Take a trip back to Dickensian London at Gordon’s Wine Bar, the oldest wine bar in all of London. Founded in 1890, Gordon’s is steeped in history. Arthur Gordon was one of England’s last “free vintners,” chartered by King Edward III in 1364. Unable to pay back a loan given by the winemakers and merchants of London, the embarrassed King allowed vintners to sell wine without a license, resulting in Gordon setting up shop off Villiers Street.
The wine bar is situated in the historic Kipling House, which was the home of Samuel Pepys during the 1680s, as well as Rudyard Kipling, who used to live above the bar and wrote The Light That Failed in the 1890s. Gordon’s has a special relationship with the literary and theatre world. The bar was also frequented by G.K. Chesterton, and thespians of the original Player’s Theatre, which was once located across the street.
Today the bar is an intersection of old and new. Monarchs of England old mark the walls as a tattooed DJ spins tunes. Gordon’s only sells wines and fortified wines, though they are in an incredible variety. Locals regularly suggest trying one of their ports and pairing with a meat and cheese selection.
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