Ad Hoc

Ad Hoc is a wine shop and bar that’s about as unpretentious as it gets but still knows its albariño from its elbow. There is a huge range of wines with friendly and knowledgeable service plus a few quality snacks like fancy bellota ham and posh Spanish crisps . What’s more, it’s all available to drink in for £10 corkage.

Admittedly, it’s a bit like drinking in a wine warehouse. Not Majestic, rather a large unfinished-looking room with racks and racks of wine and a concrete ceiling with a few holes in it. It is the Northern Quarter, so a slightly scuzzy air is par for the course.

There’s always a chilled, laid-back atmosphere so it’s a great place to share a bottle of wine with friends and have a proper catch-up. There are tables outside in the sun too. Not sure what to order? The selection by the glass is well-curated and changes regularly. Chat to staff about what you’re after and they’ll always have a good recommendation up their sleeve. There are colourful cans of craft beer in the fridge too.

There are regular wine tasting events – Ad Hoc is good for showcasing innovative next generation winemakers. Try the wine subscription service to discover some brilliant under-the-radar wines.