“We were having a drink, discussing what to call the place,” says Katy Severson. “Jean had just got this tattoo of a wine bottle labelled Regret — and we were like, “fuck it, yes.” And thus Le Regret was born.
It’s a few days before opening, and I’m standing in Leytonstone High Road’s latest bar and cave à vin, historically a millinery, as the exterior ghost sign attests. Bottles line the counter and shelves, stools await thirsty customers, and quirky framed art adorns the wood-panelled walls. Above the coffee machine, itself piled with gleaming tan cups, is a section of distressed wall — burgundy, of course — while particularly eye-catching is the central 1930s deco mirror: ask Jean for the story about that (it involves legendary Hackney pub The Dolphin).
“We’ve done everything ourselves,” says Katy. “And it’s been a very organic process, which has been really fun. It’s just everything we love in places like Marseilles, Paris and Lyon.”
LOCAL ADVERTISING
Katy met business partner Jean-Martin Louw shortly after he returned from seasonal vineyard work in Europe, and the duo quickly bonded over a shared love of “unfussy food and natural wine.” While neither are French, they are Francophiles and jumped at chance to take over the former Dina.
Donate just £2 to Leytonstoner
There’s more room here than you might think for an ostensibly petite space, with ten stools around the counter, window seating, four tables and a cosy rear area. This is christened Le Coin du Cochon — and it’s where you can stand with a tipple and watch the rustic kitchen (observe, too, the cheeky French slogan on the wall). “Our logo is a pig, and this little corner is a dedication,” says Jean. “My girlfriend drew it for me as a gift for my birthday last year, and then Katie’s graphic designer boyfriend turned it into the logo.”
“It encompasses the whole vibe, a pig drinking wine,” says Katy, with a laugh. Suddenly I imagine the room full, glasses clinking, a buzzy neighbourhood hangout.
On Substack Katy and Jean guide me through exactly what we can look forward to on the menu, from oysters to orange wine — and a heck of a lot more in between. They also discuss the importance of pricing — and finding a good-value entry point on wine-by-the-glass.
In the meantime, Le Regret flings is open for “coffee and breakfast bits” first thing right through a chalkboard list of small plates for lunch and dinnner. 289 Leytonstone High Road E11 @leregret_bar
