The Beckford Bottle Shop, Bath

The idea at The Beckford Bottle Shop is that buying wine should be fun and interesting not intimidating or taken too seriously – and enjoyed in beautiful surroundings

So the bar/restaurant/wine shop is in Savile Row, next door to the iconic Assembly Rooms, is in a restored Georgian townhouse, with original floorboards, an unusual beaten tin ceiling, a wraparound red leather chesterfield – and wall-to-wall wine.

Upstairs, in the Tasting Room, you can taste, buy and quaff 250 different wines from around the world whilst noshing, if you wish, on inventive small plates and selections of British cheese and charcuterie from their own deli counter. A downstairs lounge opens up in the evening. There’s a private dining room, too.

They’ll open every one of the 250 wines for a small corkage charge (and there’s no corkage on Tuesdays).

It’s not just wine: curated craft beers, craft ciders and spirits all day, every day; coffee and treats every morning; and Sunday brunch.

Planning a dinner party or wedding? They’ll help you choose wine for a handful of people or hundreds.

Interesting foodie and wine events throughout the year.