Max Venning

The Climb

The opening of Three Sheets in Dalston in 2016 set the terms of the bar: a practical start, made with his brother Noel, after the space came up and the rent was very good. In Max Venning’s hands, that beginning became a bar built on restraint rather than noise — minimalist rooms, simple drinks, accessible flavours, and elegant serves that do more work than they let on. That discipline now runs through both addresses, where the spaces have changed but the language of the bar has stayed consistent.

Today

Three Sheets still carries the same pared-back approach in both Dalston and Soho, London. The newer room shifts the finish upward, with a broader menu, while keeping the neighbourhood feel intact. As Venning puts it, “In Soho, we have gone for a higher spec finish, with a broader menu, maintaining the neighbourhood vibe.” Across both bars, the drinks are built to read clearly: accessible flavours, precise construction, and a serve that looks straightforward because the effort has been absorbed before it reaches the glass.

In Their Words “When we opened Three Sheets in Dalston, the idea was to open a bar for London and of London, not a heavy conceptual bar.” “In Soho, we have gone for a higher spec finish, with a broader menu, maintaining the neighbourhood vibe.”

Recognition

“We’ve put a lot of effort into the drinks and believe them to be some of the best in the world.” That sort of confidence is less about showmanship than about standards. In both Dalston and Soho, Max Venning’s work is organised around clarity, directness, and a room that feels open rather than overdesigned. The result is a bar style that rewards close attention: simple on the surface, carefully worked underneath.