8a

An unreconstructed weekday wine bar, eschewing gimmickry to the point of dowdiness: the only decorative additions to 8a’s green carpet are the incongruous posters featuring World Cup winners & a glamorous black-&-white of Kate Moss. At lunchtimes, suited regulars order club sandwiches (back-bacon with melted Austrian cheese, smoked halibut with Red Leicester) or Newmarket sausages from Musks. Pork pies come with organic beetroot chutney, & the ham served with egg & chips is from Dorset pigs. The well-priced worldwide wine list is 8a’s distinguishing factor, with 18 by the glass, ranging from Hacienda San Jose Malbec at £4.40 to Astoria Val de Brun Prosecco at £5.50. The location, down one of the narrow alleys between Liverpool Street station & Spitalfields Market, has time-warp appeal.