A specialist wine shop had its best Christmas sales ever ahead of opening a new shop in a Bucks town. 

Chain wine specialist Majestic Wine had its biggest Christmas trading performance since opening 43 years ago at the end of 2023, standing its plans for an expansion into Marlow, Buckinghamshire, later this year in good stead. 

A spokesperson for the company confirmed that a new store would be opening on Spittal Street in Marlow this spring, describing the town as "a perfect fit" for Majestic.

According to The Times, over 60,000 customers shopped with the retailer for the first time during Christmas 2023, with Friday, December 23, raking in the highest trading numbers on record.

Speaking about the company's plans to open a shop in Marlow, CEO John Colley said: "We have identified Marlow as one of 70 locations across the UK where we see an opportunity to expand.

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"We are excited about the prospect of bringing our market-leading proposition to the area and helping new customers enjoy the Majestic experience with our qualified experts and award-winning wine ranges."

The wine retailer, which is the biggest of its kind in the UK and has 208 branches across the country, also sells a range of beers and spirits alongside its specialist wine selection.

It operates a unique 'Shop Local' scheme where residents can virtually browse products based on existing stock levels at their closest branch, and each Majestic Wine store has its delivery van which ferries orders around the area - a feature that would likely be incorporated into the Marlow shop.