Following a two-week refurbishment, Corks Out has reopened with a new concept store featuring a modern wine bar with a new seating area and menu.
Struggling to make enough money at the London Road store, owner Ruth Yates decided to innovate and look for new ways to offer her customers a point of difference - rather than shut up shop.
Three years ago Ruth Yates, owner of Corks Out, installed Enomatic taste machines in store to offer customers the opportunity to come out of their comfort zone when it comes to wine. Deciding that the taste concept was not enough she brought the drink in concept alongside the machines and mixed the retail/bar experience.
Ruth has now taken this one step further and turned the concept around a little by having a wine bar, selling a large range of Champagnes by the glass including top names such as Krug and Dom Perignon, as well as some of the Corks Out Cocktails and a range of quality wines to sample through their tasting machines.
The store re-opened on Thursday, 15th August, (their 4th Anniversary in Alderley Edge) with a Champagne & Canapé launch party in the evening which, despite the rain, attracted over 90 customers.
Ruth Yates said "What we want to do is something completely different and innovative, we want to be a quality wine shop but we also want to be a trendy wine bar, a destination, the place to be, somewhere you can sample and drink top quality wines through our tasting machines (a selection that will change weekly) offering people a chance to explore quality and diversity.
"As well as quality wine by the glass I also wanted to provide a quality range of Champagne by the glass and some unusual Corks Out cocktails. We want to change how people drink their spirits and what they mix it with too; therefore, we won't be doing your average G&T.
"What we have achieved is something new in the UK, there are trendy wine bars doing this already, but there was not a wine retailer. We aim to combine the two in perfect, comfortable surroundings. We will have a small light snack list, which includes something a bit different such as a bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese, Bolly & Bagel is becoming the order of the day."
Ruth added "There was another reason for the re-furb – we have, as many others can sympathise with been faced with high rent and rates in Alderley Edge and it basically wasn't making enough money to support itself, I had to decide whether to radically change the store with further capital expense or close up.
"However, I don't give up that easily and I felt that we had something different to offer Alderley Edge, we have a great team, a great range of wines and now a great wine bar experience. It's still early days but we have had a great response from our customers, including a few new ones, which is wonderful."
Comments
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This is what Alderley Edge needs ......... a true Champagne Bar !
Been in there a few times already and it has a great atmosphere in elegant surroundings with a superb range of Champagnes by the glass or bottle, plus a wonderful selection of cocktails, plus a huge range of wines by the glass or bottle.
Well Done Ruth and her Team !
Gud Luk.