London's original wine bar, run by Davy's since 1965 under a Free Vintner licence that lets it pour wine and nothing stronger.
The Boot and Flogger sits on Redcross Way in Southwark, a few minutes from Borough station, and it has a claim no other London bar can make. When John Davy opened it in 1965, he ran it under the Worshipful Company of Vintners' Free Vintner licence, which dates to a 1567 charter and lets the house sell wine only, no beer or spirits.
That makes it, by Davy's own account, London's first true wine bar. The name comes from a corking device, the leather boot that holds the bottle while the wooden flogger drives in the cork. Come for a long wine lunch in a dark, clubby room. Skip it if you want a cocktail or a pint, because the licence does not allow either.
The Boot and Flogger sits on Redcross Way, a short walk from Borough and London Bridge. Walk in for a glass at the bar, or book a table for a longer lunch.
The room reads as old London: dark wood, soft light, and a clubby, cellar-like feel that suits a wine house. It is the kind of room that rewards a slow lunch rather than a quick drink.
DesignMyNight has named it among the best-reviewed bars in London. The setting does much of that work, a survivor that feels of another era a short walk from London Bridge.
Wine is the entire point. Every bottle comes from Davy's Wine Merchants, selected by the Davy family and buying team, and the licence means there is no beer or spirits list to fall back on. Port and sherry round out the range.
Order a glass or a bottle from the Davy's list and let the staff steer you. The classic British kitchen, with seasonal dishes built to pair with the cellar, is made for an unhurried table rather than a stand-up drink.
What to order
- 01
A glass from the Davy's list
- 02
A bottle for the table
- 03
Port or sherry
- 04
A classic British plate
