Forum Topic

Churchfield Road's New Wine shop

I for one am very excited about this. If the Paola Tich who posted here about it is the same one who writes this wine website (she has quite an unusual name), I think we are all in for a bit of a new years treat. http://www.sipswooshspit.com  (I'm sorry - I don't know how to do automatic links).

David Fawcett ● 5008d14 Comments

Site software not good on automatic links and anyhow you can't do anything with the first post of a thread.She looks fab. Can't wait.

Sara Nathan ● 5007d

I assumed it was me being a techno-idiot as per usual.

David Fawcett ● 5007d

Yes, it's me... and I'm excited too. Things will get moving soon and hope to open end of Feb/beginning of March.

Paola Tich ● 5004d

Great news . I for one will be supporting this new quality wine shop . Hopefully this will help drive down the sales in the many other shops in the area that sell alcohol and in particular the single cans of lager and vodka bottles that end up cast aside or thrown in our gardens

Peter Truesdale ● 5004d

This is a rather upmarket wine shop. I don't suppose it will stock much strong beer or vodka. I would have thought it will make no difference to the shops selling to the street drinkers.

Sara Nathan ● 5004d

Agreed but if I and others buy their wine from this new shop and not from the existing shops on Churchfield road plus my convienve shopping like others moved to the new Sainsburys it may drive their profits down and closure of some of these places that sell cheap booze to the street drinkers . Unlikely but we can live in hope ... Anyway good to see new and hopefully upmarket business move in. New restaurants ????

Peter Truesdale ● 5004d

New cake shops at least - and Nara's creperie next week! Plus a new Indian at 3 Spice some say.I'd heard - though not sure where from - that the Sainsbury's turnover was not as good as expected.

Sara Nathan ● 5003d

Me too Peter. I went into Grapevines(?) for the first time ever the other day and found it to be a bit of a dispiriting experience. It's more of an off licence than a wine shop (and more of a youth club than an off licence - but that's another story). I tried chatting to the guy running the place and he eventually said the shop has been up for sale for some time. He didn't seem very interested. I don't think it can be making much money and it's wines are pretty dull. But most of all as a new customer, new to the area, first time in with money in my pocket and an interest in wine, I felt I was just getting in their way. Oh well.

David Fawcett ● 5000d

I see that posters have now gone up in your shop window. Can you give us an update on yours plans? When are you likely to open?

David Fawcett ● 4972d

Their twitter feed says work on the shop starts mid February.

Sara Nathan ● 4971d

It now looks like mid-March at the earliest. I am dealing with multiple suppliers who all work on their own timetables to get the shop fitted out, secure etc. Plus there is the issue of the licence. The police want to see a finished job before it can go to committee, just to check I am doing what I say I am doing. We have updated signs in the window.  I sincerely hope we can open before Easter.

Paola Tich ● 4971d

It seems such a shame that anyone brave enough to invest their money in trying to open a shop that will only brighten up Acton is held back by police and council red tape. I don't pretend to understand the licencing laws but surely you can make representations to the police and council committee stating your case beforehand? Is there anything we can do to help? It seems ridiculous that a wine shop is being seen as a negative for Churchfield road.

David Fawcett ● 4971d

I thought the licensing application had already gone in - certainly Maureen who "does" licensing for the CCA had already seen it and I believe said something supportive - given that Paola is not selling extra strong lager and cider outside Ealing's core hours - far from it!

Sara Nathan ● 4971d

The premises licence is in, but Acton falls into a special policy because of issues with street drinking. So the police make representations on every application - no exceptions - and want to be satisfied that I take all the steps they outline. The CCA has been very supportive, which is much appreciated.

Paola Tich ● 4969d