Bristol indie bucks belt tightening trend

By James Lawrence

Published: 17 October, 2022

Despite the cost-of-living crisis affecting consumer up and down the country, at least one independent has reported booming sales of its fine wines.

Martin Hagen, founder of Cave Bristol wine shop, bar and deli in Bristol, said that 80% of his sales were now going to clients in London, suggesting that the appetite for fine and rare wines remains undiminished, with geographical location not significant in the online era.

"In the past few weeks we have put more of our fine, vintage, rare and hard-to-find bottles on general sale and they'd sold instantly, with the vast majority – just over 80% – going up to London. This says to me that those who have money are still looking to invest in great wines and spend on luxury items that they want to enjoy,” Hagan commented.

Cave Bristol is an online bottle shop that specialises in small growers, organic, biodynamic and low intervention wines, mixed discovery cases, premium store cupboard essentials and spirits.

“I opened Cave Bristol on Gloucester Road two weeks before the pandemic hit in March 2020,” said Hagen.

“I wanted to create a local food community with a place to perch for a quick glass, a store to stock up on provisions and a space to sit with friends for an entire evening of eating and drinking but plans had to pivot when we went into lockdown. We kept the store open, operating under government guidelines, but acted quickly to take the concept online.”

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