Wigan farm shop's new venture celebrating terrific tipples

Windy Arbour Farm in Billinge has unveiled Tin and Glass, a bottle and can shop selling a wide range of real ales, craft beers, locally-made gins and wines.
Rachel and Geoff Rigby outside the new shopRachel and Geoff Rigby outside the new shop
Rachel and Geoff Rigby outside the new shop

The Ashton Road venue has stocked a small selection of drinks made by brewers and distillers from Wigan and the North West for several years.

But when one of the units on site recently became vacant the business decided to expand the alcohol range considerably and set up a dedicated building to showcase it in.

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Business owner Geoff Rigby said: “We’ve been licenced for four or five years now selling a small selection of real ale and gin and when a unit came free we thought it might not be easy to find someone wanting to take the lease on.

Rachel and Geoff Rigby inside new store Tin and GlassRachel and Geoff Rigby inside new store Tin and Glass
Rachel and Geoff Rigby inside new store Tin and Glass

“At first we were thinking of something temporary, maybe up to Christmas, but then we decided we would do it properly and put all the alcoholic offering into a new shop.

“We called it Tin and Glass at Windy Arbour Farm because we wanted to create something that while it has our name is also a bit separate and has its own identity.

“We’ve got local and regional beers as well as some from other parts of the UK and a few from overseas and locally-distilled gins.

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“It’s definitely exciting. We’ve had a core following who’ve always bought beer from us over the years but until now we couldn’t offer more choice to attract people. We’re hoping the new shop will interest our existing customer base and also attract a new clientele who really like beers and spirits but perhaps aren’t that interested in potatoes and eggs.

“During lockdown we sold more beer and that definitely made us think we could be doing more if we could offer more choice.”

Geoff says Tin and Glass stocks everything from session ales to strong craft beers which will appeal to ale aficionados.

The shelves are laden with beers from Wigan and West Lancashire breweries as well as ale producers from across the North West and the vibrant brewing scenes in Manchester and Liverpool .

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Geoff says that as the bottle shop is based in an agricultural building they have gone for an industrial feel, with local talent employed in the design and construction and the place having a rustic look.

There is also the possibility of holding taster nights for private groups in the future.

For more information visit https://tinandglass.uk/ or www.facebook.com/tinandglasswa

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