New Vinopolis MD eyes more visitors

The new managing director of Vinopolis is aiming to promote and expand what she described as the site’s “unique” offerings.

Samantha Cox (pictured), who took up her new role two weeks ago, told the drinks business about what she hopes to achieve at Vinopolis as it begins a period of expansion.

“I would like to establish Vinopolis as a really top visitor attraction,” she said. “Our tours are unique and I’d really like to develop that side of the business further.

“Then there’s the gastronomic side. We’re having an Italian restaurant put in which brings our restaurant complement up to four. I know it’s an overused phrasae but I want to keep Vinopolis as a unique offering.”

Cox’s career in the drinks industry really began with a tenure at Greene King as regional manager for pubs, first in Southampton and then northeast London.

This was followed with a job as director and subsequently sales & marketing director at Chester Boyd, where she stayed until her recent appointment to Vinopolis.

Cox stated that while her background in gastropubs would be of great help, the added retail side of the business and overall running of the place was going to have to encourage a “much broader focus”.

“The challenge is very different because I’m a very detailed person and when you have a narrow focus you can afford to be detailed,” she admitted.

As to whether there was anything new in the immediate pipeline for Vinopolis, Cox responded: “If there’s anything that can improve us as a visitor attraction I’d be open to suggestions. Not that there’s anything on the cards just yet but I have only been here two weeks.”

Rupert Millar, 29.11.2010