Ipswich indie looks for loyalty

The Grape Escape opened last year in Ipswich, just in time to catch the Christmas trade.

Co-owner Lucy Newton says that the last few months have been “frantic,” but she hopes she will soon be able to leave her full-time job in HR and join her business partner in the shop.

The store has an eight-bottle Enomatic, and Newton says the locals are gradually coming round to the hybrid concept.

“I think people are still a little bit confused about what we are,” she says. “We’re not trying to be a bar at all. On a Friday and Saturday we might be open until 6pm or 6.30pm. The Enomatics are very much to encourage people to try new things. We can give them just a taster from them or they can sit in and have a glass in the afternoon, and that’s slowly picking up.”

Newton is working with several suppliers including Marta Vine and Hallgarten.

“We really love working with Marta,” she says. “After our launch event everyone was just waxing lyrical about the Portuguese wines. She’s been so supportive and she’s always so super enthusiastic.”

Newton is also buying wine from Substrata Wines, a small importer in Norwich. “They predominantly focus on more natural and biodynamic wines,” says Newton. “We got to know them because we had visited their shop and they are the sole importer for a winery in France that belongs to someone I know.”

As well as in-store wine tastings, The Grape Escape will also offer gin blending experiences using a homemade still.

“We’re just thinking of other ways we can bring in the revenue, and it’s all about building up that customer loyalty,” says Newton.