In 1790, a 25 year-old George Sandeman set up as a wine merchant on Birchin Lane, importing Ports and Sherries from Portugal and Spain. Sandeman moved the business to St Swithins Lane in 1805 as the cellars were ideal for ageing and storing the wines and were easily accessed by an underground passage from the Thames. The barrels were rolled off the ships – which were moored on the Thames near where Cannon Street Station stands today – and up the passage to the cellars.
These cellars now offer some of the City’s finest sites for private dining. There is a wonderful heritage dining room for up to 12 people called the Sandeman Room, as well as the old Barrel Cellar, which offers one of the largest private dining spaces in the City.
