London’s Vinoteca appoints advisor to maximise expansion

London-based wine bar, restaurant and retail concept Vinoteca has appointed independent advisory business Dow Schofield Watts to help secure funding for its next phase of expansion.

Will Baxter and Payam Keyghobadi of Dow Schofield Watts. Photo credit: Simon Jacobs

Founded in 2005 by Brett Woonton, Charlie Young and Elena Ares and inspired by the wine bars of Spain and Italy, Vinoteca provides informal restaurant and bar hybrids with a large selection of wines on offer. Each site has its own wine shop, offering UK delivery, with the company launching its own wine membership club in 2019.

The first Vinoteca in Farringdon was followed by those in Marylebone, Chiswick, King’s Cross and the City, with the company currently operating five sites within London.

Vinoteca City, the biggest to date, occupies two floors in Bloomberg’s new European headquarters.

Now, it is reported that Vinoteca is in negotiations for the acquisition of a prime site in central Birmingham, at 1 Chamberlain Square within the Paradise development, which would be its first outside of the capital.

Will Baxter, partner at Dow Schofield Watts in London, said: “Vinoteca’s highly experienced management team are passionate about their brand. As interest in wine continues to grow in the UK, their ability to offer high-quality products at accessible prices in a friendly, informal setting has proved highly popular with customers and landlords. The team are now seeking further investment to allow them to take advantage of the huge growth opportunities.”

Specialising in providing fundraising and corporate financial advice to the hospitality and leisure sector, Will Baxter and Payam Keyghobadi have advised brands including Bel & The Dragon, Giggling Squid, Rosa’s Thai Café, Mowgli, Las Iguanas and triyoga.