Balls Brothers

Though Balls Brothers wine bars could be seen as a more modern version of Davy’s, they are also dominated by hunting prints, brass rails and plenty of Burgundy and claret. The company is family-owned too (by Richard Balls), but it has more West End branches, with 15 wine bars overall. There’s also Gow’s, a restaurant and oyster bar near Liverpool Street station, and an Irish-themed venue, Mulligans of Mayfair. Food tends to be classic bar fare (skewers, fish cakes), but there are tastier main course options available, such as beer-battered haddock with chips and pea purée. A set of seven new, minimalist, banquette-filled bars called Lewis + Clarke has been recently rolled out – evidence that the owners are aware of recent bar trends.