Renegade London Winery: Inside East London's Pioneering Urban Winery
Introduction to Renegade London Winery
Tucked away on a light industrial estate in Walthamstow and running a cosier wine bar and shop in Bethnal Green, Renegade London Winery is one of the capital's most distinctive urban wineries. Founded in 2016, the team buys top-quality, hand-harvested grapes from vineyards around the UK and continental Europe, races them back to London, and turns them into around a dozen distinctive wines each year in the heart of East London.
Far from a typical vineyard estate, Renegade is a working winery that doubles as a neighbourhood bar and kitchen. Visitors can watch wine being made while enjoying a flight, a cheese board, or a glass on the mezzanine overlooking the tanks and barrels. Below, we take a deep dive into the story, the wines, the venues, and the events calendar that make this one of the most exciting producers in the English capital.
The Renegade Story: From Copycat to Trailblazer
When the Renegade team started making wine in 2016, they did what most new producers do. They asked growers how they should make wine with their grapes and followed the answers. They soon realised this was a mistake.
Unlike in France, Italy or Spain, there is no strong tradition, legislation or consumer expectation in the English wine industry, so producers are not limited in terms of the styles they can or are allowed to make. London, meanwhile, has long been a centre of innovation, craft and quality food and drink, and should be leading the charge on new wine styles and winemaking approaches using both ancient and modern techniques.
In 2017, the team changed. Today, they make around 12 to 14 wines a year, from classical styles with a twist to wines that are entirely unique. Alongside the core range, a rotating cast of new styles appears each vintage. Annual production sits around 40,000 to 60,000 bottles; modest by international standards but substantial for an urban winery with only a handful of staff.
Sourcing the Grapes
The benefit of being an urban winery that works with small vineyards is the ability to cherry-pick the best fruit from the best growers, year after year. A winery attached to its own vineyard usually has to make wine from whatever those vines produce in a given season. Renegade does not have that constraint.
Just as a chef can select in-season vegetables from the best growers, Renegade can change suppliers and pick the best grapes depending on the weather, regional variances and other external factors. Around 50% of the grapes come from Europe - France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany - while the rest comes from sunny England. The diversity of climates means there are almost no limits to what styles the winery can produce.
Wherever the grapes come from, they are hand-harvested and put into small crates to keep the fruit intact for the journey ahead. They are then shipped to London in refrigerated trucks, set to 2 degrees Celsius to stop any fermentations from occurring en route.
The Winemaking Process
Once the grapes arrive at the Walthamstow winery, the small team processes them on site: from destemming, pressing and fermentation through to ageing and bottling. The site is home to over 100 oak barrels - mostly French, some Hungarian and American, mostly used and some new - that are used for fermentation and ageing.
Every label in the Renegade range shows the eyes of a different person who lives in the UK. They may not have been born here, they may not have gone to school here, but they are part of this country. As the team puts it, the best thing about the UK is not the weather; it is the people. Students, plumbers, researchers, the unemployed, the retired, newspaper editors, receptionists, teachers and HR executives aged between 19 and 70+ have all featured. They are straight, gay, transgender and queer; white, black, Asian and mixed race; from all walks of life. Anyone can apply to be on the labels.
Visit Renegade: The Two East London Venues
Renegade operates two distinct venues in East London, each with its own character and opening hours. The original Bethnal Green site was joined by a brand-new Walthamstow winery, bar and kitchen in the summer of 2021.
Walthamstow (E17) - The Working Winery
The Walthamstow venue is where all of Renegade's wines are produced. Tucked into a unit on Lockwood Way, the site combines a state-of-the-art winery with a bar and a kitchen residency, allowing visitors to drink wine just a few feet from where it was made. The mezzanine level and outdoor seating area overlook the wetlands, and there is a large front-of-house space where private events, weddings and large bookings can be hosted.
- Address: Renegade Urban Winery, Unit 7, Lockwood Way, London, E17 5RB
- Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3370 7739
- Opening Hours: Thursday 5pm-11pm, Friday 12pm-11pm, Saturday 12pm-11pm, Sunday 12pm-6pm
The mezzanine holds about 85 people seated and the ground floor can accommodate over 100. For large bookings of seven or more, full or half venue hire, private wine tastings, or wedding and special-event enquiries, use the Group Bookings & Events Enquiry form. Walk-ins are also welcome at most regular sessions.
