Humble Grape to open Islington site this summer
Independent wine merchant and bar Humble Grape has announced the opening of a third site in Islington, London, this summer.
The new wine bar and shop is the latest Humble Grape opening from founder James Dawson, following sites in Battersea and Fleet Street, both in London.
Humble Grape sources handcrafted wines directly from small, family-owned vineyards. At Humble Grape Islington, guests will be able to find out the origins of each bottle by exploring a winemaker wall, which will feature all the stories from the vineyards and wine makers.
Dawson is once again working with architect Jean Dumas of Trellik Design Studios to create Humble Grape Islington. The space will house a wine shop, bar and library, as well as a dining room, with an indoor urban garden filled with foliage and vines. Reclaimed and aged natural materials will furnish the space, with a colour palette of deep greens, tan and clay.
All paper will be made using recycled crushed grapes, from the hand-made labels in the shop, to the menus in the bar. Guests will also be able to browse the wine library, housing a curated collection of wine books from around the world.
Executive head chef Kishen Raheja will serve a menu of seasonal dishes, with ingredients from independent craftsmen such as day boat fishermen from Mersea Island in Essex and cheesemakers Wildes Cheese.
The menu will feature dishes such as diver-caught scallops, Laverstoke farm black pudding and crispy leeks; confit Orchard Farm pork belly, celeriac and apple remoulade; and burrata, purple sprouting broccoli, pumpkin seeds and basil oil.
The bar group exceeded its £1m crowdfunding target last month, which will go towards the growth of a fifth and sixth site and a further two to four sites per year thereafter, as well as the expansion of the Wine Club, Wine Bank and online sales. It also has a fourth site in central London in the pipeline, expected to open this autumn.
Dawson said: "I've always loved Islington - the people, the neighbourhood, the buzz, and we have plenty of clients who live around there too, so it felt like a natural home for the next Humble Grape. I can't wait to see the new interior designs come to life and to welcome the residents of Islington into our space, and introduce them to our wines. We've got some incredibly special new imports lined up just for them."
Humble Grape exceeds crowdfunding target >>
The Humble Grape wine bar to open second London site >>
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