Côte Brasserie has announced it will mark this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau Day with a nationwide celebration across its UK restaurants.
The popular brasserie will be joining one of France’s most anticipated annual traditions in honouring the arrival of the year’s first wine.
Every November, at one minute past midnight on the third Thursday of the month, France erupts in celebration as corks are popped on bottles of freshly bottled Beaujolais Nouveau – a bright, fruit-forward red made from Gamay grapes in the rolling hills north of Lyon.
The annual event is a joyful marker of the harvest, symbolising the simple pleasures of French life – good food, good wine, and conviviality.
Now Côte Brasserie is bringing that spirit to Britain, inviting guests to take part in the festivities with Beaujolais Nouveau 2025, served by the glass (£10.20) or bottle (£37), for one day of celebrations on Thursday 20 November.
In Cardiff Bay, Cardiff Central, and Exeter, Côte will host exclusive Beaujolais Nouveau soirées, complete with live music, a bespoke three-course menu, and of course, a glass of the new vintage – all for £50 per person.
To accompany this year’s Beaujolais Nouveau, Côte’s in-house sommelier has created pairings that showcase the wine’s playful charm and youthful vibrancy.
The star pairing, Chicken Liver Parfait, sees the wine’s bright cherry and raspberry notes lift the richness of the parfait while complementing the sweetness of macerated figs.
A Warm Beetroot Salad mirrors the Beaujolais’ gentle tannins and autumnal freshness, while Confit Pork Belly finds perfect balance in the wine’s lively acidity and red-fruit character, echoing the apple and raisin elements of the dish.
Cheese lovers can savour the Délice de Bourgogne, where the creamy texture and the wine’s fruit recall fresh berries with yoghurt, or Cantal, whose nutty, semi-hard texture pairs seamlessly with the Beaujolais’ fruit and gentle spice.
To finish, the Tarte au Citron and Chocolate Praline Tart offer decadent finales – one bright and zesty, the other rich and indulgent – both lifted by the wine’s cherry, strawberry and raspberry notes.
A Côte spokesperson said: “Beaujolais Nouveau is about celebrating life’s simple pleasures – sharing a bottle, a meal, and a moment together. It’s playful, full of character, and unmistakably French, just like Côte! We’re thrilled to invite guests to experience the joy of this iconic tradition with us. Santé.”
Bookings are recommended to secure a table for this one-day-only celebration, though walk-ins are welcome where available.
