Adam Elsden is the man in charge of the newly opened Back Room Wine Bar, which, incidentally, has already been voted Number One Popup by Metro. Tucked away a short walk from Liverpool Street, the wine bar serves Peruvian coffee and PRESS London juices by day, and an innovative and ever-changing wine list by night.
As the name suggests, the Back Room is intimate and inviting. It’s all soft lighting and gorgeous tiling, with unassuming wooden stools and brown leather chairs dotted around the small space. It’s reminiscent of somebody’s own kitchen-cum-dining room, just a very stylish somebody.
Adam’s encyclopaedic knowledge of wines has seen him create a rather exciting wine list for the Back Room. Sourced from local merchants, the wine list changes weekly, something that Adam says allows him to keep ‘an interesting mix of old and new-world wines’ which excite and challenge visitors. Champagne Jean Boucton is one of the wines on the list next door at The Kitty Hawk, and it fits perfectly amongst the other niche high-end offerings. Adam is resolute in his quest to bring innovative wines to the city and galvanise the wine world.
Sinking into the leather seats you can see his vision unfolding. He’s casting off the staid and stuffy image of sommeliers and wine bars from yesteryear. In its place, the Back Room offers a relaxed and fresh setting to enjoy wines of substance, each with a unique history, character, and personality. As a glass of Champagne Jean Boucton is poured, Adam is on hand to enlighten his captivated audience about its rich history. Whether you’re a wine aficionado or a complete beginner, Adam encourages visitors to the Back Room to ‘have a bit of fun with what your knowledge is’, if not he will happily guide you.
The Back Room is already being talked about for all the right reasons and it’s easy to see why. With jazz music playing in the background and another Jean Bouton Cuvee being enjoyed Adam leaves me with the parting thought that ‘I don’t tell people what to drink; I try to advise them about what’s available. I tell stories. It gives people a fun working knowledge of wine.’