This from Decanter this morning.

Majestic Wine leaves Vinopolis, Laithwaites to move in

December 9, 2009
John Abbott

Majestic Wine is to close its Vinopolis store, and will be replaced by a new Laithwaites outlet in 2010.

The 5,000sqft site near to London's Borough Market, was the only Majestic store to allow customers to purchase single bottles of wine.

The move comes as Majestic and Vinopolis failed to renegotiate their ten year lease agreement.

'When the lease ran out, we didn't renew it because we were unable to reach acceptable commercial terms with Vinopolis,' a spokesperson for Majestic told decanter.com.

'This doesn't affect our plans for expansion target of 250 stores. It's important to us that we transfer as many of our customers as possible and cater for them via our existing London stores.'


Laithwaites and Vinopolis will now have an ongoing contract of up to 10 years, and are aiming to open the new store in January 2010 following refurbishment of the interior of the current store, including the layout.

Laithwaites founder, Tony Laithwaite, said the move was his 'idea of heaven'.

'It's very exciting for me - Southwark is quite a buzzy part of town. I look forward to appearing there regularly.'

Laithwaites Wine is part of the Direct Wines Ltd and currently has ten retails stores across the UK.

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mel

I read an interesting stat about Direct Wine, apparently, on average, the group delivers a case of wine somewhere in the UK every four minutes.

I'm guessing the scenario here - I don't have any inside information. I've seen some of this stuff in the last 2 recessions.

Majestic probably had a holiday lease period at the start, for a three year renewable, with a reverse premium - just to take on the place,and to warm it up. Now the landlord is coming up with a very heavy strap for ten years.

Tony Laith'y is taking on a biggy here, I hope it doesn't consume him, if he cant make it pay - You can't get out of these leases - they are like chains round your neck. Those city landlords employ the heaviest lawyers on the planet. It has Dan Snook's hallmark all over it.

Rather him...... Good luck

What am I to do - Shez finds rare Maj stock leftovers in there.

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Duncan

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooooo.........

......ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..........

<takes deep breath>.....ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo......

..oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!

this could be an abslute stinker (or maybe a Godsend) for me as its only 5 mins walk from work on way to train station.

Wonder if Tony will do the 1 bottle policy too.
There are no parking facilities in the area hence the reason Maj allowed for no minimum purchase to allow people to carry the wine out there and then.

As Dunc mentions... wonder whether they'll have a clear out or just settle for shipping their stock to somme of the neighboring branches...

Shez, we'll natter on e-m if there are any dusty singles from the cote d'or lying in there at the end. I'll advise if U C the right gear. Hmnnn - in the confusion B 4 new year's what's it.

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Duncan

yeah. Can do.

Might stop by there tonight to get an idea of when everything will be happening (and maybe pick up a few singles while I'm at it... )

Shez, I'm thinking the dusty cote d'or singles '05,'02 and prior will be on 'get shot of this' just post Crimble mania - staff will pic 1st of course. ? discretely find out when they are being evicted.

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Duncan