Britain’s oldest fine wine and spirits merchant reimagines its private client service with House of 1698, opening up a world of experiences and community.
October 12, 2026 — Launching on 12 October, House of 1698 has three membership levels – Green, Gold and Black – each combining personal advice, access to exceptional wines and spirits, and an exclusive events programme. Members also receive benefits from Berry Bros. & Rudd and selected partners, including some of the world’s most renowned producers and leading restaurants.
The launch reflects a broader ambition: to make the Berry Bros. & Rudd experience as much about enjoying wine and spirits as acquiring them. House of 1698 takes its name from the year the business was founded at No.3 St James’s Street in London, where it has traded ever since.
Lizzy Rudd, Chair of Berry Bros. & Rudd, said: “Some of the greatest pleasures of wine and spirits are the conversations, friendships and gatherings that grow around them. We want to be a place where people come together to share bottles, stories, and ideas. House of 1698 builds on our tradition of personal service and hospitality, giving our customers more opportunities to discover wonderful wines and spirits and enjoy them in interesting company.”
Alongside House of 1698, the family-owned business is introducing Cellar Club, a more accessible membership that helps customers build and enjoy a cellar while developing their knowledge of wine and spirits. Membership includes access to a calendar of releases selected by Berry Bros. & Rudd’s in-house Masters of Wine and expert buying team, invitation-only supper clubs, and opportunities to meet and learn from winemakers and distillers.
While all cellars stored in bond by Berry Bros. & Rudd are held in its state-of-the-art UK warehouses, its global customer base is served by private client teams based in London, Dublin, Washington DC, New York, Miami, Houston, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Taipei.
The launch of House of 1698 and Cellar Club follows the appointment of Emily Rae and Rob Symington as Co-CEOs earlier this summer, the opening of Berry Bros. & Rudd’s US business in Washington DC in 2025, and its entry into fine wine auctions in 2024. Both the US and auctions businesses are led by Jamie Ritchie, formerly Global Chairman of Wine & Spirits at Sotheby’s.
About Berry Bros. & Rudd
Founded in 1698, Berry Bros. & Rudd is a leading family-owned fine wine and spirits merchant, holding a Royal Warrant from His Majesty the King. It has traded continuously from No.3 St James’s Street in London for more than three centuries. Today, it has global reach, with a presence in the UK, the US and Asia.
Berry Bros. & Rudd serves a global community of wine and spirits lovers, with private client teams based in London, Dublin, Washington DC, New York, Miami, Houston, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and Taipei. The business combines personal advice, longstanding producer relationships and access to exceptional bottles with opportunities to discover more, deepen knowledge and enjoy wine and spirits in interesting company.
The business has wine and spirits shops in London, Basingstoke and Washington DC, alongside an extensive events and education programme. It offers world-class cellar storage in its own bonded UK warehouses, with temperature and humidity control. Its services also include in-house authentication expertise and fine wine trading through BBX and auctions.
Berry Bros. & Rudd has been a certified B Corporation since 2025 and is committed to working with its customers, producers and partners to drive collective action that reduces environmental impact, regenerates the landscapes and strengthens the communities behind fine wines and spirits.
