You know the old saying, “You wait ages for a bus, and then two come along at once”? That pretty much sums up this month for La Casa Del Habano (LCDH) cigar shops and sampling lounges here in the UK. For years, there were only a handful of them located across the country:
- Hava Havana, Teddington (2008)
- C.Gars Ltd, Chester (2014)
- James J. Fox at Harrods, Knightsbridge (2018)
- C.Gars Ltd, Knutsford (2019)
- La Casa del Habano, Scotland (2023)
Then suddenly – boom – two new openings arrived almost back-to-back: one in Sheffield and another in Nottingham – all in one week!
- Mitchell’s Wines, Sheffield (2025)
- House of Holmes, Nottingham (2025)
There’s even more good news for us UK cigar folk: another new LCDH is already on the way, set to open early next year at Dominique London on Pall Mall – which will make it a total of 8 LCDH’s across the UK.
- Dominique London, Pall Mall, London (2026)
This week, I took a two-day trip across the country to visit both of the newest additions. First stop: Mitchell’s Wines in Sheffield, which is now officially La Casa Del Habano Sheffield – the very first in South Yorkshire. I’ll be covering the Nottingham opening in my next post, so stay tuned!
What is a La Casa Del Habano?
La Casa Del Habano, which translates to “The House of Habano,” is a global franchise established by Habanos S.A., the official distributor and marketer of Cuban cigars.
The franchise opened its first store in Cancún, Mexico, in 1990, and has since expanded to nearly 170 locations in over 60 countries.
More than just a retail shop, La Casa Del Habano offers a luxury cigar experience. Each establishment features:
- A walk-in humidor
- An on-site sampling lounge
- Private lockers for customers
- Knowledgeable staff
- A refined atmosphere
Franchisees of La Casa Del Habano (LCDH) must follow Habanos S.A.’s operational, display, and branding standards—some of which are confidential. In return, they gain:
- Exclusive products: Priority access to select cigars and limited editions, including the exclusive Edición LCDH line.
- Prestige and branding: Association with a renowned global network of luxury Cuban cigar boutiques.
- Support and training: Professional guidance, marketing assistance, and operational expertise.
- Network benefits: Connection to an international community of Cuban cigar specialists, enhancing buying power, marketing, and customer trust.
The Edición LCDH cigars are made solely for LCDH stores, produced in limited quantities with unique blends or vitolas. Each carries a distinctive secondary band—typically Tuscan red or brown with gold—identifying it as an LCDH exclusive.
The History of Mitchell’s Wines
Mitchell’s Wines started in 1935 when Dennis Mitchell opened the establishment as a butcher’s shop in Meadowhead, Sheffield.
Source: Exposed Magazine
In the early 1960s, driven by the second generation of the family—led by John Mitchell, Dennis’s son—the business expanded its offerings to include wines, spirits, beer, and cigars.
Today, the third generation, comprising Francesca Mitchell (John’s daughter) and her husband, James Mellor, carries on the family legacy. They have been instrumental in enhancing the cigar side of the business, notably with the launch of their own branded cigar to celebrate the company’s 90th anniversary and gaining the esteemed title of La Casa Del Habano.
A journey to establish a La Casa Del Habano
The journey to establish La Casa Del Habano in Sheffield took about a year to a year and a half from concept to opening day.
This endeavor involved several crucial steps, including:
- Full separation from the adjacent shop
- Obtaining approval from Hunters & Frankau, the UK’s Cuban cigar distributor
- Securing design approval from Habanos S.A.
- Transforming a former concrete brewery into an upscale lounge
The strict UK regulations also imposed several requirements, such as:
- A dedicated corridor to manage smoke circulation
- Self-closing doors for compliance
- A frosted glass front to ensure customer privacy
The lounge emphasises a strong sense of community. While they do have the option to sell cigars online, the team currently focuses on providing an exceptional experience for in-store customers.
Take a look at this video interview that Usman Dawood from Cigar Inspector recently recorded with James Mellor:
My experience
I’ve known James for a while, having bumped into him at various cigar events over the past year. Most recently, we caught up at a cigar evening he hosted at The Green Dragon in nearby Dronfield, where I also had the pleasure of meeting his father-in-law, John Mitchell.
Thanks to our growing friendship, I was super lucky and incredibly honoured to be invited to the Official Launch Event of La Casa Del Habano (LCDH) in Sheffield 🙏. Although the cigar shop and lounge has been in a soft launch since the end of July, this was my first time attending a grand opening of a cigar shop and lounge 🎉.
To make the most of the trip, I took a couple of days’ annual leave from my day job, for a mini tour of LCDH locations across the UK.
Getting there
I took an East Midlands Railway train from London St Pancras and arrived in Sheffield just two hours later. Since I was traveling on a weekday, the ticket was very affordable at £19.10 for a one-way trip.
If you’re planning to visit by train, an Uber from Sheffield station to Meadowhead—just outside the main city centre where Mitchell’s Wines is located—takes about 20 minutes and costs around £20.
I didn’t need an Uber for this trip; fortunately, my mate and fellow Brother of the Leaf, Ryan, gave me a lift.
