Jay Patel to open new wine bar LUNA in 2025

Jay Patel, the entrepreneur and founder of NinthCollective restaurants including the Michelin Bib Gourmand-awarded Legare, has announced the opening of a new wine bar and restaurant, LUNA, in the spring of 2025. The establishment will be located on Shad Thames, directly opposite Legare. LUNA will feature a 28-seat interior, a counter dining bar, and an additional 6-8 seats on a terrace facing the Thames, operational during the warmer months.

The concept for LUNA is inspired by the moon’s influence on biodynamic winemaking. It will occupy the premises formerly held by the oil & spice shop of D&D’s Le Pont de la Tour Food Store, which closed in 2023. It bar aims to emulate the style of traditional London wine bars focusing on classic wine styles rather than the natty (natural wine) trend prevalent in recent times.

Patel has expressed a commitment to working with suppliers known for their ethical farming practices and portfolios featuring prominent old-world producers. Among them, there’s Dynamic Vines, for example, and its Burgundy wines produced by Athénaïs de Béru, a distinguished female winemaker in France.

The food menu at LUNA will be managed by Matt Beardmore, currently the head chef at Legare and soon to be the executive chef across Patel’s NinthCollective restaurant group. While the menu is still under development, it is expected to offer dishes such as oysters, crudos, carpaccios, and freshly prepared French fries.

Patel commented about the upcoming launch: “We are really proud of our little corner of the world in Shad Thames and what we’ve created here with Legare over the last five years – there is so much history, from the legacy that Conran and D&D built with LPT through to the second wave of Shad Thames with businesses such as The Watch House and ourselves making their mark. It feels like there is a real resurgence in the area, and we are super excited to finally introduce our new wine bar to our loyal local customers who’ve supported us, and those who travel from across London and further afield to dine with us over the last five years at Legare.”

The design of LUNA will be handled by Herb Palmer, a furniture designer who has previously collaborated with Patel on Legare. The interior will present elements such as darker wood tones, dim lighting, and candles to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. The decor will entail reclaimed Moroccan zellige tiles, wood-panelled walls adorned with nostalgic artwork, and a prominent wall clock from the site’s previous incarnation, adding a historical touch to the modern space.

Food Desk

For further information and updates, check the Instagram account @luna_winebar.