Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has joined forces with one of Plymouth’s biggest employers, The Range, to launch its first-ever store in the city.
Majestic has opened the doors to the 4,400sq ft shop on the ground floor of The Range’s head office in William Prance Road, Derriford, after striking a deal to sublet a section of underutilised space within the building. The store is ideally located on a retail park currently under development, which is already home to Aldi, Pets Corner, Costa Coffee and PureGym, with M&S Food opening next week.
The store stocks Majestic’s full range of more than 1,200 high-quality wines – including a dedicated area for 72 Fine Wines – plus beers, spirits, low and no alcohol alternatives, soft drinks and snacks.
Majestic has brought its market-leading and award-winning service proposition to Plymouth, with experienced and qualified colleagues hosting free wine tastings seven days a week from the in-store Tasting Counter. Customers will have the opportunity to try a selection of wines before they buy, receive tasting notes and get expert advice from Majestic’s colleagues, all of whom are trained through the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET).
Shoppers will benefit from further services including free glass hire for occasions such as weddings and birthday parties, and Majestic’s unique ‘No Quibble Guarantee’, which allows customers to return any wines they don’t like in exchange for a bottle of equivalent value.
Online shoppers can order from Majestic’s full range through the retailer’s e-commerce website for free next-day delivery via the store’s own dedicated van. Customers making their purchases online can opt to use Majestic’s unique ‘Shop Local’ proposition, which allows users to order from the stock available at the Plymouth store, in real-time, for click and collect within as little as four hours.
The new shop will also support Majestic’s rapidly growing B2B division, Majestic Commercial, supplying wines to gastropubs, bars and restaurants in the local area. Majestic Commercial, which was crowned On-Trade Supplier of the Year at the Drinks Business Awards 2024, currently partners with more than 3,000 hospitality venues across the UK.
Plymouth marks the sixth new store Majestic has opened in its current financial year, and its third in less than two weeks following successful launches in Banstead on 31st October and Solihull on 7th November. The retailer has also cut the ribbon on new shops in Jersey, East Dulwich and Brentwood since April, as part of plans to expand at an average of one new store per month during the coming years.
The ambitious growth strategy underscores the renewed focus Majestic has placed on experiential retail and hospitality offerings since its split from Naked Wines plc and subsequent acquisition by Fortress Investment Group in December 2019. Since then, following the reintroduction of former management and with the backing of its investor, Majestic has returned to growth and stability, and acquired Vagabond Wines out of administration in April, saving nine wine bars and 171 jobs.
Plymouth has long been on Majestic’s list of target locations as part of that expansion plan. Research by consultancy firm PwC in September crowned Plymouth as the best city in the UK to live and work in, based on 12 criteria including income equality, jobs, commuting times, housing and the high street shopping environment. Local wine-lovers previously had to order from Majestic online, or travel more than 20 miles to the retailer’s nearest store in Totnes.
Majestic CEO John Colley said: “Plymouth is a city we’ve been targeting for some time as part of our expansion plans, so we are delighted to finally be opening our newest store here. Everyone at Majestic is looking forward to welcoming hundreds of new customers from the local community and sharing our award-winning wines and expert knowledge with them.
“Whether you’re celebrating with a bottle of fizz, looking for a Black Friday deal, or stocking up on winter reds and Fine Wines for Christmas, our expert Majestic colleagues can help you discover wines, beers and spirits you will love, whatever your occasion, taste or budget.”
