Britain now has an answer to the self-storage wine stores that are the standard model in the US. On 13 May the Big Yellow Self Storage Company opened its flagship storage facility in Fulham, which includes what they claim is the only purpose-built wine self-storage facility in the UK.
The new facility, next to Chelsea’s Harbour Club, once the scene of many a paparazzi stake-out of Princess Diana, will have 1,200 wine storage ‘cellars’ with both temperature and humidity controls, aimed at both individual wine collectors and businesses who want constant access to their wine collections.
The storage facilities are monitored by CCTV with staff there round the clock, and each room is protected by its own alarm. There is also unique PIN entry access, well-lit corridors and fire detection systems in all self storage locations, according to the company.
The Fulham store offers wine cellars in different sizes – from 18, 36 or 54 case units to full height rooms taking up to 500 cases or more. Prices start from £7.50 a week for the 18-case cellar. These costs are high relative to the professional wine storage options in our comprehensive storage survey but there is of course much more flexibility. Those who live in SW London could even drive there for extra bottles in the middle of a dinner party presumably.
The company commissioned the following research to encourage them in their endeavour:
National
Nearly four out of ten people (38%) would like to have a great wine collection at their homes if they had the space.
Nearly three quarters of people (71%) do not have enough storage space in their house.
London
Over half of people (55%) would like to have a great wine collection at their homes if they had the space.
Nearly nine out of ten people (82%) do not have enough storage space in their house.
For more information go to www.bigyellow.co.uk