Multi-award-winning wine merchant in Great Horkesley for sale

Established in 1963, The Wine Centre is a charming, successful wine merchants which boasts a loyal and regular customer base. It stocks over 500 wines from around the world as well as champagnes, spirits, liqueurs, beers, ciders and soft drinks. Additionally, it offers a range of deli foods and cheeses, and has a reputation for exceptional hampers and wine gifts.

The site comprises a timbre-framed Grade II listed building which is believed to date back over 100 years. A spacious car park leads into a substantial deli and wine shop, which was refurbished in 2011 to give it a contemporary feel and, wrapped around it, there is a large warehouse. In the centre of the shop is a spiral staircase leading to an office and dry stock room above.

The sale also includes an adjoining characterful four-bedroom listed country home with mature gardens and a paddock at the rear with potential for planning. This residential accommodation comes complete with original Georgian features and is made up over two floors. Part of the ground floor adjoins the shop and is currently being used by the owners to trade ladies’ fashion, jewellery, handbags, and toiletries, but a new owner could easily return these rooms to the house as a lounge and study. The ground floor also holds the main reception (lounge/diner), adjoining kitchen, utilities room, shower room and garden porch. Leading to the second floor there are two original stairways, which take you to four bedrooms, including three doubles, and a large bathroom.

The current owners acquired The Wine Centre in 1999 and have since grown it into a multi-award-winning business. Amongst other titles, it has won both New Zealand Winegrowers and Wines of Chile "Independent Wine Merchant of the year" competitions, as well as several Old-World regional categories, most recently Côtes-du-Rhône Retailer of the Year. For the first time last year, the business was also included in the exclusive independent wine merchant club “UK’s Top 50” as voted for by over 100 judges out of over 800 wine merchants. The business also won Essex Life’s Wine & Food Retailer of the year as well as the coveted Essex Countywide Business Award, Retailer of the Year, both prestigious local awards.

The Wine Centre is situated in Great Horkesley, a village set just a few miles North of Colchester on the edge of Constable Country and is surrounded by several affluent villages. It is located on The Causeway (A134) in Great Horkesley and benefits from passing trade in what is a commuter belt to London.

This sale offers the fantastic opportunity for a purchaser who is looking for a lifestyle business without having to compromise on the accommodation aspect. The Wine Centre is perfect as a first business, or for a purchaser looking to add to their own off-licence or wine merchant portfolio.
 
The business has, for 21 years, been owned by Mr Anthony and Mrs Janet Borges who have decided to sell in order to pursue retirement.

Adam Sellers, Senior Retail Agent at Christie & Co, who is handling the sale, comments, “I am very pleased to be bringing to market such a well renowned business. The Wine Centre is a huge asset to Great Horkesley and its surrounding villages. I look forward to the marketing process and meeting the eventual new owner who will, no doubt, thoroughly enjoy taking over the helm at Great Horkesley Wine Centre.”

The Wine Centre is on the market for an asking price of £1.5 Million, plus stock.

 
For further information on this press release, contact:
Phoebe Burrows, Corporate Communications Executive
P: 020 7448 8849 or E: phoebe.burrows@christie.com

Contact the agent:
Adam Sellers, Senior Agent – Retail
P: 07860 189 706 or E: adam.sellers@christie.com

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