Putting on the Ritz

It might look like a conventional off licence from the outside, but step inside and Beer Ritz more than lives up to the splendour implied by its name. Richard Jones reports

Beer has a reputation for, how shall I put it, adversely affecting the physique of the male gender around the midriff area. So when you place a specialist beer shop within smelling distance of Bryans, one of the country’s most acclaimed fish and chip shops, it’s easy to picture the staff sporting waistlines that are more six-keg than six-pack.

So it came as a pleasant surprise to be greeted by a remarkably lithe sales assistant as I entered the premises of Beer Ritz in Headingley just outside Leeds.

Aside from its proximity to the wafts of deep fried food, the location of Beer Ritz is less than ideal. Headingley has a reputation as a lively, student heavy town but the shop itself is situated on the outskirts, well outside the main hive of activity. “On paper it’s an odd place for the shop but over the years we’ve managed to carve out a niche and make a name for ourselves,” begins Zak Avery, manager.

Beer Ritz is a sibling of specialist beer importer and wholesaler Beer Paradise and both companies were set up around 10 years ago.

From the outside the shop resembles an average, bog-standard off-licence, an impression that initially continues when you step inside the door. “Yes, we stock cans of Carling, Marlboro Lights and those kind of things, but they’re not the backbone of our offering,” says Zak.

“We’re in the business of quality wines and spirits, but we try to offer something for everyone. Plus, if you’ve got people visiting the shop all the time for cans of generic .....

To read the rest of this article you can buy this issue or subscribe to Beers of the World to have every issue delivered direct to your door.

By Richard Jones

Section : Spotlight

Page number : 54