If you’re driving, parking is convenient, with free 2-hour spots available right in front of La Casa Del Habano and across the street.
On arrival
When we arrived at Mitchell’s Wines and La Casa Del Habanos (LCDH), balloons outside marked the occasion. I was surprised to find that there were actually two separate shops: Mitchell’s Wines on the left and La Casa Del Habanos Sheffield on the right. For some reason, I had been expecting it to be a single combined store somehow.
Inside, we were greeted by Francesca & James alongside familiar faces from the cigar industry, including Sean Croley, Jose Antonio Cejas Diaz and Tim Owen of Hunters & Frankau, cigar journalist and author Nick Hammond, Usman from Cigar Inspector and Amy of UK Aficionadas.
The walk-in humidor
The walk-in humidor boasts an impressive selection of Cuban cigar brands, with a total of 27 available in the UK. All the major names are represented, including Bolivar, Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagás, Ramón Allones, Romeo y Julieta, and Trinidad, to name just a few. Among the offerings is the Cohiba 55th Aniversario Cigar, a 2021 Limited Edition. You can purchase single sticks and boxes.
You will also spot these Edición LCDH cigars.
Sampling inside the LCDH is limited to Cuban cigars only. If you’re after New World cigars, you’ll need to purchase those next door at Mitchell’s Wines.
One standout feature on display is the English Market Selection (EMS) cigar box opener—a nod to cigar history and craftsmanship. Cuba pioneered the classic labelled cigar box in the mid-19th century, a packaging style that remains iconic today. Naturally, the first cigar box opener followed soon after.
The modern EMS version takes inspiration from a 19th-century example owned by Hunters & Frankau, originally made by the Sheffield-based company Joseph Marples, established in 1840. Each opener is meticulously handmade, featuring an Indian rosewood handle, brass hammer, and a polished spring steel blade—a fine tribute to traditional English craftsmanship.
Inside the sampling lounge
To sample a cigar, step into the sampling lounge, a space that blends luxury with comfort through rich red, green, and warm brown tones. The lounge features wooden floors, leather-style seating, and Cuban-inspired décor, including the LCDH logo, framed photographs, and memorabilia that evoke the spirit of Cuba.
Although the layout is compact, it remains elegant and can accommodate around 10 visitors. The atmosphere is quite pleasant, enhanced by relaxing background music, and frosted glass covers the main window, allowing you to forget everything happening in the outside world.
The cigar
As soon as we entered the sampling lounge, it was time to sample a cigar. James handed out the first sample of the evening—the Partagás Maduro No. 1 cigar.
I’ve sampled a few of these before, but this one was by far the softest and best-conditioned I’ve encountered yet, proving the humidor was perfectly maintained.
Length: 5 1/8″
Ring Gauge: 52
Strength: Full
Vitola: Maduro No. 1
We cut the caps off our cigars and lit them up while owner James took us through the store’s remarkable year-long transformation. He has steered Mitchell’s into a new era—what began as a family butchery evolved from a tabletop cigar display into a walk-in humidor, and now it stands as one of the UK’s finest La Casa Del Habano shops and sampling lounges. It’s an inspiring progression, especially coming from someone of a younger generation.
We also had the pleasure of hearing from the team at Hunters & Frankau talk about La Casa Del Habano and the role of Habanos S.A.
The experience was further enhanced with a selection of drinks from The Lakes Distillery, accompanied by delicious nibbles that were passed around throughout the evening.
My thoughts
The lounge was filled with guests, creating an inviting atmosphere. I believe the LCDH in Sheffield is a fantastic and much-needed addition to the UK cigar scene. It’s refreshing to see cigar shops and sampling lounges outside of London finally receiving the recognition they deserve. It’s even more impressive how these LCDHs continue to thrive despite the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Cities like Birmingham and Manchester would certainly benefit from having their own La Casa Del Habano as well.
The interior design is classy and well-suited for the Sheffield locals. The staff are excellent, and the prices of cigars seem reasonable too.
Located about two hours from London by train, Sheffield’s LCDH is worth a visit, but I think the primary target group here is the local residents and those from surrounding cities, particularly those who drive.
It’s lovely to see a family-run business behind the shop and sampling lounge, giving it a warm, personal touch that sets it apart.
It was also super nice to hang out with the team from Hunters & Frankau – I find their history so fascinating – I’d love them to one day unleash their artefacts from the cigar vaults into the public domain – a Hunters & Frankau museum or digital version of that museum would be amazing! Sean, Tim and Jose also made us all feel so welcome at the event – and it was an honour getting to hang out with them and their expertise. A night to remember!
Unfortunately, due to local licensing restrictions, the sampling lounge has to close by 7 p.m. most nights, which is a shame but still a small price to pay for such a quality addition to Sheffield’s cigar scene.
Interested in visiting La Casa Del Habano – Sheffield?
La Casa Del Habano – Sheffield / Mitchells Wine Merchants Ltd
354A Meadowhead
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
S8 7UJ
Explore their range online at: https://mitchellstobacco.co.uk/
And connect with them on social media:
Facebook – Mitchells Wine / Instagram – Mitchells Tobacco
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