Streatham Wine House, new wine bar in Streatham, London

Where is it? Just down the road from Streatham Hill Station, opposite the gigantic bingo hall which keeps changing colour. If you stand or sit near the bar window, you can watch the lights changing colour.

The bar is run by three people, Jimmy Smith, wife Beth, and friend Matt. Jimmy runs courses on wine at the West London wine school. I studied and passed level one of the exam on wines and spirits. Another member of my family has taken levels one and two and is now doing the two year diploma course. Jimmy teaches wine buffs including people in the trade working as sommeliers or wine distributors so he knows a lot about wine!

Many of the people at the opening, like us, had responded to emails about crowd-funding. We had travelled from afar, but others we spoke to lived locally.

The cheese, pickles and salami I tried on opening night were good.

So were the two sparkling wines. Jimmy explained that the first wine we tried came from the region in northern Spain also famous for the human towers. The second wine I tried was another Spanish sparkling wine, a Cava, very good.

The company was very convivial. I met another author, someone in the music industry, someone who worked in a bank, a solicitor, others who had taken wine courses as high as Diploma level, and two members of a ladies' softball team.

The wine bar had been cleared of the furniture for the busy opening night. Apparently you will be able to sit on chairs or loll on a sofa.

At the back of the room is a mural of a camper van belonging to Jimmy and Beth, and a montage of photos of them and others. You'll also find all sorts of amusing items: maps on the wall. Books on wine. A wine game.

The toilet is modern, new, and has a wavy mirror and nice hand wash gel. See the previous posts: about Kennedy's fish and chip shop; and human towers.

Streatham Wine House
53A Streatham Hill
Streatham
London
SW2 4TS
Tel:0208 67 88 997
info@streathamwinehouse.com
www.streathamwinehouse.co.uk

Photos by Angela Lansbury. Copyright. 2016.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
Please see my other blog posts here and on:
http://www.luxurytravelforless.co.uk