Trendy wine bars have rapidly infiltrated the global drinks scene. And rightfully so: The wine world is more diverse, experimental, and intriguing than ever. But despite this progress, wine bars can still feel intimidating.

Enter Not Open; Don’t Come – a playful new concept that seeks to offer everything that makes modern wine bars so appealing whilst also satirising many of their trappings to help ease the pretension.

Or to put it another way: We’re open; do come — and indulge in all sorts of awesome wines!

‘I knew jack shit about wine – except that I loved following my tongue: trying new, incredible, crazy things,’ explains owner Mike Pomranz, a former Brooklyn-based drinks journalist. ‘But so many potential wine lovers struggle to break through that barrier. The name Not Open; Don’t Come, the speakeasy “call-to-get-in” policy: People feel that way about pretentious wine bars already… So let’s make a joke of it. Then you come in; things are so relaxed. And there’re so many fucking amazing wines to try!’

So many fucking wines indeed. Not Open; Don’t Come offers over two dozen wines by the glass, constantly changing, with new bottles being opened all the time. It’s like digging into a vinophile friend’s personal cellar. And keeping things simple, all glasses are only sold at three price points – meaning guests spend less time thinking about cost, and more about what to try.

That relaxed attitude is infused into the whole venue. Wines are served out of household refrigerators. The bar itself is modeled after a kitchen island. And the space is inspired by industrial lofts – with couches, lounge chairs and a dining table. Seeking authenticity, Pomranz enlisted a young designer – Emily Croft – in the midst of graduating from Sheffield Hallam and the same builders who worked on his own home.

‘My approach to this project was to create an atmosphere that feels as cosy as your own living room,’ says Croft. ‘A place to kick your shoes off and laugh with friends – whilst drinking great wine. As someone who is fairly new to the wine industry, I know how daunting ordering winecan feel – but having somewhere like this to learn and taste and say yuck or yay and find my own feet within the community is really something special!”

Adding to the house party feel, the bar has no obviously signed entrance. Guests call a number on the door to get in. And any good loft party goes late into the night: NO;DC is open until 2am on the weekends. Yes, this is a late-night wine bar.

‘Our entrance was already a fire exit. So why not lean into it?’ says Pomranz. ‘For a loft party, you need to know who to call to let you in. For us, you’re all our friends; the number is there on the door. It might seem silly, but everyone is welcome! Hang out for a while!’

Where is this mystery entrance? Though the bar is technically located in Orchard Square, the door is outside the square on Orchard Street. The fire exit – covered in graffiti and with the phone number scrawled on it – can be found along a bright red wall. Once inside, guests will have views of Orchard Square as NO;DC is directly above local favourite The Old Shoe.

Pomranz knows The Old Shoe well. He’s the mastermind behind the successful Sheffield bar which opened after he shuttered his previously acclaimed project, The Cider Hole. He’s pivoted again with Not Open; Don’t Come — and brought some of Sheffield’s best drinks talent with him. Rachel Hendry, the current wine buyer for The Old Shoe, is leading NO;DC’s wine programme. Other staff members arrived with experience at local mainstays such as Public and The Pearl at Park Hill.

‘Drinking and ordering wine should be pleasurable for everyone, but it can often feel like a chore,’ explains Hendry. ‘Our list prioritises playfulness. Whether that’s a soft and sweet Moscato d’Asti that tastes like candied peaches or a Blanc de Pinot Noir that rivals the complex whites of Burgundy but made in Wales, we’re working to buy wines with personality that have something to say. And hopefully introduce people to different flavours and new favourites in the process.”

Not Open; Don’t Come is currently open to the public every Friday and Saturday night – but hours are expanding rapidly and events take place in the space regularly. For the most up-to-date info, keep an eye on the bar’s minimalist website – nodc.co.uk – and follow them on Instagram at @nodc.co.uk.

Not Open; Don’t Come, the fire exit in the red wall, Orchard Street, Sheffield, S1 2FB