Humble Grape, the wine bar and shop from James Dawson is to open a second site in May. Following the success of the Battersea opening last year, Humble Grape will launch a larger venue in St Bride’s Passage, just off Fleet Street.
The site – tucked away down a cobbled street and hidden in the vaults of the magnificent St Bride’s Church – was formerly The Press House Wine Bar. And, this being Fleet Street, it was of course once a famous drinking den for journalists.
Humble Grape mark two will comprise a 200 seat wine bar, shop, events space, private dining room and wine cellar. The business imports handcrafted wine from small, sustainable, independent vineyards worldwide, avoiding the industry-standard markups from agents, importers or distributers.
The wine list will feature around 30 wines available by the glass or carafe and over 200 wines available by the bottle to drink in or take away.
Head chef Anna Allan has devised wine-friendly ‘Humble Plates’. Like the wines, the ingredients will be sourced from independent suppliers, whose produce can be traced straight back to the farm. Dishes include: Galician octopus with chargrilled leeks & triple cooked new potatoes; roast bone marrow with dipping soldiers; and Lamb Ribollita stew.
