Majestic, the UK’s largest specialist wine retailer, has kicked off its new financial year in style by opening the doors to its newest store in Rickmansworth.
The 3,350sq ft store in Church Wharf is located just five miles from Majestic’s Support Centre in Watford. It stocks more than 1,200 high-quality wines, beers and spirits – including a dedicated area for 72 Fine Wines – in addition to low and no alcohol alternatives, soft drinks and a newly extended range of premium snacks including crisps, olives and beersticks (no, that’s not an April Fool).
Majestic has brought its market-leading and award-winning service proposition to the Rickmansworth store, where its experienced and highly qualified expert colleagues will host free wine tastings seven days a week. Customers will have the opportunity to try a selection of wines before they buy at the in-store Tasting Counter, and get expert advice from the Majestic team, all of whom are trained through the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET).
Shoppers can also benefit from Majestic’s unparalleled range of complementary services including free glass hire, bespoke wedding tastings, and the retailer’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 its e-commerce website for free next-day delivery via the store’s own dedicated van. Customers making their purchases online can also opt to use Majestic’s highly popular ‘Shop Local’ proposition, which allows users to order from the stock available at the Rickmansworth 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 Rickmansworth and the surrounding area. Majestic Commercial, which was crowned On-Trade Supplier of the Year at the Drinks Business Awards 2024, currently partners with more than 3,250 hospitality venues across the UK, including the likes of Manchester City Football Club, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts and Marylebone Cricket Club’s iconic Lord’s cricket ground.
Majestic plans to open up to 10 new stores during its 2025/26 financial year, with sites in Thame and Wimborne Minster on course to open during the summer, and a site in Christchurch also in the pipeline. The ongoing expansion follows hot on the heels of six new openings in 2024, after the retailer cut the ribbon on shops in Jersey, East Dulwich, Brentwood, Banstead, Solihull and Plymouth.
Majestic’s ambitious growth strategy underscores the renewed focus the business 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 in April 2024. During its first 12 months of ownership, Majestic has already invested heavily in an extensive refurbishment of Vagabond’s flagship bar at Battersea Power Station and the launch of a new Vagabond app.
Majestic CEO John Colley said: “We’ve been looking for a store close to our Support Centre in Watford for a number of years, so we are delighted to finally be opening our doors in Rickmansworth. It’s the perfect way for us to kick-start Majestic’s 45th birthday year.
“Everyone at Majestic is looking forward to welcoming hundreds of new customers from the Rickmansworth community and sharing our award-winning wines and expert knowledge with them. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion with a bottle of fizz, or looking for the perfect wines to pair with your roast lamb and hot cross buns at Easter, our expert Majestic colleagues can help you discover wines, beers and spirits you will love, whatever your taste or budget.”
