Couple reach for the sky with Salut Wines launch

AN AIRLINE pilot and his former air stewardess wife are hoping their passion for wine leads to a soaraway business success.

Salford couple Jon and Sara Saunby have invested £150,000 in Salut Wines, a wine bar and merchants being fitted-out on the corner of Cooper Street and Fountain Street in Manchester city centre.

The couple’s investment includes buying what is thought to be the largest wine preservation and dispensation machine in the city.

To help them with their launch they have secured a loan from Business Finance Solutions, which runs a £24m fund to help small businesses access finance.

Salut Wines will offer 32 different wines by the glass, all dispensed using the state-of-the-art wine dispensing and preservation system. The machine allows customers to try a 50ml sample of wine, before choosing to buy a 125ml or 175ml glass or a full bottle to drink or take home.

Mrs Saunby said: “There can be a lot of mystery surrounding wine and people tend to find one or two that they like and stick with them. Our big difference is that we are coming at this from the customers’ side and we want Salut Wines to be somewhere that people can come to relax, have a bite to eat and feel free to

explore the wine and get some help if they want it.

“The wine preservation and dispensation system has  already proved very popular across Europe and in London and we’re very proud to bring the largest selection to Manchester because it enables us to offer a really diverse range of wines by the glass and to serve the wine in perfect condition.

“We have invested a large amount financially and changed careers to set up our own business so being able to work with the Business Finance Solutions team to make sure we were taking all the right decisions was fantastic. Accessing the Business Loan has also meant that we have been able to move our plans on
much more quickly and bring this fantastic new technology to Manchester.”

Paul Breen, director of Business Finance Solutions, said:  “Our Business Loans offer a great way to access both the funding to help start up your dream business and also the practical knowledge and expertise that our business advisors provide to start-ups like Salut Wines. Sara and Jon are bringing a great concept to Manchester with their new business and we were delighted to help them to achieve that.

“Their previous careers have taken them all over the world  and they have seen first-hand how technologies like the wine preservation system are revolutionising the bar culture; we look forward to seeing Manchester embrace this new way of socialising.”

Salut Wines is due to open this month. It is being fitted-out by Manchester design agency NoChintz and is on the site of a vacant former off-licence.

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