This Shoreditch wine bar will soon serve Britain’s greatest toasties

Us Londoners are lucky to have become accustomed to elevated versions of classic fast foods. Gourmet pizzas, burgers made bougie and Michelin-starred chips are nothing new to the Big Smoke’s culinary scene. 

In recent years, the humble sandwich has risen to new heights, too. Hyped sarnie shop Dal Fiorentino has been delighting Londoners with its signature schiacciata sandos since 2022, and opened a new location in Notting Hill in March. Plus, this week sees the debut of Mondo To Go, a new sub spot in Deptford conceived by the team behind Camberwell diner Cafe Mondo.

Now, east London’s wine bar and deli Nekter is putting its best foot-long forward.

Nekter launched in Shoreditch in summer 2025, promising to pair low-intervention wines with chef collabs from some of the UK’s top Michelin-starred restaurants. The bar, founded by wine importer Jon Davey, focuses on wines produced outside of Europe, and bottles range from £18 to £400, featuring over 100 wines from California, South Africa and Australia. 

For the past decade, Davey has supplied top restaurants across the country, including Ynyshir, The Fat Duck in Bray and Shoreditch local The Clove Club. Longstanding relationships with these culinary icons has paved the way for an upcoming roster of luxurious toasties. 

Up first? ‘The Ynyshir’, made with a milk roll, Fat Cow cheese from the Highlands, black truffle and shiitake mushroom ketchup. The debut sando has been cooked up by Welsh chef Gareth Ward, whose restaurant Ynyshir, located in rural Wales, holds two Michelin Stars. Taking into account his impressive reputation and the £20 price tag, it’s fair to assume this definitely won’t be your average hoagie. 

Its debut gastronomic sub launches on April 14 and will be exclusive to Nekter, which operates as a deli and coffee spot by day before transforming into a wine bar in the evening.

Other Michelin-starred marvels are lined up to take over the kitchen at Nekter, including chef Alex Bond from Alchemilla and the culinary team behind Kent’s The Fordwich Arms. nose-to-tail Italian-inspired restaurant Manteca is also set to feature on the evolving toastie menu, and further collaborations will be announced.

Nekter, 3 Bowl Court, EC2A 3B.

Did you see that beloved London boat restaurant Caravel has been forced to shut?

Plus: this famous London private members’ club is opening to the public for the first time with a very fancy bakery.

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