Second branch in Brighton station
and pick up when they get to Brighton.
Oliver also thinks the location means
there will be a lot of gifting. She adds: “I’ve had a few comments on Instagram with
Seven Cellars has opened a shop on the
just the words ‘train beer!’, which I find
concourse at Brighton station.
quite funny. We will do a little bit of ready-
The business is already well-established
to-drink, but not too much – probably the
in the nearby Seven Dials area of the city
Brighton Gin & Tonic in cans, and we might
and owner Louise Oliver is excited about
expand our range of half sizes.”
this latest expansion.
East London to Western Australia
“As soon as I opened six years ago, I was
thinking about opening shop two, and
it’s taken me quite a long time to find the perfect location,” Oliver explains.
“That tricky second shop – it’s such
a burden because you get yourself a
Wine shop and deli To Be Consumed, in More than 17 million customers to aim at
little business going, you get yourself
Leytonstone, is up for sale. Owners Nick and Bianca Chapman are
established and you think, OK, it’s stable,
moving back to their native Australia but
second shop and the last thing you want
The couple originally relocated to the
I’m paying the bills – it’s working.
will be sorry to leave the vibrant east
“Then you decide to take that leap to the
London neighbourhood behind.
is to jeopardise the business you have.
UK to join Nick’s sister, but she also moved
But I’ve really worked at it, my team is
back earlier this year. Now with two very
absolutely fabulous, they work so hard and
young children, Nick and Bianca are keen
I couldn’t ask for more really, so I feel the
to rejoin her and the rest of their relatives
timing is right.”
in Perth.
Seven Cellars’ original branch carries
“We’ve been
around 600 wines and 320 spirits as well
in London for
as an impressive range of craft beers. Oliver
14 years now,”
says that selecting the products for the new
explains Nick, “but
shop was a real dilemma.
“We had to pare down the range because
it is really small premises. We’ve got space for around 100 wines and 180 spirits
because it is quite tall inside and we’ve had
there’s nothing like 100 wines and 180 spirits are available
these wonderful library ladders designed,”
of the first to benefit from the revised
have organised it by colour and price.”
businesses in stations has got an innovative
she says. “At Seven Dials we display by
region and country but in the new shop we Official figures estimate that 17.5
million commuters pass through Brighton station every year, and in addition there
is regular tourist activity. Pride weekend, for example, guarantees an extra 15,000
people coming through the station every hour.
Oliver says that she thinks she is one
commercial thinking from Network
Rail. “The guy responsible for putting
approach concerning the south east,” she says. “They are changing their attitude
towards small businesses and are saying
that it would be lovely to have a flavour of the businesses of the towns in which the stations are in.”
The new shop will offer click-and-collect
to allow commuters to order from work
THE WINE MERCHANT november 2021 8
a global pandemic to
solidify what’s important.
“Leytonstone is a lovely place to live
and work, with a lot of support for local
businesses. There’s a lot of young blood coming in. It’s got that vibe of people
looking for something family focused but
with the opportunity to still go out and get quality food and bits and pieces.
“There are some great local restaurants
and the Leytonstone Town Team, which is a collaboration between local businesses
and the council, is really active in trying to push the area.
“There’s lots of exciting things going on
and it’s getting better each year.”
