Beaujolais Nouveau Day 2026: Where to Drink in London on 19 Nov
Where to Raise a Glass on Beaujolais Nouveau Day
Thursday 19 November 2026 marks Beaujolais Nouveau Day, the annual celebration of the first wine made from gamay grapes harvested that year in France. Some wine lovers look down on it, but across London it has become a genuine fixture on the calendar, and plenty of us are happy to join in, especially if we have the day off. Here are the spots worth knowing about. Le Beaujolais in Charing Cross is London’s oldest French wine bar and has marked the occasion since it opened in 1972. Walk-ins are the norm, so arrive early and expect a lively evening. Gordon’s Wine Bar, also in Charing Cross, is serving a full English breakfast alongside fruity red wine from 8am until 10.45am, and it is making an exception to its usual no-bookings policy for the day. Further afield, Galvin Bistro and Bar in Spitalfields offers pre-midday breakfast appointments, with croque monsieurs on the menu, plus lunch and dinner sittings. For readers out in Richmond or Whitton, the District line makes getting into the centre straightforward, so a midday trip is entirely doable. Listings will be updated as more venues confirm their plans, so check back before you set off.
The Businesses Behind the Bottles
Behind every glass poured on this day is a team working hard to make it special. Le Beaujolais has built its reputation over more than five decades, keeping its approach simple: good wine, familiar faces and a room that fills up quickly. Gordon’s has long been one of the city’s best-loved wine bars, and opening its doors at breakfast time is a real effort for staff who will be pouring from the first hour. At Galvin Bistro and Bar, the focus is on bringing a little French joie de vivre to Spitalfields, with breakfasts that suit early risers and sittings that carry on through the afternoon. La Fromagerie in Marylebone has a particularly memorable story. Its team races back from France in a Morgan sports car, carrying crates of Beaujolais Nouveau-Village. They chose this label for its wild blackberry and blackcurrant flavours. Their Beaujolais supper features a three-course menu from Head Chef Alessandro Grano, with options including snails on toast, beef bourguignon and tarte tatin. For smaller bars and restaurants, a one-off event like this brings extra stock, extra shifts and extra paperwork, and many owners across west London now rely on local Hounslow bookkeeping services to keep track of takings and costs during busy periods like this one.
What Residents Should Know Before They Go
If you plan to join in, a little preparation goes a long way. Le Beaujolais is walk-in only, so arriving early is your best bet if you want a seat. Gordon’s breakfast slot is limited to a short window in the morning, and because it does not normally take bookings, it is worth calling ahead to check how the day is running. Galvin requires an appointment for its breakfast sittings, so reserve well in advance. La Fromagerie’s supper is a set event, so confirm your place before the day arrives. Those who cannot take the day off work should note that Gordon’s will keep serving Beaujolais for the rest of the month at a more regular hour, which gives you a second chance to celebrate. Please drink responsibly, particularly if you are heading back to work or getting on public transport in the afternoon. Looking ahead, keep an eye on venue announcements over the coming weeks, as more bars and restaurants are likely to add Beaujolais events to their programmes. Local wine shops may also begin stocking the new vintage, so it is worth asking staff what has arrived. Whether you are a seasoned fan or a curious first-timer, this is a chance to enjoy the neighbourhood and the fresh wine that marks the start of the season.
Source: Beaujolais Nouveau Day In London: Where To Drink On 19 November