To book a table at Walthamstow, use the dedicated DesignMyNight link: Book a Table at Walthamstow.
Bethnal Green (E2) - Wine Bar & Shop
The original Renegade site sits down a leafy Bethnal Green alleyway at Arch 12, Gales Gardens. It now operates as a wine bar and takeaway shop, pouring the full Renegade range alongside a small, carefully chosen food menu.
- Address: Renegade Wine Bar - Bethnal Green, Arch 12, Gales Gardens, London, E2 0EJ
- Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3638 2479
- Opening Hours: Monday CLOSED, Tuesday-Friday 5pm-11pm, Saturday 2pm-11pm, Sunday 2pm-9pm
To book a table at Bethnal Green, use the dedicated DesignMyNight link: Book a Table at Bethnal Green. Large bookings of seven or more, full or half venue hire, and private wine tastings should also go through the central Events Enquiry form.
LEO at Renegade - The Kitchen Residency
Inside the Walthamstow winery sits LEO at Renegade, a modern bistro built around the idea that food and wine made under the same roof should be enjoyed together. The kitchen team incorporates the wines and elements of the winemaking process into the cooking, using wine lees, skins and other by-products straight from the tank and barrel.
The team recommends sharing dishes across the menu and exploring the pairings suggested by the floor team. Menus are split into a Thursday-to-Saturday offering, a Sunday menu and a Little Winemakers menu designed for younger diners and families. Drinks and full wine lists can be downloaded as PDFs.
Wines: Diverse by Name, Diverse by Nature
Renegade's range changes regularly as new vintages and experimental small batches are released. The team makes 12 to 14 wines each year, covering classical styles with a twist alongside completely new approaches. The core range sits alongside limited releases, and stockists across London and beyond pour Renegade by the glass and bottle.
Online orders are processed Monday to Friday. London same-day and next-day orders ship via Quiver, a zero-emissions delivery partner (cut-off 3pm), while standard delivery goes via DHL (1-2 days, cut-off 12pm). Renegade gift cards are available to buy online and can be redeemed at the online shop.
Tours and Tastings at the Urban Winery
The headline experience at Renegade is the E17 Winery Tour & Tasting, held every Saturday afternoon at the Walthamstow winery. Lasting one hour from 14:00 to 15:00, the experience starts with a behind-the-scenes look at how the wines are made, followed by a guided tasting of four Renegade wines, all produced on site.
- Price: £25.00 per person
- Duration: 1 hour
- Time: 14:00 - 15:00 every Saturday
- Meeting Point: Renegade Urban Winery, Unit 7, Lockwood Way, London, E17 5RB (do not go to Bethnal Green)
- Nearest Station: Blackhorse Road (Overground & Victoria Line)
Book directly through DesignMyNight: Book Your Saturday Afternoon Winery Tour & Tasting Ticket. The tour also works brilliantly as a gift - digital gift cards are available via the DesignMyNight voucher page.
The Events Calendar
Renegade runs a busy weekly events programme across both venues. Below are the headline series.
E17 Cheese & Wine Club
Every Thursday, the Walthamstow winery hosts the Cheese & Wine Club: a sharing platter of artisan cheese and charcuterie served with a flight of three pairing wines. It is the perfect opportunity to learn how the palate reacts to different cheese and wine combinations while getting acquainted with the Renegade range. From 7.30pm the in-house pianist tinkles the ivories on the Baby Grand. The price is £19 per person. Book a table via the Walthamstow page.
E17 Live Pianist Evenings
Also every Thursday, the in-house pianist returns to play alongside two snack plates from LEO and a glass of Renegade wine, all for just £16. Marketed as "perfect for mates and perfect for dates," it is one of the most affordable ways to spend an evening at the winery.
E17 Pinot & Bambino
Every Friday from 12:00 to 17:00, parents are invited to meet up with friends and their bambinos for a glass of pinot, a few glasses of Renegade wine, and modern British small plates from the LEO kitchen. High chairs, play mats, a play pen and toys are provided for the little ones, so the grown-ups can relax.
E2 Cheese & Wine Pairing Evening
On the first Wednesday of every month, the Bethnal Green wine bar hosts an intimate cheese and wine pairing evening. Four Renegade wines are matched with four British cheeses for £30 per person. Guests are guided through each pairing one at a time, learning the two main approaches to pairing wine with cheese. All levels of wine knowledge are welcome. Tickets are booked via DesignMyNight.
