Wine Bar and Bistro at the Vanguard of Deptford’s Renaissance Announces New Direction

The independent wine bar and restaurant Winemakers Deptford, which sparked a revival in the south London neighbourhood last year, has announced that it will close in its current guise at the start of March, just a year after it opened. The restaurant was included on the first Eater heatmap last July. An opening that caused some commentators to suggest that Deptford was on the “rise.”

In a post on Instagram, the company wrote that it would close with the current team (pictured above) on Sunday 4 March:

One year ago we started this amazing journey together. Sadly all good things must come to an end. The 4th of March will be our last service with this amazing team, as we all move in various directions. We thank all our customers for the support that they have shown us over the last year. Also the fantastic people of Deptford who have been such great neighbours. We will keep you posted to what is happening next, with us and Winemakers Deptford.

John Baum, director and head of sales at Winemakers told Eater that the project was not sustainable in its current format. He also confirmed that the company would retain the site.

“We are retaining the site and will reopen but it will be for fewer days in the week and with a slightly smaller menu,” he said. There will still be “a strong focus on quality and wine, building on the reputation we have garnered this last year. Then we shall see where we go from there,” he added.

About the location and indicating it was perhaps not yet ready, he said: “Opening Deptford we really went full throttle and have realised over time that although the demand for good food is definitely there in Deptford, it is still very much a growing community. A community that we owe a great deal of thanks to.

“We as a company believe great deal in the site and also the area. The high street is truly somewhere quite special in London.”

Asked what he and the (new) team might do next and when, Baum said: “Time wise I cannot say, as it depends on what happens [regarding a residency]. I am trying to help out a couple of friends wishing to raise some funds for their own separate restaurant project who have similar ideals as our own and personally I need time to cost out what our plans are for Deptford.

“Most likely though September will be an opening time, depending on front and back of house.”

Check back soon for more on what is happening next.