A shop with a rich history including Pickering Place, the site of London’s legendary last duel & the diplomatic mission of the Republic of Texas.
Founded in 1698 by a shrewd and enterprising businesswoman known to history as the Widow Bourne, Berry Bros. & Rudd stands today as Britain’s oldest family-owned wine and spirits merchant. Located at the iconic address of No. 3 St. James’s Street in London, this historic institution has quietly witnessed over three centuries of shifting royal courts, political revolutions, and evolving global tastes. What began humbly as an Italian-style grocery and coffee shop operating under the sign of the "Coffee-Mill" eventually transformed into a cornerstone of the international fine wine and spirits trade, blending rigid tradition with remarkable entrepreneurial adaptation.
In the late 17th century, the neighborhood of St. James’s was rapidly emerging as a fashionable, elite enclave adjacent to the royal court at St. James’s Palace. Recognizing the social and political capital tied to London's burgeoning coffee house culture, the Widow Bourne established her shop to supply high-end commodities like tea, coffee, exotic spices, tobacco, and cocoa. As the business passed through intermarriages and distinct family lines—including the Pickerings, Clarkes, and Brownes—its focus gradually pivoted toward fine wines and spirits by the mid-18th century. Yet, tangible echoes of its early days remain carefully preserved: the original iron coffee-mill sign still hangs outside the black timber facade, and the shop's interior retains its distinct, uneven wooden floorboards and dark-paneled walls.
Tucked directly behind the main shop lies Pickering Place, London's smallest public square. Originally built in the 1730s by William Pickering, this hidden courtyard became a notorious hotbed for the underbelly of high society. Shielded from public view by a narrow, dark brick alleyway, Pickering Place was a preferred venue for illicit gambling, cockfighting, and bare-knuckle boxing. Most famously, it is celebrated as the atmospheric backdrop for the reputed last duel ever fought in London. Legendary figures of the era, including the famed dandy Beau Brummell, were rumoured to have stepped into this secluded square to settle matters of honour at the point of a sword or pistol.
In addition to its duelling history, this tiny square played a surprising role in global geopolitics. From 1842 to 1845, Berry Bros. & Rudd served as landlords to the Embassy of the Republic of Texas. Established by Texas President Sam Houston, the legation used the upper rooms overlooking the courtyard to secure British recognition and financial aid while maintaining independence from both the United States and Mexico. When Texas finally joined the United States in 1845, the ministers abruptly packed up and left for America, leaving behind an outstanding rent bill of £160. The debt remained open for over a century until 1986, when a delegation from the Anglo-Texan Society finally visited St. James's to settle the historic balance in full.
By the 20th century, the partnership formalised into Berry Bros. & Rudd under the guidance of the Berry family and wine expert Hugh Rudd. The firm expanded aggressively onto the international stage, launching the highly successful Cutty Sark blended Scotch whisky in 1923, which became an American favorite during Prohibition. Beneath the historic square and storefront, the company's vast, labyrinthine underground cellars continued to expand, eventually covering nearly two acres of storage for rare vintages. Holding two royal warrants, the merchant continues to operate out of its original home, standing as a living monument where global diplomacy, historical folklore, and fine viticulture remain inextricably linked.