Gerry's Wines & Spirits

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by Mike Whyte (subscribe)

Visit me at mykadelicaphotos.webs.com - a creative, friendly space for creative, friendly people...

Published July 16th 2014

A treasure trove of booze

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There are many places you could go to buy booze in the big ol' city called London - you have corner shops, off licences, wine shops and of course the omnipresent supermarkets - all of which you can guarantee will give you a drop of the good stuff when you feel like it. There is only one Gerry's though - and here is why you should go there...

First of all, let me tell you how to find it. As you head into the heart of Soho you will see Old Compton Street, and towards the central end (towards Wardour Street) you will see one of the greatest displays of alcohol you have ever seen. This is Gerry's.

About that display - you can see alcohol of every description and strength, packed into bottles of every conceivable colour, size and design. Want your alcohol to come packaged in a bottle shaped like a skull? How about a rifle? They've got you covered. Want a minature bottle of absinthe? Or how about a massive bottle of something you have never heard of but just like the colour? (my favourite tactic) - you guessed it, they've got your back.

What the staff don't know about alcohol isn't worth knowing, so it really is worth coming in, taking your time and chatting to them - you really, really could learn something, and take home an amazing taste experience too.

Started in 1984, the store was pre-dated by the legendary Del Monico's, which was so popular in the swinging '60's that the police would be called to keep order in the queues that formed to enter the store. Don't worry about that now, you'll get in - but leaving might be more of a problem, as this really is an aladdin's cave dedicated to the art of the grown up's drink.

Oh, and by the way, be nice to the staff, as you will probably be seeing more of them - you simply know this won't be your last time here...