Theatre of Wine

A lovely wine and beer shop with an excellent eclectic of both on offer. I visited for the first time tonight and was warmly received with a tasting of a couple of bottles of red that had been opened. It is always reassuring when the proprietors are willing to let you try before you buy!
The wine is arranged by style, making a welcome change from the traditional regional format. This encourages you to move away from tried and tested favourites and into something new. I found a couple of interesting bottles to take home with plenty of others left on the shelves.
The beer is hidden around the corner in the shop and appears to be a fast moving regularly changing selection from both the breweries that are nearby (Meantime and Hop Stuff) and those from further afield. Again a selection now sits in the fridge.
All of the above points to a good shop. What made it excellent for me was the service. Friendly, informed and engaging — I can’t wait to go back already.

This is a little gem of a shop.
Yes, it is a wine merchant, they seem to be very passionate about it, hand written labels with descriptions for every single bottle, it looks amazing, but there was another reason for coming here and that was for their beer selection, rare craft from all over the world, a superb selection. Staff are very helpful in finding what’s best for your taste buds. They also hold beer and wine tasting evening, I will be looking out for those.
Well worth a visit when in the Greenwich area.

One has to be buzzed in as if at a fancy-​schmancey jeweler’s in Hatton Garden. However, it is Trafalgar Road bordering on East Greenwich, so I guess I understand their caution.
Highlights: Kernel Brewery beers – small selection of IPAs and, if I remember correctly, Pale Ales. Sadly, no Porter…
Meantime has a solid presence here! There is Porter and Stout for me. :)
Brooklyn Brewery: Lager and Choco Stout. Yum.
Ridge: no Lytton Springs or any other red at present, but a Chard, if you’re up for it.
The store is cosy and attractively filled with wine, beer and spirits. Props to them for stocking a decent assortment of single malts and Elijah Craig, a bourbon I very much enjoy. They need to ditch the «gold» Cuervo as it’s rot-​gut and stock some El Jimador or Don Julio, if they can. Casadores is my jam, but «I’m not in Kansas anymore, Toto», so I know that shipping over good tequila is super expensive, and, therefore, a financial drag. Jensen, a locally distilled gin, was looking pretty interesting at 27.99 a bottle, but I’m still in love with Sipsmith, so when the bloom is off that rose I’ll be checking J out.
Having described (maybe not well enough?) what I don’t like in a Chard (read: not buttery, not oaked) I was recommended a few different wines that might fit the bill. Sadly, the one I did pick out of those recommended is somewhat oaked and buttery with hints in vanilla. It’s an interesting wine, but not the «old world» mineral-​like white Burgundy I had hoped for.

Lovely selections and helpful staff. The space also allows for a pleasant browsing, and a nice little beer section too, including Brooklyn Lager.

As good wine shop as one could hope to find. More choice than your local off-​license and just a better standard of wine overall. This does mean that many of the bottles will cost a touch more but Theatre of Wine still stock plenty of plonk at a reasonable price.
The shop is run by two men (as far as I know) who seem both friendly and deeply enthusiastic about what the sell. Certainly very knowledgable and always happy to advise where necessary. There was a tasting session going on when I visited last.
Many of the wines are imported from abroad and presumably not widely sold on the UK as the labels are written in their home language. Not to worry though, Theatre of Wine have helpfully written their own labels in good old English, throwing in some of their own opinions to boot.
Not just wine sold here though, a large rack is reserved for beer and ale. A wide choice available — and you’re not likely to find many of them in the local boozer.
Looking for a bottle for the evening? Can’t go wrong at the Theatre of Wine.
TTFN,
Ian

The Theatre of Wine is an excellent local wine shop which always helps me discover something new. I go in thinking, hmmm, a nice Rioja, and often come out with something along that lines, but that I haven’t tried before. Brilliant service.

I’m sure they have good wine, and there’s a good selection of Belgian beers. But I haven’t been back since being talked into buying an English sparkling wine that was comparable to Champagne. In retrospect, paying over £20 for any English wine is a bit reckless. But describing the muck I was sold as good on any level was frankly deceitful.
I now think of Theatre of Wine every time I see the Harry Enfield character selling overprices tat, to the rich, bored housewife. Which at least gives me a smile. The proprietor gives true wine lovers a bad name.
The stars are for the products they sell, rather than the staff.

If you want good wine (not supermarket discount wine), this is the place for you. Quality wines from a source with an informed opinion.
The service is personable and knowledgeable.

This little shop is everything a local wine merchant should be. First, there is a great selection of wines across all price ranges and including lots of unusual selections (as well as good choices of sherries and beers). Each wine has information to help you choose, so browsing is a pleasure. If you want advice, the staff are really friendly and knowledgeable: I’ve always been really pleased by their recommendations.
Second, there are regular tastings and events (most on a Thursday — a pity this clashes with my evening class). I took a six-​week wine course here which was excellent value for money; I learned a great deal and also found the classes sociable and relaxed.
Finally, the surroundings are really attractive, far from the rather sterile shelves of your local Threshers. This shop offers wine buying as it should be!