Jimmy Stephenson, former General Manager and partner at Hill & Szrok, will open Hector’s bottle shop and wine bar in De Beauvoir, inspired by the cave à mangers of Paris and drinking holes of San Sebastian.
Having spent over a decade in hospitality, Stephenson brings his extensive knowledge and passion for well made wines to Ardleigh Road. Stephenson has spent the last seven years building the wine list at Hill & Szrok Butchers and Cookshop, taking it from 6 to 300 and an award-winning list.
Many of these wines will follow him to Hector’s which will also recreate the intimate and relaxed sit-in experience.
Luca Mathiszig-Lee, owner of Hill & Szrok, is on board as a partner at Hector’s, bringing with him a wealth of food and drink expertise in both restaurants and retail too.
Influenced by the cave à mangers of Paris and his favourite drinking holes of San Sebastian, Stephenson will sell a mixture of natural and classic European wines. Hector is a Stephenson family name and Hector’s is a family business.
Opening with his wife, actress Anna Shaffer, the pair are keen for Hector’s to be a neighbourhood establishment with an emphasis on dynamic wines and small plates at accessible prices for those who want to while away an evening in a cosy local spot.
Hector’s will be open as a bottleshop Tuesday through Sunday where customers will be able to pick up a bottles from a broad range of new school natural wines, classic appellations and rare gems.
The wines will be mainly European, with an emphasis on Italian, French and Spanish wines, plus a good selection of grower Champagnes. These will be available to purchase online within a few weeks of opening.
Weekdays look like espressos (from local roasters Climpsons Coffee), baked goods and bocadillos, and Hector’s will be a place to drop by and enjoy the midday sunshine. Come evenings (and weekend afternoons), it seamlessly morphs into the perfect spot for a glass of wine too. Then, the space will serve a short, regularly changing selection of wines by the glass, with new, interesting bottles opened daily.
A cellar list of unusual and rare vintages will also be available, and guests will be able to drink-in any of the bottles on sale at the bottle shop for a corkage fee of £15. There will also be a menu of cold brewed loose leaf teas, served in wine glasses from The Rare Tea Company, and a small selection of low and no alcohol wines.
The food offering will be a selection of small plates that draw on Stephenson and Shaffer’s travels and love of European bar food, supplied by local East and North London suppliers, such as Furanxo in Dalston and Provisions in Holloway.
Dishes on offer might feature Cantabrian anchovies soaked in olive oil with rose petals; Courgette carpaccio with fresh cheese; Salted Catalan almonds; Tins of Sardines on toast, Jamon Iberico and Pâté en croûte, made especially for Hector’s by George Jephson.
There will be a concise menu of rotating bocadillos available from lunchtime through until the evening, such as Tortilla with Spanish red peppers and Jamón con tomate, with bread supplied by Jumi in Newington Green. Guest chefs will also be invited to collaborate for takeover weekends and events.
?Much like Hill & Szrok, Stephenson has designed a central table with a dual purpose of day time retail counter and evening bar. Banquette seating and counters surround the rest of the space to create an intimate and cosy atmosphere. The back room will be a feature cellar, with a central marble table that doubles up as a PDR and tasting room. Hector’s will also have outside seating for the summer months.?
Stephenson says of the opening: “I’m so excited to be bringing a slice of Europe to De Beauvoir. Not only do I love the relaxed but enthusiastic European way of eating and drinking but the cultural emphasis on family. This is our family business and it’s all about unfussy but tasty food and classic and exciting wines. I want to create a spot I would want to buy wine from but also a place I would feel welcome to pull up a chair and settle down for an evening. I hope people will feel at home here.”
