UK restaurant launches country's first ‘water-only menu’

A French-style restaurant in U.K. is trying a new twist on its drink menu.

La Popote restaurant in Cheshire has become the first in the UK to launch a 'water menu' and the most expensive item on the menu will set you back costing almost £20 or $24.

Yes, you heard it right! We have been always told that the French are known for their love of fine wines and La Popote, restaurant in northern England, is no exception.

The Micheline guide listed eatery offers diners the choice of almost 140 varieties of wine, but now the business is taking a bold step to cater for discerning non-drinkers by offering an entire menu of bottled water.

Moreover, the french cafe is tapping into a global trend away from alcohol. For example, based on a Gallup poll last year, 58% of adult Americans drink alcohol, down from 67% in 2022.

According to CNN, a growing number of Americans are giving up alcohol, whether permanently or temporarily, while many restaurants are offering a bigger range of mocktails, and sober bars and non-alcoholic bottle shops are becoming increasingly popular.

Founders of La popote, Chef Joseph Rawlin and Gaëlle Radigon, said they had initially been approached about the idea by Doran Binder, who was already supplying the restaurant with their house water under his Crag Spring Water brand.

The water sommelier certified by the fine water academy, first suggested the idea of a water menu three years ago.

Rawlins told he initially laughed off the idea until he went to Binder's "mind-blowing" tasting.

“It was mind-blowing,” Rawlins said of the experience, adding that he now believes that “water isn’t just water.”

According to Binder, La Popote restaurant is the first in Britain to offer a water menu.

“The water menu is giving diners another dimension, noting that a lot of people are drinking less now,” said Binder.

About ‘Water’ menu:

In La Popote water menu, the diners will have 7 options, three different bottles of still water and four sparkling as well as complimentary tap water.

The restaurant team informs that at first the water will seem salty but later the taste enhance.

Furthermore, Rawlin believes how the water is served is also important, “We recommend it at room temperature with ice and a slice of lemon. Water is like wine – if it’s too cold, it kills all the flavor.”

The water menu is giving diners “another dimension, noting that a lot of people are drinking less now, " said Rawlin.

Moreover, the French nouvelle had a keen observation to cater customer’s needs as it believes that not everyone like to have wine or other sodas due to personal preference or other religious norms.

We have seen many kinds of restaurants with a range of versatile menus all over the world but never seen such diversity with such water menu which this newly established fine-dine just offered.

Moreover, the newly designed water menu will be available from Friday, August 22, 2025.