The Sampler
266 Upper St, London N1 2UQ, United Kingdom
4.6
199 reviews
8 comments
GVVW+4R London, United Kingdom
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Monday: 11–19
Tuesday: 11–19
Wedneasday: 11–19
Thursday: 11–21
Friday: 11–21
Saturday: 11–21
Sunday: 11–19
Tuesday: 11–19
Wedneasday: 11–19
Thursday: 11–21
Friday: 11–21
Saturday: 11–21
Sunday: 11–19
I’ve read other reviews of The Sampler and all sound positive, so am hoping this is a one off.
This message is more feedback for the team and who they surround themselves with than a criticism of the venue…
Chanced upon this little spot on Saturday night after a gig at Union Chapel. There were quite a few people inside sampling wine and having a good time so two friends and I entered to try a few glasses before picking up a bottle to take home.
Loaded £20 of credit onto the sample card and began tasting a few interesting wines.
There’s a long table near the counter with some of the staff and their friends sipping and chatting. As I came to sample some of the reds nearest their table, an uninspiring customer and friend of the staff began making loud comments about how “it’s unfortunately starting to feel like a regular bar in here” and that there are “too many people coming in, only spending £20 on samples and never actually buying a bottle”.
Either the staff’s friend was trying to impress the others or had had a few two many 50ml samples, but as three new customers we found it such a disappointing way to behave in a merchants that seemed like a great place to hang out. The staff of a place like that shouldn’t tolerate rude behaviour to customers, especially from their own obnoxious friend.
Some people can feel a little “out of water” walking into a merchants when they don’t know much about wine, and people like that unfortunately make great places like The Sampler feel cold and uninviting.
If the team on the night could have a word that would be great - your friend sat at the head of the table with shoulder length hair and beard gives off terrible energy to new customers and really let the place down.
We decided to leave after this, and when buying a bottle at the counter, I asked a team member if it was okay that we were in there trying a few glasses, the response was fairly flat that “we’re not actually a bar, but a merchants and we actually shut at 9pm”.
This was said around 21:45 as I was buying a bottle to takeaway and while the place still had at least 20 people still in there.
Cronyism / elitism is a really unattractive quality in a place that’s meant to be about celebrating a love of wine.
Will try again in the future when in the area but this experience left a very sour taste.