There is an interesting piece on the Guardian website about restaurants allowing customers to bring their own bottle.
As the writer points out, traditionally, it has always been the value end of the market which has offered BYOB but, perhaps because of the current economic conditions, top end restaurants, such as 5pm member Chardon D’Or, are also offering the service.
Naturally, customers are expected to pitch up with something reasonable. Asking the sommelier to decant the Buckfast will not win any friends.
A couple of enterprising wine buffs have even set up the BYO Club in London. For an annual fee, a selection of London-based restaurants who have signed up to the club will allow members to bring their own bottle.
The wine writer Tom Cannavan has a selection of Scottish restaurants which allow BYOB here.