Cellars History

The History of Berrys' Cellars

Berry Bros. & Rudd is the UK's oldest wine and spirits merchant and can trace its origins back to 1698 when the Widow Bourne founded a grocer shop opposite St James's Palace.

The Cellars lie beneath Berrys' historic wine shop at 3 St James's Street which remains virtually unchanged since it was built in the 17th century. The Cellars were enlarged in the 1730s and it is believed that at that time they were linked by a door to St James's Palace.

Louis Napoleon, later to become Emperor Napoleon III of France, famously plotted his return to France from these cellars during his exile in the 1840s. Unusually, the cellars are located on two levels and prior to their renovation were the largest working cellars in London. The first level of the cellar continues to be a working cellar today and still stores 100,000 bottles including the Berry and Rudd Family Reserves.

The History of Pickering Place

Pickering Place itself offers a tantalising glimpse of a bygone age. The site was at one time part of the medieval maidens' leper colony of St Stephen's. Later, the edifice of Henry VIII's tennis court occupied much of 3 St James's Street and part of this structure, built in 1531, can be viewed whilst walking down the passage from St James's Street to the Pickering Place.

The present square was completed by the family back in 1734 and comprised the four houses still standing to this day.

At that time Pickering Place was given over to sports such as dog-fighting, bearbaiting, cock-fighting and even bare knuckle boxing, all providing an active if vivid passing trade for Berry Bros. Before the close of the 18th century the final duel with swords was fought to the death inside the discrete perimeter of the square, and a further duel was fought with pistols as late as the middle of the 19th century. Today, Pickering Place is a rather more tranquil spot but one which retains much memory of its former days.