Arkwrights Whisky & Wines

14/01/2023

It's the last day that Arkwrights Whisky & Wines will be open today so if you want to pop in to say hello and pick up a bottle of whisky, bourbon, gin, rum or wine then come along before 4pm. 10% discount on everything and you'll be very welcome to a dram while you browse!

19/12/2022

Arkwrights will be closing at 4pm on Tuesday 20th December for the Christmas break. We still have some stocks of whisky, wine, gin, brandy and port available – all with a reduction of 10% so pop in tomorrow before 4pm to pick up that last minute Christmas present!
We will reopen at 10am on Tuesday 10th January 2023 for what will be the final week that the shop is open.
Many thanks for all your support this year and very best wishes from Gerry and I for the festive season and the New Year.
Sláinte!
Fran xx

05/12/2022

This is not an easy post to write but, as some of you are already aware, I have made the extremely difficult decision to close the shop and this will be happening very shortly. Ken and I had decided some time ago that we would be closing the shop this year and I feel that now is finally the right time. It is the end of an era and a huge wrench but there will be new ventures to look forward to, which may involve whisky (so keep an eye on our social media just in case…) and which will definitely include more visits to distilleries!
The good news is that from this Wednesday (the 7th) all stock will be discounted as follows:
WHISKIES, WINES AND SPIRITS ALL 10% OFF
HOMEBREW KITS AND EQUIPMENT 15% OFF
PLEASE NOTE THESE DISCOUNTS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CUSTOMERS VISITING THE SHOP IN PERSON AS WE ARE NO LONGER PROVIDING A MAIL ORDER SERVICE.
Thank you all for your custom and for your support, especially since Ken’s passing. It’s been a real pleasure over the years for Ken and I to have been able to share our passion for whisky with you, and we have enjoyed the way you have reciprocated with your own great enthusiasm and knowledge. Likewise, all our lovely homebrew customers and wine lovers. From the early days when the shop sold groceries and newspapers through to the rather unique business it has evolved into you have all contributed to help make Arkwrights a very special place.
I will post again with confirmation of the final day that the shop will be open but until then my very best to you all, Fran

15/11/2022

PLEASE NOTE, WE WILL BE CLOSED FOR STOCKTAKING ON THURSDAY 17TH NOVEMBER AND WILL RE-OPEN AS USUAL AT 10AM ON FRIDAY 18TH NOVEMBER.

10/11/2022

Thank you for your patience while the shop has been closed, and also for all your kind messages. My colleague Gerry and I are now both recovered from Covid and so the shop will re-open and mail order will re-commence on Friday 11th November. We look forward to seeing you.

31/10/2022

OUR APOLOGIES - DUE TO ILLNESS THE SHOP WILL BE CLOSED THIS WEEK AND NO MAIL ORDER WILL BE DISPATCHED EITHER. WE WILL UPDATE FACEBOOK ONCE THE SHOP RE-OPENS.

29/10/2022

21/10/2022

Available now in the shop and online is the the rather special Arran Whisky 21 year old https://whiskyandwines.com/arran-21-year-old-single-malt-whisky

11/08/2022

We just wanted to let you know that Arkwrights will be closed for a short break from 4pm Saturday 13th August and will re-open Tuesday 23rd August at 10am. As well as the shop being closed for this period there will be no mail order despatched after 12 noon Friday 12th August until Tuesday 23rd.
(N.B. There can't be many, if any, other whisky shops in the world that have flowers growing round their shop sign! If you look closely there is, rather appropriately, a stalk of barley there as well)

18/07/2022

Now available on our website and in the shop is this tasty new release from Lochlea Distillery - the first core release from this exciting new Lowland Distillery that uses home grown barley and is where Robert Burns once lived and worked. We've tried it and can thoroughly recommend it! https://whiskyandwines.com/lochlea-our-barley-single-malt-whisky

07/07/2022

Such a lovely surprise to see Peter and Sara from Switzerland today. They have not been able to visit for a few years and so it was a real pleasure to sit down with them and have a catch up today. They also came bearing some very generous and special whisky samples and some amazing Swiss (of course) chocolate. The Ovomaltine has to be tasted to be believed but if my colleague Gerry is really good I may let him share!

