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The Don

££££
Up to 53
British, Fusion, Wine Bars

About The Don

Description

The Sandeman Quarter is a multi-venue space in the City of London, spanning a restaurant, bar, members lounge and private dining room. Its name and location, on St Swithins Street, are inspired by George Sandeman who travelled to London from Perthshire in 1790 to pursue his love of wine and set up his own merchants, right here. 

George's business continued bottling and blending ports from Portugal and sherries from Spain until 1967. Now, The Sandeman Quarter aims to honour his legacy with Bar 1790, serving tapas dishes and an impeccable wine list, as well as a wine-focused members club and the reopening of The Don, a long-standing neighbourhood restaurant. 

If looking for a special place to hold a birthday dinner or occasion, larger tables can be booked at all of these venues, simply give the team a call to discuss your options. But, if you're seeking a totally private space, the historic Barrel cellar and The Sandeman Room offer unique character and exclusivity in one of London's most historic areas. 

As you might imagine, the Medieval cellar is a fascinating, intimate space with bags of atmosphere and would make the perfect setting for a candlelit supper. Marvel at the exposed brick walls, which show off its historic past, and central table with rich, red upholstered chairs. The Sandeman Room is as equally dramatic with deep navy walls, a claret ceiling and old fashioned portraits, hung across the walls. Both rooms are available for hire for lunches, dinners, meetings, tastings and cocktail parties. In terms of capacity, there's space for between 10 and 65 people for a sit-down meal and up to 120 for a drinks reception. 

Food is catered for in-house, either coming from the kitchen of The Don, which serves modern European cuisine, or the Spanish-inspired menu of Bar 1790.

Good to know

Average Price
££££ - £50 - £79
Cuisines
British, Fusion, Wine Bars
Ambience
Contemporary, Cool, Lively, Luxury, Romantic, Traditional

Room options

The Don

The Don

Exclusive hire of a classic City Restaurant in the hear of the Square Mile that offers modern European cuisine with seasonal menus. A large diverse wine list with the City's largest selection of Ports and fine wines.

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Sandeman Room

Sandeman Room

12 seated capacity

Our most exclusive private room where we can accommodate up to 12 people

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Barrel Cellar

Barrel Cellar

53 seated capacity

A wonderfully historic space. This room can seats up to 54 guests.

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Bistro Room

Bistro Room

30 seated capacity

Intimate old Barrel Room seats up to 30 guests and 40 standing reception.

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Drapper

Drapper's Room

17 seated capacity

This room can seat up to 18 people and up to 40 guests in standing up reception.

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Bar 1790

Bar 1790

50 seated capacity

Exclusive hire of our Portuguese wine bar, contemporary and relaxed offering tapas-style dishes and a comprehensive wine and port list.

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This venue also offers

The Don
Restaurant

The Don

The Don
Event Party Venue

The Don

Location for The Don

21-23 St Swithin's Lane, City of London, London, EC4N 8AD

020 7621 1148

Website

Testimonials For The Don

Bar 1790 | A City Bar Celebrating The Sandeman Port DynastyMARCH, 2023

Since then the company has grown into one of the most widely respected port wineries in the world – and now they’re returning to where it all began. The Sandeman Quarter is a small conclave set within the original location of the bottling operation, right next to the Bank of England, and opposite the Rothschild’s London HQ – it’s got a members club, a restaurant, and the subject of today’s discussion: Bar 1790. Step inside, and you’ll find a nice, airy space with high ceilings, and dark hardwood furnishings all overlooked by crimson chandeliers, while the walls are adorned with huge prints of the vintage Sandeman port posters from the glorious heyday of Art Deco advertising in the early half of the last century. The drink menu is obviously quite an important thing here, and port is obviously quite an important thing on that – and rest assured, you can find whatever you’re in the mood for in that department – but there’s also a concise list of cocktails too, ranging from classics (a margarita here, a lavender gin fizz there, etc) to house originals like the Sandeman Sour, which blends whisky with lemon, sugar, and Tawny port to remarkably good effect.

JASON ALLEN THE NUDGE

If you’re in the mood for an evening of indulgence, then Bar 1790 should be at the top of your list. This wine bar, located in the heart of the City of London, is the perfect destination for anyone who wants to enjoy some delicious food and drink in an elFEBRUARY, 2023

Overall, Bar 1790 is a fantastic destination for anyone who loves great food and drink in a beautiful and historic setting. Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner for two or a lively night out with friends, this bar has something to offer everyone. And with an extensive wine list that features some of the best Portuguese wines around, you’re sure to find the perfect complement to your meal. The bar even offers a range of Port-based cocktails, which are a must-try for any Port lover. The service at Bar 1790 was impeccable. Our server was knowledgeable and friendly and made us feel right at home. They were happy to make recommendations and answer any questions we had about the menu. The attention to detail was impressive, with each dish presented beautifully and with care. While the prices at Bar 1790 may be on the higher side, the quality of the food, drink, and atmosphere make it well worth the investment. The bar is open from 8am until 11pm, Monday through Friday, so you can enjoy its offerings at any time of day. In addition to the food and drink, Bar 1790 offers a range of events, including wine courses, tastings, dinners, and seminars. There are even plans to introduce a private members club in the future. These events are a great way to learn more about Portuguese wines and to meet other wine enthusiasts.

By Louis Mennear LDN LONDON DAILY NEWS

RUPERT PARKER REVIEWS BAR 1790, A PORTUGUESE WINE BAR AND RESTAURANT IN THE CITY OF LONODNFEBRUARY, 2023

Bar 1790 is designed for relaxed dining and is pleasant surprise in the heart of the bustling City of London. It’s good to see a relatively short menu and the sharing concept works well. Even better, the restaurant promises an authentic taste of Portugal and the food and wine delivers exactly that.

RUPERT PARKER TRIPREPORTER

Roll out the barrel with Sandeman and Bar 1790 Port house Sandeman has a City of London heritage dating back centuries. Now it's returned with Bar 1790 and some damn good tapas. Plus port, obviously FEBRUARY, 2023

   THERE ARE TWO things you need for longevity in any industry: a quality product and a cool logo. (Disclaimer: this mightn’t be entirely true.) Sandeman Port House has both. The product is beyond dispute – ever since George and David Sandeman set up the business on Birchin Lane in 1790, Sandeman has produced consistently excellent port, wine and sherry for thirsty drinkers around the world. Not a bad return for an initial investment of £300. George ended up head honcho when David left to found the Commercial Bank of Scotland. He moved the business to St Swithins in 1805 as the cellars were ideal for ageing and storing the wines. Barrels were transported off the cargo boats on the Thames via an underground passage that led to the wine merchant. It’s a cool story. As for the logo – a silhouette of a caped Zorro lookalike brandishing a wine glass? Very, very cool. The silhouette being known as ‘the Don’? Even cooler. Coolest of all? Sandeman is returning to its City roots, opening a new restaurant and bar on St Swithins Lane. The Don restaurant will open soon but Bar 1790 is already welcoming diners – so naturally we dined there. Sandeman's historic cellars can be hired for private events. The Sandeman Room and the Barrel Cellar can seat up to 16 people, offering one of London’s most evocative dining experiences. Roll out the barrel indeed!

MAX WILLIAMS SQUARE MILE


FAQs

Can I bring in outside catering?

Discuss with the team, but preference would be in-house, from either The Don or Bar 1790.

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