People of Bermondsey : Christophe Lechevalier, owner of Lechevalier Wine Bar & Shop
Please introduce yourself and your business.
My name is Christophe Lechevalier, owner of Lechevalier Wine Bar & Shop, an independent business based on 85 Tower Bridge Road. We specialise in four products: wine, cheese, charcuterie and bread.
We sell wines from around the world, mainly organic, biodynamic and natural, and wine on tap. Our cheeses are sourced from the best wholesalers in the U.K, while we import our charcuterie directly from Italy. Our sourdoughs come from Artisan Foods, whose owner is my business partner and friend.
How did your Bermondsey/SE1 story begin?
I started working on Borough Market in 2000 while studying for my degree in Design and Technology. My career in hospitality began in the 90s, but in Borough, my understanding of food and wine began to crystallise. Back in the early days of the market, farmers, wholesalers, and importers would go for a pint at the Market Porter or The Wheatsheaf after work. The banter was incredible, but the conversations about their products were the most fascinating. So much learning took place then.
Borough Market is also where I met my lovely wife Diane, so it holds a special place in my heart. We moved to SE1 in 2001 and never looked back. When I opened Lechevalier in May 2017, it made perfect sense to stay in the area.
What does a typical day look like at Lechevalier Wine Bar & Shop?
We are open from Thursday to Sunday. Daytime is about ordering products from our suppliers, receiving them, and serving customers in the shop.
We attend wine tastings early in the week, or wine merchants visit us at the bar on Thursdays or Fridays. Out of a list of 120, we will get 60 new wines annually! That's a lot of tasting and researching. We are lucky to be working with the best suppliers in the U.K. It is a lot of fun to discover lesser-known grapes, regions and winemakers.
Daytime is also about admin and answering requests for our Wednesday private group tasting events. I love doing these evenings when the bar is closed. It allows me to focus on communicating my passion and knowledge of wine. The last tasting we organised was themed "Journey into the weird and wonderful". It was an opportunity to dig some bottles from my private collection, taste them and talk about them.
Evening times are all about our customers at the bar, and everything has to be ready when they arrive.
Since you mention the evening service, what do you recommend to a new customer spending time at the bar?
That is such a difficult question to answer! I love all of my products, and I find it difficult to prioritise one over another. However, I have a soft spot for our brie, mature and served with roasted red onions and leeks. The Finocchina salami with fennel seeds from Italy is very popular and is perfect with a glass of light red wine.
Our job is to identify what our customers feel like as soon as they sit down with us. We try to share our knowledge in a relaxed and casual manner. Wine can be intimidating, so it is essential to shake the stuffiness out, which is why we share our expertise in a relaxed and informal way. We encourage our customers to try our wines before committing to them. Once the wine is selected, we will recommend cheeses and charcuterie to match. We offer a comprehensive list of cheeses and charcuterie plates, so there are many options. We aim to take our customers on a journey.
Share with us one of your favourite memorable customer experiences at Lechevalier.
Just a week or so back, a lady came in looking upset. She explained that the flat she had booked for her stay in London was horrific. So she came to us hoping that a bottle of wine and some charcuterie would brighten her mood. She picked up a couple of things, left the shop, and returned a few minutes later to get a glass at the bar. Luma and Claudio spent an hour talking to her – she left in a much better place than she was at the start. It's incredible how a simple chat and wine can change someone's day.
Another memorable evening was when Michael (The owner of the Roebuck on Great Dover Street) sat at the bar with a friend, and we both realised we were born on the same day, month and year. If I remember well, he was born a few hours before me, or was it the other way around? Or maybe that Friday when the comedian Tom Allen walked in to buy a bottle of wine for a dinner party. I clumsily cracked a joke, and he laughed. Can you believe it? I made Tom Allen laugh!
How do you feel about the changes in Bermondsey/SE1 over the years?
Change is inevitable, especially in a city like London. So I do embrace it. It is great getting to know new people and businesses. It always bugs me that a place so close to the most iconic bridge in the world is still developing!
Businesses in Bermondsey/SE1 you couldn’t live without?
Manze Pie and Mash are my next-door neighbours, and we get on very well. They often accept deliveries on my behalf, and that is so helpful. We often find the time to share a giggle with the staff.
Tower Electric is essential to me too. It is one of these old fashion household DIY shops that every high street should have.
Where in Bermondsey/SE1 do you like to spend your downtime?
Now and then, I go to Borough Market, usually on a weekday, to catch up with some old friends and traders. I buy a few bits and pieces, go home, put on some music, and cook. The Spit and Sawdust on Bartholomew Street is a great place to visit. The staff are very knowledgeable and always have a sour on tap.
Tokoton Ramen on the same street is also worth discovering, and it is becoming a regular place to eat out. Terry's Cafe is a firm favourite. Austin comes to me to get a bit tipsy, and I go to him to nurse my hangovers! Pique-Nique is also a place I love to go to. Sylvain's cuisine takes me back home for a few hours. Diane and I should visit back soon; it has been a while.