Weddings and Private Venue Hire
Renegade's Walthamstow space is the perfect wedding venue for couples who want something delightfully different. The large industrial room can flex from intimate gatherings to epic celebrations: the mezzanine seats about 85 people and the ground floor can accommodate over 100. The LEO kitchen can cater from elevated canapés and group feasting to buffets and street food. There is also a large outdoor space at the front (for an outside bar and entertainment) and a hidden garden at the back overlooking the wetlands.
At Bethnal Green, the team hosts micro weddings down the alleyway wine bar. Large bookings of up to 20 people, half venue hires up to 40 and full venue hires of up to 80 are all possible. For both spaces, festive-season hires are also offered with no hire fee, a reasonable minimum spend on half and full venue hires, competitive drinks packages, festive sharing menus (E17) or platters (E2), and optional tastings and tours for £10 per person. Enquire via the Venue Hire and Weddings pages.
Volunteering and Careers
Renegade is a small team, and additional pairs of hands are always welcome, especially during harvest in September and October. From stomping and destemming grapes to bottling and labelling, volunteers get a real insight into winemaking. While the work is unpaid, the team supplies coffee, lunch and (of course) wine. Sign up via the Volunteer at the Winery page to join the distribution list.
For 2026, Renegade is also recruiting a Harvest Cellar Hand to work directly alongside winemaker Sam during Vintage 2026 (mid-September to early November). The role is based at the Walthamstow winery, on a seasonal contract at London Living Wage. Applications are sent to careers@renegadelondonwine.com; full role details are on the Careers page.
Press, Stockists and Recognition
Renegade has been covered by national and international press since launch. Highlights include MyLondon's feature on "the London winery hidden on an industrial estate", Decanter's piece on "Urban wineries: the London scene", City AM's profile on Renegade wine made in Bethnal Green "with YOUR face on it," Glug Magazine's "Inner City Winemaking" feature, and a YouTube tasting with Warwick Smith via The English Wine Collection.
On the trade side, Renegade's wines are poured at dozens of London restaurants, bars and shops. Stockists include Silo, Fallow, The Standard Hotel, Six Senses, Brunswick House, Heist Bank, Quality Wines, Roe, Apricity, Coin Laundry, Riding Wine Company, Vagabond Urban Winery, Vining Street Wine Club, Saltine, Great British Pizza Co, KERB, Pick & Cheese, Heist Bank, Kask, Linden Stores, Llewelyns, Little Fires, The Cheese Bar, Angela's of Margate, Tern, GB Pizza, Dukes, Dove, Albers, Acme Fire Cult, Anello, Alice House, sYp, and many more. Off-trade stockists include Eat 17, Forty Hall Farm Shop, Guzzl, Hackney Essentials, Mare Street Market, Not Another Bill, Pig's Ears, Superette (Upper Street and Swain's Lane), The Whistling Oyster, Wild + Lees, Yardarm, Yield N16, Breid Arch, Delli and Drops Margate.
Plan Your Visit
Whether you are after a glass of something a little different in East London, a Saturday tour of a working winery, or a wedding venue with serious character, Renegade London Winery delivers on all three. Drop in for a spontaneous tasting, book ahead for the Saturday tour, or hire the whole space for an event to remember.
- Wines online: Buy Renegade wines
- Book a table (Walthamstow): DesignMyNight
- Book a table (Bethnal Green): DesignMyNight
- Winery tour tickets: DesignMyNight
- Events calendar: What's On
- Follow on Instagram: @renegadeurbanwinery
Conclusion
Renegade London Winery is proof that world-class, innovative wine can be made anywhere - even on a light industrial estate in Walthamstow. By combining hand-harvested fruit from the best UK and European growers with a passionate, opinionated winemaking philosophy, the team has built one of the most distinctive producers in the English capital. From the Saturday winery tour and tasting to the Thursday Cheese & Wine Club, the Friday Pinot & Bambino sessions, the monthly E2 pairing evenings, and a packed calendar of weddings and private hire, there is a Renegade experience for almost every kind of visitor. Book a tour, raise a glass, and taste what urban English wine can be.