The Boot and Flogger

The Boot & Flogger wine bar was recently named the No. 1 ‘best-reviewed in London’ by DesignMyNight - a proud recognition of our legacy and passion.

When John Davy opened The Boot & Flogger in 1965, he operated under the historic Free Vintners’ license from the Worshipful Company of Vintners’, (the license dates back to a charter of 1567 granted by Queen Elizabeth I) allowing him to sell wine only - no beer or spirits. At a time when quality wine by the glass was typically reserved for luxury hotels like The Savoy and The Ritz, most pubs offered little more than ‘plonk’. The license gave Mr Davy the freedom to do something entirely without the formality or cost of a grand hotel.

The Boot & Flogger became London’s first true wine bar, setting the standard for a new kind of drinking experience and inspiring several more Davy’s Wine Bars across the City and West End. Its launch marked a turning point in London’s wine scene, and we’re proud to continue that legacy today.