Two Drinking Dens Gone, Adding Further Casualties to ‘Haggerston Riviera’

A natural wine bar in Dalston has joined two other notable closures in the region once dubbed the “Haggerston Riveria.” Sapling, the natural wine bar, which opened on the stretch of Kingsland Road between Haggerston and Dalston Junction Overground Stations less than a year ago, appears to have been closed since Saturday 22 December.

A sign advertising the site’s lease, fixed to the shuttered frontage, reads: “Fully Licensed A1/A3 Lease for Sale,” with a contact email that bounces back.

A message requesting further information on the closure — to what is understood to be the restaurant’s correct email address — did not receive a reply.

Sapling opened in March, promising 40 wines by the glass, rotated weekly.

Owner Bob Ritchie had said:

It’s really exciting to be opening Sapling in Dalston. I’ve lived 10 minutes away in Newington Green for almost a decade and Dalston has been such a big part of my life over that time. Sapling has been five years in the making and it’s been an amazing journey.

Since the closure of Italian restaurant Rotorino was announced in December, a few doors down, Eater has also learnt that the exceptionally popular craft beer pub, The Fox, has also closed. In June the owners announced that the freeholder was undertaking significant refurbishments on the property, meaning that — after six and half years trading — the pub would have to be closed for a period of 12 to 18 months.

More soon.