42 | UK Enterprise Awards 2022 outlet, they will not be judged for what they do or don’t know. Our team is committed to helping our customers buy the perfect bottle of wine to take home or to enjoy in the bar.” Now, the dynamic duo has been delivering wine to homes across London within the hour since 2016, whilst their Drury Lane bar and shop has been providing a haven of non-pretentious advice and a cosy hideaway for wine lovers out and about in Covent Garden. Drop Wine is easy to use. There’s a mobile app where users can choose their favourite wines from the wine bar in Drury Lane and get them delivered right to their doorstep, a dinner party, or a picnic rug in the park – all within an hour. “Another point of difference about us is our wine selection,” Will adds, explaining the USPs of Drop Wine. “We have deliberately chosen to work with a greater number of small independent wine merchants and importers to increase the variety of wines we can offer as well as supporting smaller, sustainable wine producers who are in turn also offered a fair price for their wines. Our philosophy is to offer people the opportunity to enjoy and discover truly great wine, without breaking the bank. We have a mix of off-the beaten track varieties that provide great value and interest as well as icons of the wine world with suitable cellar age.” It didn’t take long for Drop Wine to be hugely popular with the existing restaurant clientele and soon Ian and Will were delivering wine to various locations across London. As word started to spread, the growth on the app and in the bar was impressive, however along came the Covid-19 pandemic, which saw the closure of hospitality venues literally overnight, and things took an unexpected turn. “It was an extraordinary time for us,” continues Ian. “With our bar and restaurant doors shut we poured all our efforts into making sure that with everything else going on, at least our customers A virtual wine cellar, stocking more than 200 premium examples, Drop Wine is a family of wine bars and an on demand wine app designed to deliver great wine to your door within the hour. We speak to the company’s CoFounders to find out more about this pioneering service. Drop Wine is a unique service which combines an on-demand wine delivery app with a family of friendly bars and bottle shops. Londoners can choose to have wine delivered to their doorstep in under an hour – or they can pop into one of the dedicated shops for a warm welcome. The company was the brainchild of lifelong friends Ian Campbell and Will Palmer who were enjoying a glass of wine together one evening when an idea hit them. “We wondered if it was possible to get really good wine delivered exactly when you wanted it,” laughs Ian. “And we discovered it wasn’t. Hence, Drop Wine was born.” Already having three successful restaurants behind them, the entrepreneurs knew that wine formed an important part of their customers’ lives. They wanted great quality, interesting wine at a fair price. But it was also important for them to support smaller growers and producers who are making wine with integrity and environmental care. So, Ian and Will set out to curate a thoughtfully planned wine list with something wonderful for any occasion. “Everything we do is based around our core ethos of good wine at great value chosen by knowledgeable and enthusiastic people,” Ian shares. “When a customer comes into a Drop Wine Bar of the Year - London Apr22664 could continue to enjoy a bottle of wine. Every day our fantastic staff and couriers delivered emergency wine, helping to maintain sanity levels and bring some much-needed cheer. We provided online sommelier advice and held virtual wine tastings to bring our community together for some fun.” Now that the UK is slowly emerging from Covid times, Drop Wine is as busy as ever, perhaps even more so as in 2021 the guys opened a new venue in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, In March 2022 Drop opened a 3rd location in Clapham - “Drop on the Common” meaning that more people can have access to great wine. Ian says, “We’re lucky as the UK is one of the foremost countries to have a wine business. It has a rich history of importing some of the world’s best wines and has a great infrastructure to support this.” Being part of something bigger than itself, Drop Wines has built and maintained a network of relationships with its local clients. With regards to this, especially in its location, Ian continues, “In London, we are also surrounded by a sophisticated wine drinking audience who willing to experiment and be curious about wine and new bottles they haven’t yet tried before. We find our customers come to us exactly because they trust we have chosen the best wines out there for them.” Recently, Drop Wine has been recognized in the UK Enterprise Awards 2022 and bestowed with the notable accolade of Wine Bar of the Year – London for its Drury Lane location and its app services. Now, the guys have huge plans to expand Drop Wine over the next five years, with the goal being to open 35 intimate and welcoming shops and bars across London and the UK in the next five years - with branches in Kensington and Dulwich opening soon. Contact Details Contact: Ian Campbell and Will Palmer Company: Drop Wine Web Address: www.dropwine.co.uk
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