As Lion’s Den, a new shop selling speciality wines, beers and spirits opens in Yarm, Sam Marsden talks to Ruth Addicott about what it has to offer

The Northern Echo:

NEXT time you are stocking up your drinks cabinet and looking for inspiration, it might be worth a peep inside Lion’s Den, in Yarm. The shop has not only a wide range of beers, wines, liqueurs and spirits, but some brilliant alternatives to the traditional array of drinks on shelves in supermarkets.

It has 180 different beers, 12 types of vodka, 15 types of gin and 12 types of whisky, as well as a choice of champagne, cider, tequila, sambuca and flavoured liqueurs.

There is also plenty of inspiration for gifts including a range of “rock ’n’ roll” inspired bottles by fashion designer Christian Audigier and a bottle of vodka infused with 23-carat gold leaves from Switzerland. As if that isn’t enough, there is a chance to sample different tasters – it was Gin Week recently and they’ve previously had Rum and Vodka Weeks.

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Owner Sam Marsden, from Guisborough, says more and more people are acquiring a taste for real ale and are looking for a choice, and they’re prepared to pay for it. One thing Lion’s Den does offer is the chance to buy by the bottle as opposed to a crate.

“A lot of people know what they want when they come in and it’s nice supporting smaller businesses,” says Sam. “We’ll keep changing; we’ve got a huge list of recommendations and we’re making our way through it. People say it’s nice to have a choice and not the run-ofthe- mill selection in supermarkets. We’re catering for everyone and I think our prices reflect that.”

Bottled beers range from £2.35 to £10.99 for a 75cl bottle of Belgian pale ale Brooklyn Local 1. A bottle of Mexican tequila starts at £25 and goes up to £47.50 complete with a classic clay pot. The wines also vary in price, starting at £6.75 for a Chilean Millaman Condor Merlot to £58 for a Destiny Bay Cabernet Sauvignon from New Zealand.

Sam and husband Richard have been working in the drinks industry since 2008, but this is their first retail venture. Prior to that, Sam worked for the tax office and Richard had an injection moulding company making shot glasses. “We were approached to start filling them and that’s how we got into the drinks industry,” says Sam.

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They sold the injection moulding business and opened the shop in Yarm in February.

They have funded it all themselves and eventually plan to take on part-time staff.

According to Sam, some of the best selling drinks so far have been Belgian ales, such as Kwak and Saltaire. “We have got 180 beers and when one sells out, we replace it with something different so there is always a choice,” she says. “We get requests and will try to order something in if we can. The Belgian ales are really popular and fly off the shelf.”

Along with beers from Germany, the US and New Zealand, and brands such as Leffe and Hoegaarden, there are local ales such as Holy Cow Cranberry Milk Stout from The Ilkley Breweries, as well as the more interestingly named Sheep Shaggers Gold, Doggie Style and Old Foghorn.

Sam says a lot of customers have been trying their own brand Lion’s Den which has a range of beers, spirits and flavoured liqueurs, including apple and cinnamon, raspberry and cherry. Whisky lovers have a choice of Spey, The One and increasingly popular Japanese whisky Yamazaki. Fans of rock band Motorhead, meanwhile, can stock up on the band’s own range of vodka, wine and beers.

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Another good seller has been V Gallery Vodka which comes in flavours such as mango, cucumber, toffee fudge and marshmallow.

As for wines, the most popular to date has been an organic wine, Running Duck, at £8.99.

If you are looking for a special gift or something a little bit different, keep an eye out for some of the more interesting bottles. Elements 8 Rum (£35) is pretty stylish or there’s Royal Dragon’s Imperial Vodka which, when shaken, shimmers with 23-carat gold edible leaves. It’s made from winter rye distilled through charcoal five times to create a “silky smooth” taste. At £67.50 it’s not cheap, but it certainly has the “‘wow” factor.

There’s also the artistic range of bottles designed by fashion guru, Christian Audigier.

The wine starts at £14.99 or £55 for a designer bottle of champagne.

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Apart from the occasional tipple on a weekend, Sam doesn’t drink, but asked to pick out a favourite, she points to Coole Swan Irish Cream Liqueur (£21.99). “I wrapped one up for my Mother’s Day present from the kids,” she laughs.

Lion’s Den, 2 Fairfax Court, High Street, Yarm
T: 01642-786614
W: lionsdenbeers.co.uk