Re-opened wine bar will be Trippets the light fantastic

In a tale of two Johnnies, so to speak, the larger-than-life convivial host of the West 10 wine bar in Ranmoor, has teamed up with his best mate John Mitchell, the award-winning off-licence boss, with an equally big personality.

They’ve quietly re-opened Trippets, in Trippet Lane, as what the new neon blue sign trumpets as a champagne and wine bar.

Richard Mills of the Walnut Club, Hathersage, is also opening a champagne bar on Ecclesall Road but they weren’t trying to beat him to it. “This was planned back in March,” says John.

“John and I are great friends and the opportunity arose to have a place together,” explains Jonnie.

Outside, the place has a new coat of paint in cream and black. Inside the colour scheme is burgundy with a brand new bar presiding over three rooms, named the Wine, Beer and Champagne rooms, although you are not restricted to what you drink in any of them.

The Wine Room is decorated with “bits and bobs” from the wine trade, including wine presses, and the Beer Room, with leather sofas and an old pew, has a cabinet full of brewing paraphernalia and a ‘trompe d’oeil’ wall painting of a fireplace.

The largest space, the Champagne Room, is on several levels and the decoration includes one of the “bierkeller” pictures from the old Menzel’s Wine Bar, on Ecclesall Road, at which Jonnie used to work.

There are over 80 wines more than 20 champagnes. The four house sparklers, from 5.50 a glass to 27.50 a bottle, are all from Moutard, while all the best-selling brands are represented in the vintage and non vintage lists.

John, as wine supplier, has chosen the easy-going wine list, much of which is available by the glass. Prices range from 11 to 20 although those wanting to make a splash could always order the Chateau Haut Batailley 1994 Pauillac at 50 a throw.

With rebuilding work all around them the pair hope there will be plenty of trade. The premises date back several centuries. When the cellar had been baled out they found a door of the old Red Lion pub, which it once was.

Food - supervised by West 10 head chef Jonty Cork - will be restricted to lunchtime and be kept simple - cottage pie, soups, fish and chips and, a couple of imports from West 10, cheese and toast and boiled egg and soldiers.

Jonnie will be dividing himself between the two ventures and John will look in at Trippets on his way home from running Mitchell’s off-licence at Meadowhead.

The old Trippets was a music venue but there won’t be any at the moment. With so many music bars they want to be known as somewhere quieter.

n Trippet Lane, Sheffield. Open Mon-Sat. Tel 0114 272 7928