Ex Cellar started life in 1998, shipping wines direct from small independent wine makers from different parts of the world, and selling them to the discerning wine buyers of Ashtead, Surrey. The first shop opened a year later. Heavily influenced by my father, Nick Baile MW, the business has always concerned itself with the democratisation of wine, seeking out great wines at affordable prices, so more and more people can enjoy them.
ExCellar has 3 stores in Kingston, Claygate and Surbiton. So the business has evolved from a wine merchant to a collection of Wine Cafes, where wine can be bought for home, as well as being a wine bar, and cafe, selling cheese, Hampers, Charcuterie, pies and much more.’ Live music has also been added to the mix, and pre lockdown we were regularly hosting intimate live gigs with up and coming original singer/songwriter acts, such as Elles Bailey, Dom Martin and Phil King.
Us: Simon Baile and family
Simon has been in The Wine Trade since birth, and was largely weaned on wine courtesy of his father who was a Master of Wine.
Having spent his formative years working in various branches of Oddbins, from the age of 13, he spent his first few years in the wine trade after University garnering experience in wine retail and wholesale, wine importing and also a short stint in the distilleries of Scotland.
During this time his passion for small family wineries from around the world grew. Having spent much time travelling through the vinyards of Europe, Simon has had the happy experience of eating and drinking plenty of home made produce, both food and wine. Our wine cafes now bring these fantastic experiences together under a roof hopefully near you! .