Rare offerings for beer and spirit fans
ALCOHOL AFICIONADOS CAN REJOICE AS NEW SHOP OFFERS DRINKS YOU HAVE TO TRY,
A NEW store selling artisan spirits and craft beers is aiming to introduce a whole new shopping experience to Gateshead.
The Rare Drop, which is due to open its doors in Low Fell on Friday, is going all-out to tempt customers with its range of quality brands - including littleknown finds - and taster nights to come.
It marks a whole new venture for former primary school teacher Julie Gibbs who is carrying out a few last-minute preparations this week ahead of its opening.
After a few stressful weeks, the shop is coming together and she said: “I’m proud and I’m really excited!”
Local residents no doubt will be just as excited by the range of drinks The Rare Drop will be providing on their doorstep.
Julie’s aim is to offer a selection of bottled beers and quality spirits – including gins many people won’t have heard of – not otherwise available in Gateshead nor in a supermarket.
“There isn’t a shop like this south of the river,” she said. “If you want craft beers and spirits you have to go to places like Jesmond, Gosforth or Tynemouth.
Julie and her husband Charlie Gibbs run Steampunk Ltd, the Low Fell-based makers of award-winning gins which flourished from an idea that took shape one night about three years ago during a conversation at their kitchen table.
This time, the shop idea was sparked as they were walking past the closed-up premises – a former estate agent office – and Julie spotted its potential.
She recalled: “I said to Charlie ‘that would make a really good spirit shop, but you wouldn’t want to, would you?’ - but he said ‘I might!’
“We had a look the next day and then we went for it.”
She added: “I’ve wanted to run a shop for a long time, I’d toyed with the idea for the past 10-12 years.”
Artisan drinks seemed an obvious choice as they already knew suppliers and had forged business contacts in the alcohol industry.
The fact that the pair had also run a supper club from their home for a time added to Julie’s confidence to explore something new for the area.
“I’ve lived here 30 years and I’m passionate about Low Fell,” she said.
First concerns that the interior space might be too small for their plans were answered when they were able to enlarge the room by knocking through a partition wall.
From applying for an alcohol licence to being ready for opening took just 11 – admittedly stressful – weeks.
By the time the alcohol licence was granted, they had a builder lined up to gut the space then Julie and Charlie undertook much of the work themselves, from removing the rubble to decorating the shop to Julie’s design, while local companies laid the wooden floor, fitted shelving and constructed the eye-catching plank counter.
The couple’s own range of Steampunk gins feature among the bottles of spirits – all shapes and sizes – on the shelves; there is a stand of local Fentimans tonics and regional brewers are included in the range of international craft beers whose labels add more colour to the displays.
The focus of the business is on beer and spirits – there’s also a selection of whisky, including bourbon, and vodka – but wine is also available.
Julie is keen to cater for all tastes and the products on sale are in response to a question asked by Charlie on their Facebook page about what people in Low Fell wanted.
“He asked the question at 7am and by 4pm we had 200 comments, all but one positive,” said Julie.
The wine merchant they use has helped them draw up a selection of red, white and rose wines which they have added to with some of their own ideas.
On display in the centre of the shop are bottles of champagne and prosecco, including Skinny Prosecco, a drink which has been in high demand across the region this summer.
Julie has picked out some fine sherry too, a personal favourite, and is hoping to encourage a few converts.
Music will add to the mood while people browse the shelves; thanks to a record player and a box of vinyl which is set to prove a talking point among customers.
“We want people to come in and have a look around,” said Julie. “There’s no pressure to buy something. They can have a look at the products and talk about the records!”
The Rare Drop will open around 11am on Friday. Its usual opening hours will be Wednesday to Sunday (closed Monday and Tuesday) from 11am (noon on Sunday) until 7pm (9pm Friday; 8pm Saturday, and 5pm Sunday.
In the very near future, Julie will launch an After Hours club, with free membership, which will host drink and tapas events from 7pm-9pm on Thursdays.
For a charge to cover costs, registered members will be invited to try samples of a showcased drink, learn more about it from an expert and buy at a discounted rate.
The shop also sells gift set ideas and, in the run up to Christmas, will trial a free local delivery service.