Many of us might think we’re beer aficionados but for the team at Bottle and Board it’s true.
Here at ESP we love to see new independents open up in Peterborough and they don’t come much better than a beer shop!
Eddie Baines is a Brewer and Beer Maven with over twenty-five years experience in the beer and hospitality industry. Together with his wife and business partner Gina they’ve recently opened Peterborough’s first bottle shop – right in the middle of lockdown!
It’s been a desire of Eddie and Gina Baines to open in the city and they weren’t going to let a pandemic stop them so they started out with call and collect pre- order service, but now you can drop into Bottle and Board at 11 Wentworth Street in Peterborough.
Gina told ESP – “We are a specialist beer shop selling premium beers from around the world with an emphasis on traditional British Cask ales, Belgian ales, American craft beers and German beers, and when the world is back to normal we will be running bespoke tastings and food matching. The ‘board’ in Bottle and Board will be a small food offer, of artisanal cheese and charcuterie platters.
“The main focus for the business is the sale of high-end beers from around the world, cheese and beer pairings, tutored tastings of rare beers, and with our links to some well renowned beer writers there’ll be an opportunity for book launches and readings.”
The couple built up a reputation in the industry for their work with Utobeer at Borough Market having been involved with them since 2002 running their retail unit and assisting them in the setting up and commissioning of Tap East Bar and Brewery.
It was their dream to set something up here in Peterborough and back in 2018 Eddie and Gina sold their flat in East London, moved to Peterborough and began a long search for the perfect property for the shop.
So if beer’s your thing and you like something a little different to buy and enjoy at home Bottle and Board aims to provide an eclectic mix of amazing ales and bottled beers you won’t find elsewhere locally – all brought to you with some expert knowledge.
You’re definitely in safe hands when it comes to advice, tips and tipples as they both certainly have beer credentials. Eddies been involved in the industry since 1992 first of all brewing for the Firkin Brewery chain and then as an independent brewer. Eddie’s been engaged by breweries as a consultant advising on every area of the industry as well as trouble shooting.
“Our work at Borough Market has led to us conducting training sessions and presenting beer and cheese food matching sessions, partnering with Ned Palmer who trained as a cheesemonger at Neal’s Yard Cheese and has recently had his first book published. We’re hoping that a reading and signing of Ned’s ‘A Cheesemonger’s History of the British Isles’ will be our first event at Bottle and Board.”
The couple also have plenty of experience judging at the Peterborough Beer Festival, GBBF and have been on the judging panel for the International Beer Challenge (IBC) for the last 4 years.
There’s new stock coming in all the time with the bottle shop stocking a huge range of beers including some for specific dietary and lifestyle requirements with everything from low to no-alcohol, gluten free, vegan, organic, unpasteurised, Fairtrade and more.
You can pop into the shop in Wentworth Street or pre-order on email at ordersbottleandboard@gmail.com check out their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Bottle-and-Board-337651283092791 and look out for special events coming soon. Cheers!
