BYOB has moved beyond cheap student nights in the 1970s; here’s why Londoners are engaging with this rapidly expanding trend in the restaurant scene.
1. There’s a legitimate choice beyond just buying off list.
In London, a standard mark-up is 3-4 x the price you would pay in a shop. That means the charge for a glass is often more than for a bottle at home. Many restaurants in our guide let you bring your own bottles at no extra charge, whereas others charge corkage. Even if the fee is £25 on a £30 bottle, you’re paying £55 for a £30 bottle, not £100 on list. It’s “BYOB vinonomics”, not “being cheap”.
2. You know what works.
Many restaurant lists are built for consensus, not for a fiery vindaloo or a complex regional dish. If your wine rack at home holds the perfect off-dry Riesling or bold Chenin, you become the sommelier.
3. Drink your own history.
That Bordeaux from a milestone year, the Burgundy from a trip. A list sells stock. Your cellar tells a story. That story gets a fitting end at the restaurant of your choice, creating new memories.
4. Find the real London.
The city’s most thrilling food is often found at the BYOB-friendly Punjabi dhaba, the Thai cafe, and the family-run Sardinian spot. The corkage policy is a sign of authenticity, not a lack of ambition.
5. Crack the Michelin code.
The smart play isn’t the blow-out dinner if you want to try a celebrated restaurant. It’s the £65 set lunch. Bring a serious bottle, and for under £100 a head, you’ve had a Michelin experience with Michelin-level wine for a fraction of the cost.
6. The Corkage fee is your best bargain.
For £15-£30, you rent the glassware, ice bucket, and service. You turn their table into your private dining room. It’s the most cost-effective “staff hire” in town (but don’t abuse it, and remember to tip).
7. The shop is part of the event.
If you’re not bringing wine from your collection, your first act is to visit your local independent wine merchant. Discussing the menu, matching wines to your taste and budget, or getting tips on the latest wine trends that many restaurants haven’t caught up on. You’re not just buying wine; you’re curating your whole experience.
8. Choose the alcohol units you consume.
Life’s too short to waste your intended weekly alcohol units on mediocre, over-priced house wine. If you wish to drink less but better, do it for less, too. Intentional drinking doesn’t have to come with an inflated price tag.
9. It’s a great leveller.
Going to a restaurant as a group, not everyone has the same taste in wine. Or the same budget. BYOB lets you bring something you like and keep the evening’s costs under control. Especially useful at the end of the month!
10. BYOB creates its own vibe
There’s a unique atmosphere to places like Hawksmoor on a Monday night, packed full of wine trade and wine collectors paying just £5 corkage for whatever-sized bottle they bring along. Or a girls’ night out eating Mezze in a Persian restaurant, where each bottle of New Zealand Sauvignon they’ve brought along costs less than buying a glass of the same wine in a pub. Same cost, different experience.
The truth is, many restaurants now offer corkage because they have to. Rising costs mean BYOB nights are one of the few levers they can pull to stay full on quieter nights. This ever-changing landscape is one of the reasons we have built our comprehensive live guide. Diners can no longer rely on static “best BYOB” lists that name the same handful of usual suspects, often with inaccurate and outdated information.
That’s precisely why we built the 2026 London BYOB Guide. It’s curated by wine professionals, not Ai. In addition to the descriptions of the restaurants and policies, it includes an integrated pinned Google map and weekly updates, collaborating with our trade contacts to share insider knowledge of new restaurants coming on board and changes to existing policies. And beyond being a resource that can potentially save you hundreds of pounds over a year, there are also useful wine trade hacks, BYOB strategy tips and deep dives on food and wine pairing to enhance your experience.
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👉 Find out more about BYOB City Guides on our website here.
👇 Also available as a PODCAST on this page.
Bon appétit!
Alastair
Founder, BYOB City Guides