The Boot and Flogger Southwark London bar interior

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Wine Bar

The Boot and Flogger

London's original wine bar, run by Davy's since 1965 under a Free Vintner licence that lets it pour wine and nothing stronger.

★ 4.4 $$$ Southwark, London A long wine lunch, port and sherry, an old-London room

Published November 18, 2025 · Last reviewed January 22, 2026 · by the barsforKings editorial team

The Pitch

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.

At a Glance

Address10-20 Redcross Way, Southwark, London SE1 1TA

NeighbourhoodSouthwark, London

Nearest transitBorough (Northern line), about 4 minutes; London Bridge nearby

Price Range$$$

Drinks specialtyDavy's wines, port, sherry, classic British cooking

ReservationsBook for tables; walk in for a glass at the bar

HoursOpen Monday to Friday for lunch and evening service. Closed most weekends. Check the Davy's site for current times.

Best forA long wine lunch, port and sherry, an old-London room

Plan Your Visit

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.

Get Directions Ask Our Team

10-20 Redcross Way, Southwark, London SE1 1TA

The Room

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.

The Drinks

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

A glass from the Davy's list

Every wine is Davy's own. Ask the staff to point you to what is drinking well by the glass.

A bottle for the table

The room is built for a long lunch. A shared bottle is the way to use it.

Port or sherry

Fortified wine fits the old-school house style and the Free Vintner heritage.

A classic British plate

The kitchen's seasonal cooking is built to pair with the cellar. Order to match your bottle.

The Crowd and Vibe

The Boot and Flogger pulls a City and Southwark lunch crowd, wine lovers, and regulars who have used it for decades. It runs busiest at midday and early evening on weekdays.

It is a weekday room. With limited or no weekend service, the rhythm follows the working week rather than a late social scene.

What Regulars Say

The heritage is the hook. Regulars and reviewers cite the Free Vintner licence and the 1965 opening as what sets it apart, per Davy's and London SE1 coverage.
DesignMyNight has ranked it among the best-reviewed bars in London, which guests echo for the room and the service.
Drinkers note the wine-only rule up front: come for the list, not for a beer or a cocktail.

Who It Is For

A long wine lunch

A clubby, old-London room built for a shared bottle and an unhurried table.

Wine and heritage fans

London's first true wine bar, with a licence dating to a 1567 charter.

Skip if you want a cocktail

The Free Vintner licence means wine only, no beer or spirits.

More across the city in our best bars in London guide and our best wine bars in London roundup. Searching nearby? Try cocktail bars near me, browse the full London Bar Guide, or see more Borough bars and London wine bars.

Inside the Bar

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Sources
Davy's official Boot and Flogger page (2026); DesignMyNight (London Bridge wine bar listing); London SE1 community archive; Difford's Guide bar listing.

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Photos via Google Places. The Boot & Flogger · Grahame Jones · chan Mary · Stuart Cooke · Stuart Bradshaw