Kanpai London Sake Brewery & Taproom

Kanpai is the UK's first sake brewery crafting modern British sake using traditional Japanese techniques. Originally located in the heart of trendy Peckham, they moved to a larger space near London Bridge in autumn 2023.

All of their sake is fermented purely from rice with no added alcohol, sulphites or preservatives, with every bottle being made fresh by hand. Only four ingredients are used to create every bottle: rice, water, yeast and koi - which is a specific type of mould commonly found in Asian food. They also use low-intervention brewing methods to optimise the natural characteristics of every ingredient.

The company was founded by husband and wife duo Tom and Lucy in 2016 after a trip to Japan. They spent some time in a small bar in Kyoto where they met a barman who taught them that the best way to toast their drink in Japanese is “kanpai”, translating to “dry your cup”.

They were exposed to the best-quality sake and were inspired to bring a taste of that back to London. Ever since, they've been experimenting, sampling and producing different varieties, brewing everything at home and trying different combinations before honing their skills at brew school in Japan, which they continue to return to every year to further their skills.

They later launched their microbrewery in Peckham, producing and selling bottles of their handcrafted sake. Their London Bridge location serves sake from ten taps, along with Japanese cocktails, craft beers, and Japanese spirits. Japanese snacks are available as well. You can also tour the facility to get a closer look at the art of sake brewing, or attend various hands-on events and experiences throughout the year.