About The Pressoir

Some places announce themselves. The Pressoir prefers to be found. Tucked into Heritage Courtyard, a quiet cobbled corner off Sadler Street and a few steps from Wells Cathedral, it is the kind of place regulars lower their voices about, half hoping you won't tell anyone else. Push through the archway, past the greenery spilling over every ledge, and you arrive somewhere that feels a long way from the Market Place a minute behind you.

A name borrowed from the vineyard

Pressoir is the French word for a wine press, the beating heart of every harvest, and the name says almost everything about the place. The Pressoir is an independent wine bar, wine shop and kitchen run by David Schroetter, who grew up surrounded by the vineyards of the Loire Valley. That unhurried, French way of doing things, good wine, good food and no reason to rush, runs through the whole room.

Wine chosen by one person, not a committee

Every wine here is chosen by David himself, from hand-picked European growers, some of them found nowhere else in the UK. The shelves hold old and new world wines, champagnes and a few well-kept surprises, and our own house wines wear labels David paints by hand. Best of all, any bottle on the shop shelves can be drunk in for a small corkage fee, so the entire wine shop becomes your list. Browse the wine shop, or read more about our wine bar in Wells.

A kitchen with deep roots

The food is cooked by our chef Daniel, who has more than twenty years' cooking rooted in Wells, using seasonal ingredients from local producers. Mornings bring proper breakfasts and what more than a few regulars reckon is the best coffee in town. Afternoons bring French-inspired small plates, boards and specials chalked on the board. Come for breakfast, stay for lunch, or see the full menu.

Evenings worth planning around

Once a month, usually on the last weekend, the lights stay on later for our supper clubs: five courses cooked by Daniel, each paired with a wine David has chosen and loves to talk about. Add the occasional tasting evening and one-off themed nights, our Spanish and Basque dinners among them, and there is always something on the horizon. Read about our supper clubs and wine tasting evenings, and keep an eye on What's On at The Pressoir for dates.

Ways to make it yours

A few ways to bring a little of The Pressoir into the rest of your year:

Find us

Book a tableSee the menu

First time visiting? Our guide on how to find The Pressoir in Wells has directions, parking and buses. You can also explore our wine and coffee house.