NZ wine expert Mel Brown to open Brixton wine shop and bistro

Located in an Edwardian building on Coldharbour Lane, The Laundry will trade throughout the day and focus “on simple, quality ingredients and diligent care and attention paid to provenance, whilst honouring classical techniques’.

The Laundry will have a mix of banquettes, bar and counter seating alongside two PDRs that seat a total of 25 guests, plus a south-facing ‘Parisian inspired’ terrace next to Brixton Village. Interiors will feature antique mirrors, plush emerald greens and vintage furniture sourced by Brown, against original walls and tiled-floor backdrops.

Upon arriving in the UK in 2015 Brown worked as a chef for Peter Gordon at his restaurant The Providores & Tapa Room in Marylebone (her London CV also includes Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen and wine-focused restaurant chain Vinoteca).

She went on to found wine bar and online retailers The New Zealand Cellar and The Australian Cellar, which specialise in Antipodean wines rarely seen in the UK.

“The Laundry is an exciting coming together of my diverse experience in hospitality and travel over the last 20 years,” says Brown. “Creating an understated environment, quality food offering and a playful, accessible wine list is testament to the integrity of this beautifully-restored Brixton landmark.”