First stop is the 1970s. The menu at Maggie Jones behind Kensington High Street in West London has not changed in 40 years. There's prawn cocktail, duck pate and chicken in tarragon sauce. The prices have barely budged either, with starters at £6 ($9), mains at £9 ($13) and £4 ($6) for a glass of wine. Best of all, they bring the wine bottle to your table and charge you by how much you drink. It's like a rabbit warren inside, with tables in squeezed into little nooks and crannies. All the couples look like they're having affairs. I read a review recently of Simpson's-in-the-Strand, a restaurant that opened in 1850, in which the writer described the restaurant as "old-fashioned." It went on to say: "Simpson's does not look like a place that changes." That could have been written yesterday—but is actually from 1899. The reviewer, Lieutenant-Colonel Newnham-Davis (how many restaurants reviewers nowadays have a military rank?), went on to say: "carvers. . . leisurely push carving dishes, with plated covers, running on wheels, from customer to customer."

Simpson's is a bit faded round the edges now, but in the wood paneled-dining room, white-coated waiters still push huge joints of roast beef around on trolleys.get red wine stain out of wood In a city like London with its vibrant culinary scene, it's easy to get swept up in the new—in pop-ups and food trucks, in Instagram-friendly dishes and on-trend vegetables—and forget about the familiar faces. best white wine in new zealandBut the city's longest-established restaurants also have some amazing food to offer. best red wines dryHere are 7 old-school London restaurants that aren't just old; best wine to buy for dinner

eating at them is like stepping back in time. PUBLISHED: 12:00 16 November 2016best wine towns in california Heidi Cullip of North London Wine Schoolwine bar logos and names A new wine school hopes to take the snobbery out of enjoying the fruit of the vine with “fun, informal” courses and tastings.Heidi Cullip held her inaugural North London Wine School course last month at Camden Town’s Irish Centre.The former marketing executive lined up six different grape varieties from both supermarkets and independents for her Introduction to Wine Tasting evening.“The people coming have been nervous if they’ve never done it before. There can still be that stigma of feeling you are not in the club,” she says.“But we are all about fun and informal winetasting for everybody. People can come along with friends as a social event or alone to learn something new.”

Cullip had “always loved wine” and enjoyed trying interesting new bottles with like-minded friends but bit the bullet when she took a six month sabbatical to travel around South and North America.Meeting producers and learning about different grape varieties was a life changing experience.“I realised this makes me happy. I was determined to make a career out of wine and make it part of my daily life.”Heidi took a WSSET course (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) course, and also volunteered at harvesting in The Mount Vineyard in Shoreham, Sussex.She now runs tastings and private events but says once her friends thought of her as a connoisseur many “refused to even look at the wine list when we eat out”.“They say ‘you choose’, but being into wine doesn’t turn you into a snob. I’ll happily drink a £6 bottle of prosecco.”She hopes to give course participants greater “breadth” in their wine tastes.“People say ‘I only drink Pinot Grigio’ ‘I don’t drink reds’.

It’s comfortable to stick to what you know and not try something new. People don’t want to make a mistake. But I want to help them understand their own taste, their preferred grape varieties and where to buy them – instead of getting what’s on offer from a supermarket in their weekly shop a good local independent will talk you through what you like, start to build a relationship and contact you when something interesting comes in.”She adds that wine courses are about making better decisions. “They have an idea that wine has to be expensive and are shocked when they taste one they really like for £8.99. There’s great wine out there for under £10 if you know where to look.”Many worry about swilling and spitting at tastings but Cullip has “seen it all and done it all” and reassures that “it’s a bit like smoking and not inhaling most people just drink it.”She finds huge satisfaction in running courses for total beginners.“A whole world opens up for them, they come with no knowledge whatsoever and leave with an enormous amount of knowledge and confidence and a little spark of interest.

I enjoy seeing that in people.”The next North London Wine School ‘Christmas Sparkling Wines and Champagne is on November 17 at the London Irish Centre in Camden Town, at 7pm. Participants will taste quality Champagne and compare it to the best sparkling wines from cool-climate locations around the world accompanied by matching food samples.The Institute of Masters of Wine launches Living Wine Symposium The Institute of Masters of Wine today officially launched the Living Wine Symposium at the Ministry of Agriculture in Madrid. The Institute’s 9th International Symposium will be held in Logroño, the heart of the Rioja region of Spain, from 14 to 17 June 2018.Hello and a very warm welcome to the Norfolk Wine School. We are an independent wine education company which hosts wine tastings and wine courses in Norfolk. We offer a range of wine events from introductory courses to more in-depth individually themed tastings. All events focus on enjoying wine in a relaxed and informal setting. 

No previous wine experience necessary. Why choose the Norfolk Wine School? "We had a great evening. I enjoy wine and this evening really helped increase my knowledge and appreciation, learning how different regions and climates result in very different tastes. Definately worth going and will hopefully enjoy further evenings" To see this review and others on tripadvisor click here Norfolk Wine School is delighted to host courses at The Library Restaurant, 4A Guildhall Hill, Norwich, NR2 1JH. This lovingly restored listed building, formerly the UK's 1st subscription libary, is now a thriving restaurant and bar in the heart of the city centre. Tastings are held in a private room on the 1st floor. We also host tastings and events at the popular St Andrews Brewhouse, 41 St Andrews Street, Norwich, NR2 4TP. This busy micro brewery and smoke house serves its own beers alongside an impressive range of craft beers and ales. Tastings are held in a comfortable private room on the 1st floor.