The Old Seven

During his 23 years in the liquor industry, Matt Lucas developed a love for rosé. It comes as no surprise then, that there’s plenty of it at The Old Seven – a French-inspired cafe-wine bar in Camp Hill, which Lucas has opened with his wife Nellie Barker.

The Old Seven is based on France’s iconic cafe-wine bars, which are typically small, owner-run establishments that are cafes in the day and wine bars at night. The small 35-seat space on Old Cleveland Road was formerly an art gallery, so Lucas and Barker had to fit-out the venue from scratch. They built a small kitchen and installed a stunning green-tiled bar which doubles as the coffee counter. Restored antique couches, old picture frames and hanging chandeliers complete the cosy, old-school feel.

The small breakfast menu features grab-and-go items like croissants and toast. Later on, there’s a number of tartines, such as pastrami with aged cheddar and sweet and sour pickles; and six types of jaffles including a four cheese, truffle and honey combo. There are also cheese and charcuterie and vegan boards, as well as a build-your-own option.

The drinks list features 100 wines in total, 22 of which are available by the glass. Other than rosé, there are plenty of whites and reds, including a couple alternative grape varieties. Other than wine there are two beers on-tap, a number of canned beers and a small cocktail list.