Yes. Drinks House 247 delivers to Airbnbs and short lets across London 24 hours a day, usually within 30 to 45 minutes inside the M25. Give the full address with flat number, clear access instructions and a mobile number. Someone aged 18 or over must receive the order in person and may be asked for ID.
Short-let flats are one of the most common places people order drinks to in London, and one of the most common places where deliveries go wrong. Not because the address is difficult, but because the guest often does not know the building, the buzzer is unlabelled, and the only person with the full details is a host who is not there. A little preparation fixes all of that.
| Detail | Example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Full address and postcode | Flat 4, 12 Example Road, SW11 | Many short lets are in converted houses with several flats behind one front door. |
| Building or block name | Riverside House, Block B | New developments often have several entrances and identical-looking blocks. |
| How to get in | "Buzz flat 4, third floor, lift on the left" | Saves the driver guessing at an unlabelled panel. |
| Mobile number | The number of the person who will be there | The driver can call if they cannot find the door. |
| Name of the recipient | The guest who will answer the door | The host's name on the booking may mean nothing to the driver. |
If you are staying somewhere for the first time, it is worth standing at the front door for a moment when you arrive and noting exactly how a visitor would reach you. That is the instruction to put in the order.
No. Never put a key-box code, door code or lock code in delivery notes. The driver does not need it, because they will not let themselves in or leave alcohol unattended, and a code written into a note travels further than you intend. Instead, give instructions for reaching you, and come down to meet the driver if the entrance is hard to find.
It is illegal in the UK to sell alcohol to anyone under 18, and that duty continues to the doorstep. Drinks House 247 operates a Challenge 25 policy, which means the person receiving the order must be 18 or over and may be asked to show photo ID if they look under 25. For that reason, alcohol cannot be left on a doorstep, with a neighbour, in a porch or in a key box.
Accepted ID is usually a passport, a photocard driving licence or a proof-of-age card carrying the PASS hologram. If you are visiting from abroad, keep your passport to hand.
Only if you will be there to receive it. Delivery inside the M25 typically takes 30 to 45 minutes, so the simplest approach is to order once you have checked in and know the flat is ready. Ordering in advance to a property you have not yet reached usually means a driver standing outside an empty flat.
Yes. Hosts sometimes send a bottle of champagne or wine to greet guests on arrival, particularly for a special stay such as an anniversary or a birthday. The same rules apply: time the delivery for when the guest has arrived, include their name and mobile number, and remember that the guest must be 18 or over and may be asked for ID. A short gift note makes it clear who the bottle is from.
Having drinks delivered to a short let is no different from buying them in a shop and carrying them in. What you should check is the listing itself. Airbnb has a policy against disruptive parties, and many hosts set their own house rules on guest numbers, noise and quiet hours, especially in residential blocks where neighbours are close. A quiet bottle with dinner is one thing; a party for thirty is another, and can cost you your deposit or your booking.
Serviced apartments and larger developments often have a front desk. Some accept deliveries on behalf of residents and guests; others do not handle alcohol at all. If the building has a concierge, check with them first, and put the concierge's instructions in the order. Whoever takes the delivery must still be 18 or over.
Many short-let guests order late, after arriving on an evening flight or coming back from dinner. Delivery runs 24 hours a day, every day of the year, so a late check-in is not a problem. At night, a clear instruction and a phone that is switched on matter even more, because buzzers are harder to hear and entrances harder to find in the dark. Keep noise down on the stairs and in shared hallways; neighbours in residential buildings will thank you.
Yes. Give the full address with flat number, access instructions and a mobile number. Delivery runs 24 hours a day, typically within 30 to 45 minutes inside the M25, and someone aged 18 or over must receive the order.
No. Because the recipient must be 18 or over and may be asked for ID, alcohol has to be handed to a person. Never put a key-box or door code in delivery notes.
A passport, photocard driving licence or proof-of-age card with the PASS hologram is usually accepted. Under a Challenge 25 policy, anyone who looks under 25 may be asked to show it.
Yes. Time the delivery for after the guest arrives, include their name and mobile number, and add a gift note. The guest must be 18 or over and may be asked for ID.
See how alcohol delivery works, check our delivery areas, or send a welcome bottle with champagne delivery. Staying in a hotel instead? Read how hotel delivery works, and for more on ID checks, see delivery safety and age verification.
Deliveries are to over-18s only under our Challenge 25 policy. Please drink responsibly.
