What is BYOB?
BYOB means bringing your own wine to a restaurant. Some charge a fee (corkage) to open and serve it. Some don't charge anything. It's legal and saves you money compared to buying from restaurant wine lists.
Why Do It?
Restaurant wine lists mark up 3-4 times retail price. A £20 bottle costs £60-£80 on most lists. With £20 corkage, you're paying £40 instead of £70. You also drink better quality - the £30 bottle you bring beats the £30 list option that cost them £10 wholesale. If you've bought wine from merchants or cellared bottles, BYOB lets you drink them with food cooked by chef at a restaurant compared to your own cuisine.
Why Do Restaurants Allow It?
Unlicensed restaurants allow BYOB because they can't sell alcohol themselves. No licence means customers bring their own or don't drink at all. Licensed restaurants use it strategically. Wine collectors buy bottles that don't appear on any restaurant list - en primeur Bordeaux, natural wines from tiny producers, direct purchases from vineyards. Restaurants can either charge £25-£50 corkage and keep the booking, or lose the customer entirely. Monday deals like Hawksmoor's £5 corkage exist to fill the quietest night of the week. Better to have tables spending £80 on food with minimal corkage than empty tables earning nothing. It's business strategy, not generosity. But it works for both sides.
How It Works
Ring ahead to confirm they accept BYOB and ask about fees and limits. Hand bottles to staff when you arrive at smart restaurants. At casual places, bring them to your table. Tip properly - if you've saved £80 on wine markup, reflect that in your tip. Match wine to venue. Don't bring supermarket basics to Michelin restaurants or waste good bottles at casual spots. BYOB is a privilege restaurants extend, not a customer right.
What It Costs
Free - unlicensed restaurants (curry houses, Vietnamese, Turkish, Kurdish) £5-£15 - casual venues or Monday deals; £20-£35 - mid-range restaurants; £40-£75 - fine dining with professional wine service. Policies change regularly.
What's Available?
180+ London restaurants accept BYOB. 60+ charge nothing. Cuisines from 36 countries - Indian, Vietnamese, Turkish, French, Italian, Korean, Georgian, Persian, and more. Including Michelin-starred. Corkage ranges from free to £100 depending on venue and day. This guide lists them all with verified fees, updated weekly.
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