L'Atelier Du Vin soon to open in new venue

L’Atelier Du Vin, which used to be in Kensington Gardens, Brighton, has now moved to St George’s Place.

During building work on the new venue, an old sign believed to be from a 1920s confectionary shop called A.Billett&Co was unveiled.

Bar owner Steve Pineau, originally from Brittany in France, said it was a perfect discovery that tied in well with their theme and he has decided to keep it.

The master sommelier said: “We are very excited to have this space.

“We decided to move from Kensington Gardens because we wanted more room.

“Luckily when the building work started, they knocked down a bit of the wall inside and it created so much more space with an entire mezzanine. We just thought wow.

“And now we have this wonderful sign to help us seem a bit more hidden.

“The previous business, which I think was an opticians, had covered up the beautiful ceiling and balcony which we are now making the most of.”

The wooden bar inside was built by Mr Pineau himself, with drawers all along the front and hundreds of copper pennies lined along its surface, a “true L’Atelier style”.

He used to work for Hotel du Vin based in Ship Street but set up his own wine bar last March with business partner and master sommelier Dmitri Mesnard.

He said: “We are not far from where we first opened so our regulars won’t have to travel far. I hope to open another in Seven Dials area before the summer.”

The bar has launched a new lunchtime menu where a main meal, such as boeuf bourguignon, will be served with a glass of wine for about £11. Dinner options will include tapas style dishes, charcuterie and cheese boards to enjoy with their ever expanding wine list. All food is supplied by The Great British Charcuterie in Brighton.

The bar’s collection of 700 wines, 200 champagnes, 300 spirits and new lunch and dinner menus will be available from noon next week.

Staying true to their speak-easy theme, they have not revealed an exact date.