Nicolas stores sold to Spirited Wines

The Castel family, owners of the UK Nicolas off licence chain have sold all 43 stores to Benoit Thouvenin of Spirited Wines. Castel acquired the chain in 2001 along with Oddbins but sold Oddbins to Simon Baille in 2008, keeping hold of the Nicolas stores. This sale marks the company's complete exit from the UK.

Spirited Wines was founded in 2010 by Benoit Thouvenin who used to head up operations at Nicolas. He has 13 shops outside of London specialising in French wine and Scotch whisky. The stores will be re-branded as Spirited Wines before the start of the Olympics and there will be more focus on Spain and Italy as well as on spirits.