01/06/2022

We will be taking a short break over the Jubilee holiday so the shop will close at 5.30pm today and reopen at 10am on Tuesday 7th June.
Hope you get a chance to take a break yourselves and enjoy the celebrations with a dram in hand!

14/04/2022

The shop will be closing at 5.30pm Thursday 14th April for the Easter break and reopen at 10am on Tuesday 19th April.
I would like to take this chance to thank all our lovely customers for the support you have given me this year, and for the much appreciated whisky samples, gifts, cards and kindness I have received – I feel so lucky to have such amazing customers/whisky friends.
A big thank you also to my right hand man Gerry Evans, who is an invaluable asset to the shop.
Happy Easter to you all!
Fran x

15/02/2022

I am really pleased to be able to tell you that the shop will reopen on Wednesday 16th February and mail order will restart on Tuesday 22nd. Please note our new opening hours of Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5.30pm and Saturday 10am to 4pm. Any mail orders received after 12 noon on a Friday will not be despatched until the following Tuesday.
My thanks to you all for your patience and support during the period when the shop was closed. We look forward to welcoming back customers old and new.
(N.B. The tulips aren't out quite yet but couldn't resist this image to remind us all that Spring will soon be here!)

20/01/2022

Thank you again to everyone for your support. Ken’s funeral will be held on Wednesday 26th January and you can find the details at https://www.hillierfuneralservice.co.uk/obituaries/kenneth-warren-thomas/ Family flowers only, but if you wish to make a donation in memory of Ken to either Myeloma UK or Brighter Futures at the Great Western Hospital this can be done via the link above.
Thank you, Fran

11/01/2022

My heartfelt thanks to you all for your kind thoughts and for sharing your wonderful memories of Ken. He was a very modest man but he would have been so pleased to see all these lovely comments and the support from everyone, Fran

09/01/2022

I am so sad to announce that my dear husband Ken, founder of Arkwrights, passed away just over a week ago. Many of you will have come to know Ken through the shop, which he ran very successfully first as a general store but which he then transformed into the rather unique specialist whisky shop it is today. The passion for whisky that was sparked off in him through a lecture given by the inspirational Richard Paterson was something that he went on to share, along with his knowledge and fund of stories, with not just our loyal local customers but also visitors from around the world. His cheerful and charismatic presence will be so much missed.
Fran
N.B The shop will be closed until the end of January but I am hoping to re-open after that to continue with the business that Ken and I both loved and were lucky enough to share for so many years.

09/11/2021

Please note, the shop opening hours from Wednesday 10th November will be Monday to Friday 9.30am to 1pm. Phone & collect will be available by arrangement between 1pm and 5pm. Please ‘phone to arrange this and/or to check about Saturday opening times on 01793 765071.

26/10/2021

23/10/2021

Now available to buy online and in the shop. Springbank Distillers Longrow peated and 18 yr old https://tinyurl.com/32x3ukba and Kilkerran Single Malt 12 and 16 yr old https://tinyurl.com/yxksetd4

16/09/2021

Please note, from Friday 17th September the shop opening hours will change to the following:

Monday to Friday – 9.30am to 5.30pm
Saturday – 9.30am to 5pm
Sunday - Closed

18/06/2021

Don't forget it's Father's Day this Sunday! We've got something for most Dad's - including , , , , , and . And if they'd rather make their own we've also got kits and equipment! We're open today until 6pm and from 8am to 6pm tomorrow and are always happy to advise you if you need any help.

12/04/2021

We are very pleased to be re-opening the shop to customers again but please note the following will be in place to keep everyone safe:
Only 2 people will be allowed in the shop at any one time
Face coverings must be worn
Please use the hand sanitiser provided
Social distancing needs to be observed (that's about 1 table length!)
Card payments only will be taken, no cash please
No tasting of samples will be available at the moment

One step at a time - we're all getting there! We look forward to seeing you.

02/04/2021

We are open for 'Phone and Collect only at the hours shown below over Easter.
Happy Easter everyone - hope there will be plenty of Easter eggs and drams for you all! 🥃

27/03/2021

We'll be raising a glass to International Whisky Day later. What whisk(e)y will be in your glass this evening?

On March 27, Michael Jackson's birthday, let's celebrate International Whisky Day!

04/03/2021

Great news for our customers in the USA! https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-56279525 😀

Tariffs on UK cheese and cashmere will also be lifted as the two countries try to resolve an old trade row.