Phil Bracey is not a chef, but rather the manager of P. Franco, a neighborhood wine shop, bar, and makeshift restaurant in Northeast London's Clapton neighborhood. Along with Bright, a new restaurant that opened nearby las May, Phil was instrumental in P. Franco being named Restaurant of the Year by London Eater in 2017.

It’s important to note that ‘manager’ is a broad term, as Phil admits that even he doesn’t know what his actual title would be at both spots. Granted, he helps to procure and looks after the wines, but more important, and less easy to recognize, his approach to hospitality is passionately personal.

Fed up with the pretentiosness that often accompanies drinking wine, Phil set out to make P. Franco a welcoming space that encourages experimentation from customers, allowing them to discover natural wines in an environment that’s relaxed but lively, a space that you can pop into for one glass and ultimately end up staying for the rest of the night.

Paramount to the customer experience at both P Franco and Bright is music, and like a good DJ, Phil is constantly dialing in the playlists during each night’s service, doing his best to follow the flow of where the evening should go.