent value. This is a place where you can go and find some extraordinary wines and drink for practically the same price as you might pay to drink them at home. Different vintages of the first growths at reasonable prices, for example, Haut Brion 1996 at £310, Mouton Rothschild 1995 £410 (just coming into maturity). Why not try a bottle of Ducru Beaucaillou 1982 at £280 plus £10 corkage, hardly cheap but quite rare all the same. Their Champagnes are particularly interesting with ranges from Jacques Selosse, Billecart-Salmon, Taittinger and Jacquesson at good prices. Or, if you just want a glass of Pol Roger White Foil, then at less than £50 per bottle, it won't break the bank and there are few places in London which offer such salubrious surroundings where you could enjoy a quality Champagne at that price.
Hours: 1000-2000hrs
1707 Fortnum & Mason
181 Piccadilly
London W1
