Wine retailer plans to open 5 new shops

BATH independent wine retailer The Beckford Bottle Shop is looking to open five new shops across the South West in the next year.

The Beckford Bottle Shop’s flagship wine merchant is on Bath’s Saville Row, next to the bistro and bottle shop which opened in 2018.

Its stand-alone bottle shop opened in Tisbury, Wiltshire, in December 2015.

Its wine shop and bistro-brasserie, which opened in 2018, has been awarded a Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide and the business has won international acclaim for its wine list, quality of service and welcoming environment.

It is now looking for locations in Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset and Hampshire, and in cities and towns such as Marlborough, Winchester, Sherborne and Bradford on Avon.

The Beckford Bottle Shop is part of The Beckford Group, a small group of South West hospitality businesses.

Tim Gardner, development director at The Beckford Bottle Shop, said: “Both our Tisbury and Bath locations have long histories of housing independent retailers serving the local communities, and our shops, their look and feel and the very atmosphere they help to create, play an integral role in our overall offer.

“Our hybrid model, whereby people can shop online or browse instore, chat to staff and maybe enjoy a glass of wine and some food, helps engender a wonderful sense of community.

“We would love to expand into areas with a comparable feel, forging similar links with local people, and building strong customer ties.”