Brut & Barrel, an underground cava and natural wine bar at 15 Dormer Place, opens on Friday 30 October. Hours, the counter menu and what to know before you go.
A cava bar in a basement on Dormer Place opens to the public this Friday. Brut & Barrel, at 15 Dormer Place, says on its website that it opens on Friday 30 October.
It describes itself as “a standing-room cava and natural wine bar” serving cold Spanish food. The room is on the lower ground floor, down a flight of stairs from the street. The bar says to look for “the gap in the iron railings”, a short walk from the Royal Pump Rooms.
The bar was started by Ross and Hannah Forshaw, who are named as its founders on the site.
Opening hours
The website gives these hours:
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Wednesday and Thursday | 3pm to 11pm |
| Friday and Saturday | 12pm to 1am |
| Sunday | 12pm to 10pm |
| Monday and Tuesday | Closed (“for now”) |
It is a walk-in bar. Standing room is first come, first served, so there is nothing to book for a normal visit. On Wednesdays the whole room can be hired privately, through an enquiry form on the site.
What is on the menu
The house cava, called La Cueva 15, is a private-label brut and rosado. The bar pours it from a porrón, the Spanish glass jug with a long spout, by the glass, carafe or bottle. Alongside it the site lists:
- four or five other cavas open at any time, on a rotating list
- Spanish natural wines by the glass, changing each quarter
- two taps of Spanish craft lager, plus bottled Alhambra Reserva 1925
- cocktails
The counter menu published on the website is cold Spanish plates. Some of the prices listed:
- Gilda (olive, guindilla pepper, Cantabrian anchovy): £4.50
- Carlingford oysters with a vermouth granita: £4 each
- salmorejo, the chilled Córdoban tomato soup, with Ibérico ham: £7.50
- cured Ibérico pork carpaccio: £14
- Galician beef tartare: £16.50
The site also says “the full list comes closer to opening”, so treat these as a guide until the doors open.
A loyalty club before it opens
Brut & Barrel is already signing people up to a free club. The site says members get:
- a free carafe after ten visits
- a glass on their birthday
- first word when the bar opens
What it means for you
If you want to try it, Friday 30 October is the first day. Wednesday and Thursday open at 3pm, and Friday to Sunday from midday. Expect a small, busy room: it is mostly standing, and walk-ins only.
One thing to know first. There is no step-free access. Entry is by stairs only, and the bar asks anyone affected to get in touch before visiting. Contact details are on its website.
Dormer Place runs off the Parade beside the Pump Room Gardens. For parking nearby, see our guide to parking in Leamington.
Have your say