POPULAR Prestwich wine merchants Grape to Grain are to open a shop in Ramsbottom next month.

Owners Tom Sneesby, and Joannes Hubertus van Goethem - known as Barry - set up their first shop in Church Lane, Prestwich, in June 2016, and following its success have leased a shop in Bridge Street in Ramsbottom town centre.

Described as “an off licence with a difference”, Grape to Grain possesses a license which means customers can sample a wide selection of wines and beers from around the world in store, as well as buying them to enjoy at home.

Its owners, who both live in Prestwich, describe themselves as “regular people who like to drink wine”, and say they hope to start trading in the town by the first weekend in December.

Tom, who is also one half of Manchester-based bar consultants Liquorists, said: “We were looking for a long time at the right place to expand to and Ramsbottom came about because of a perfect storm really.

“Myself and my partner have always enjoyed going to Ramsbottom. It’s a wonderful little town and we love its community feel. We needed somewhere with the sense of community Prestwich has and Ramsbottom has that in absolute spades.

“We have found the right shop which has room for us grow into. It’s a great spot right near some incredible places like Levanter, Baratxuri, The Hungry Duck, Lolo’s.”

Keen wine drinkers themselves, Tom and Barry originally started the business after finding a paucity of places which catered to their own tastes in the area.

Mr Sneesby added: “There wasn’t really anything like us around Prestwich and we looked at what we thought was lacking and what we wanted on our doorstep.

“When we started up, we filled it with wines from one supplier then all of a sudden, people turned up at our door with all these different wines that blew our minds.”

Grape to Grain now stock around 250 different wines from around the world.

The pair hope to bring a similar variety to Ramsbottom, and have set up a Kickstarter campaign in order to raise money.

In exchange for a donation, people will receive a number of special offers in return, depending on how much they pledge.

Grape to Grain had initially wanted to raise £3,000, but have already surpassed that target, with the total currently standing at more than £4,000.

“We want to reach out to as many people as possible,” said Mr Sneesby.

“We don’t have any lending and we don’t want to go down that route. We would much prefer to pump our money into employing people and improving the business.

“By crowdfunding we can tell everyone who we are and what we are about as well as ensuring we are able to give them some great wine!”

To pledge visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/2113180477/grape-to-grain-ramsbottom.