“It’s been a real labour of love,” Summertown Wine Bar co-owner Graeme Woodward tells me from the Banbury Road premises where we’re talking about the highs and lows of their first year, obviously glass of wine in hand.
We are joined by fellow co-owners Michael Jelley and GM Emily Robotham, who between them launched Summertown Wine Bar in March last year. Surrounded by customers enjoying a quick glass of wine after work and a bite to eat, while a wine tasting takes place in a private room, it’s business as usual.
But while Summertown Wine Bar is now a hub of relaxation and enjoyment, which the team is hugely proud of, they’re the first to admit it has taken constant tweaking to create a place they are finally happy with.
‘IT WAS QUITE TERRIFYING BUT WE KNEW THAT IF we were GOING TO DO IT, we had TO DO IT PROPERLY’
“We knew that if we could create the space we had in mind then we would be successful, but it takes a long time to get to that stage where it’s a comfortable place to hang out, and we had to listen to our customers to find out what we could do better.
“We knew we needed to tweak things. The essence was here but it needed a polish,” Graeme says. “So we had a turbulent first nine months, but we are really proud of where we are now.”
Improvements included dividing the room up into more varied seating areas to make it a more convivial space, new soft furnishings, better acoustics and lighting, a wider selection of beers, soft drinks and a great food offering.
‘WE HAD TO LISTEN TO OUR CUSTOMERS TO FIND OUT WHAT WE COULD DO BETTER’
Throw in a stage where Summertown Wine Bar hosts comedy, music, jazz, quizzes and theatre (Creation’s recent Boatman Town was a highlight) and even pop up restaurant evenings (Table 13 for example), as well as a private room for tasting nights and parties and it feels as if the venue has finally come into its own! And with 120 covers, there is definitely the space.
For those who get a bit peckish you can now enjoy Alsatian tarte flambées – flatbreads topped with toppings such as goats cheese, red onion and honey or Mediterranean vegetables, alongside cheese and charcuterie boards to accompany the extensive wine list.
Michael and Graeme already run independent wine merchants Grape Minds, which has premises in Summertown and Wallingford READ ABOUT IT HERE.
So why a wine bar? “We’d been planning to open one for a few years but it wasn’t until September 2023 that we found the right venue here in the former Laura Ashley shop,” Michael says.
‘OUR END GOAL WAS ALWAYS TO SHARE GREAT WINE SOMEWHERE THAT PEOPLE COULD REALLY ENJOY IT WITH FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES’
“We’d never run a wine bar before but we know about wine and wanted to provide a space for people to meet and enjoy wine, that wasn’t a pub.
“So yes, it was quite terrifying but we knew that if you are going to do it, you have to do it properly, and our end goal was always to share great wine and really enjoy it with friends and colleagues.
And with their first year anniversary preparations underfoot, and a thriving business to maintain, the trio are as busy as they’d always hoped, although they add wryly that they will never rest on their laurels.
‘THE ESSENCE WAS HERE BUT IT NEEDED A POLISH’
“Our customers are really enjoying it here now and the feedback is really positive. So many people came in over the Christmas period and then returned in January so we are really building our client base with repeat customers. They have really stuck with us which we are enormously grateful for,” Michael says.
And everyone is invited to Summertown Wine Bar‘s first birthday party on Saturday March 30 from 7pm-midnight with live jazz and a unique quiz with Michael who was also an Only Connect finalist (who knew?).
‘THERE ARE A LOT OF WINE LOVERS IN OXFORD AND WE LOVE IT HERE IN SUMMERTOWN. IT’S SUCH A BUSY, BUSTLING PLACE, SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE’
If you can’t make that, then book in for their weekly jazz concerts or the Wine & Cheese Weekend on May 10-12 which includes: 8 wines, 8 cheeses and a masterclass on cheese pairings, running at various times throughout the weekend, for £55 per person if you book early.
“We are finally serving the food and wine we wanted to serve, with bands and music playing here at the weekends, in the space we had aways envisaged,” they both add
“We went into it with our eyes open and knew the risks, but we’ve always been confident in our product and our client base. Plus we know there are a lot of wine lovers right here in Oxford and we love it here in Summertown. It’s such a busy, bustling place. So we are really excited about the future.”
Summertown Wine Bar is at 267 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7HT. https://summertownwinebar.co.uk
