South Kensington welcomes wine, cheese & cocktails

June 14, 2021

South Kensington has welcomed a new wine and cheese bar with a prohibition-style bar below.  Old Brompton and Nocturne, which occupy ground and basement floors respectively at 158 Brompton Road, is the latest offering from master sommelier Xavier Rousset (behind Comptoir and Cabotte) in partnership with bar owner Steve Pineau.

Old Brompton specialises in old world wines from small, prestigious producers with an ever-changing list of 200 wines, available alongside 70 artisanal British and European cheeses, British charcuterie and locally made bread.  Nocturne is a 70-cover prohibition style bar below, with 1920’s details including antique mirrors and cocktail cabinets throughout its interconnected rooms.  The cocktail list, which is split into Vintage, Pre-prohibition and Prohibition, reflects the neat, no-gimmicks ethos of the drinks served at the time.

Davis Coffer Lyons acted on behalf of the landlord to let the prominent corner site, which benefits from a 3am licence and was previously home to Sandy’s Piano Bar.  The affluent residential location and rarely available late licence attracted a number of competitive offers for a new lease.