A NEW wine shop offering a selection of alcohol from around the world is set to open a second site after becoming a huge hit.

Vino Vero is set to join the growing number of businesses in Thorpe Bay when it takes over the former Hair and Sons offices at 163 Broadway in October.

The shop offers a huge selection of 300 wines, spirits, craft beers and craft ciders, as well as popular wine tastings showcasing five to six imported bottles from around the globe, often “quirkier” and exclusive to the shop.

The business, owned by Jaime Fernandez, has been a success in Leigh Road for the last four years giving bosses confidence the expansion will work well.

Family run - Jaime and Holly Fernandez Family run - Jaime and Holly Fernandez (Image: Jaime Fernandez)

Vino Vero will be joining Golf Dot One virtual gold simulator, in 140 The Broadway, and Since Turkish kitchen and bar in 132 The Broadway.

Mr Fernandez, 42, said: “We have been looking for a little while to expand our business, we took over in 2020 just after the first lockdown and it is something we have really wanted to do.

“The right place and location have taken longer than hoped to find, but we are looking for an October opening.

Wine-tasting - A wine-tasting session at the store Wine-tasting - A wine-tasting session at the store (Image: Jaime Fernandez)

“It is not a huge place but that was the reason, we are popular because we are an intimate place. We are local to the area as well and my wife grew up in Thorpe Bay.

“We are very fond of it and opening there was our number one option.”

Mr Fernandez added that “a lot has been opening in the last few months in Thorpe Bay, which has been a really positive social aspect that is growing”.

Intimate - Vino Vero Intimate - Vino Vero (Image: Jaime Fernandez)

“It is good to see vacant shops being taken over,” he added.

The new Thorpe Bay store will “be a replica” of their Leigh premises, starting as a retail site offering 300 varieties of alcohol, and eventually “on-site consumption and wine tasting events”, likely in 2025.

Mr Fernandez added: “The focus is to open for retail only for Christmas and then we can focus on other things.

“We have tasting nights where we have a selection of different events, including our tutored wine tasting where we present five to six bottles to customers.

“They sell out in a day or two, it’s a really different evening.”