Renegade Urban Winery

London wine made from hand-harvested European grapes — but drunk in the Bethnal Green railway arch where Renegade Urban Winery started making it in 2016. Production has moved to Walthamstow, but the original arch on Gales Gardens remains as the brand's wine bar, bottle shop, and event space, with the barrels and the grape-stained concrete floors still telling the story of what happened here.

Renegade was part of the wave of urban wineries that proved London could be a place where wine is made, not just consumed. The Bethnal Green arch was where it all began — grapes arriving from vineyards across Europe, being crushed and fermented under the railway line, and bottled with an E2 postcode. That origin story gives the venue a layer of authenticity that purpose-built wine bars can't manufacture.

Drinking Among the Barrels

The space has the moody, low-lit atmosphere you'd hope for from a working-winery-turned-bar. Wine barrels line the walls and serve as both storage and furniture. Concrete floors, industrial fittings, and the arch's curved ceiling overhead create a room that feels lived-in and genuine rather than designed.

The Barrel Area at the back of the venue is the intimate zone — up to 35 guests nestled among the remaining casks. The front bar opens the space up, and an alleyway outside adds warm-weather capacity for events that want an indoor-outdoor flow.

Wine as the Event

What makes Renegade distinctive as an event hire is the winery connection. Guided tastings of the house wines — made from grapes the team selected, harvested, and vinified themselves — offer something that even the best wine bars can't replicate. For corporate events, it's a built-in experience. For social gatherings, it's a conversation starter that gives the evening a focal point beyond drinks and small talk.

External catering is permitted alongside the venue's own charcuterie and nibbles, so planners can tailor the food to the event rather than working within a fixed menu. The alcohol licence runs to 23:00, with late night packages extending to 2am.

Bethnal Green's Arch District

The Gales Gardens arches sit in the cluster of creative businesses and independent venues that have colonised Bethnal Green's railway infrastructure over the past decade. Bethnal Green station — Central line and Overground — is adjacent, making the venue genuinely easy to reach from across London despite its off-the-beaten-track feel. The E2 address gives it east London credibility without the overcrowded scene of Shoreditch High Street a few minutes to the west.