The Olde Wine Shades

This is a place frequented by work colleagues and I and it’s wonderful. It feels like it could be centuries old (I’m not sure how old it actually is), and it’s very quaint inside. Furnished in dark oak with low lighting and candles. My only complaint is with how expensive it is, especially for food. I recommend the chips — not a huge portion, but they’re very good. The drink is expensive too, but if you come in a group and order a bottle it makes it more affordable. The wine is very good, even the cheap plonk! But I guess you’d expect that, given the name. The service is a little slow, but overall this place is great if you’re just after a nice glass of a wine in surroundings where you don’t have to shout to be heard.

I like this place a lot it feels hundreds of years old because it is. I also suspect that were you a patron from the 17^th century visiting today you would feel quite at home. It’s all rather higgledy piggledy, quaint and charming. They have two wine lists one much like any other pub wine list yet better specified and another like a London telephone directory. Prices vary from very cheap to very cheap house in Chelsea. If you would like somewhere a little different or a little traditional this is it.

23^rd February 2009: I popped in for a glass of wine and a quick bite. Got the house Bordeaux (red) which was OK, but had quite a bit of fine grit at the bottom. Ordered «tortilla + dips» (nachos) and while obviously not high cuisine, was pretty good (e. g., fresh dips). Service seemed indifferent at first, but they eventually warmed up to me and were quite friendly. I would go back and it would be nice to go back to wine and dine in their cellar/“Candlewick” Restaurant (under refurbishment when I visited).

THE OLDE WINE SHADES, MARTIN LANE
6 Martin Lane
Cannon Street
London EC4R 0DP
020 7626 6876