The glasses are more than half full following the successful launch of Barnard Castle’s new wine bar.
The Inglenook Wine Bar and Merchants, on The Bank, opened in the run-up to Christmas and has surpassed expectations in its first months.
“It’s been better than I expected,” admitted owner Morgan Derbyshire. “I’m one of those people who is more pessimistic than optimistic, but things have been really good.
“The build-up to Christmas was good and then with dry January I thought we’d be dead at the start of the year, but it seems to have been very, very busy.”
An inaugural wine-tasting evening was a sell-out, and there are plans to make it a monthly event. The next is scheduled for Thursday, March 12.
“Our first one sold out in two days and we had a waiting list in the background,” Morgan said.
“Hopefully these can establish themselves as popular nights out. Our first one was with a chap from the Yorkshire Vintners, and we’re hoping to branch out and get some winemakers in when they do tours in the summer months.”
Part of the charm is offering something a bit different from Barney’s established pubs and restaurants.
“There are lots of nice pubs, but it doesn’t have a quiet little bar,” Morgan added. “We find we’re getting a lot of women who will come in here on their own but say they wouldn’t be comfortable going to a pub on their own.
“I like that about this place, we quite often get people popping in on their own and I’ll sit and have a chat with them. I’ve already got to know a lot of new people!”
The idea of the wine bar emerged after Morgan was made redundant and wanted to move closer to his partner’s family in Reeth. And The Bank offered an ideal location.
“This building is a beautiful little spot,” he said. “It’s the right size, we get the fire on and it’s nice and cosy. A lot of people say it’s like dropping into someone’s living room.
“It’s relaxing and calm, people can just sit and chat away.”
Since moving to the town, Morgan has enjoyed a warm reception from the Barney community.
One photo from opening takes pride of place in the bar, showing the sizeable group of people who chipped in to support the licensing application, help with decorating the building or collect furniture.
“Barney’s a very friendly place,” Morgan added. “There’s a community here and we’ve been welcomed in.”
