A UNIQUE wine tasting hub previously commended as one of the town's finest independent retailers is in the running for the Reading Retail Awards.

Tasting House on Chain Street has been nominated in the Service with a Smile category three years after making the finals of the prestigious business contest.

Ciaran McErlean, owner of the wine warehouse, is confident his small team have what it takes to succeed, with the latest nomination honouring the dedicated and unique service.

He said: "We were finalists in 2014 in the Independent Retailer of the Year category so we have a history with the awards and we are aware how important they are.

"Our knowledge of the wine trade helps to back up the quality of the product.

"We are also lucky to be able to offer wine tasting to people who come into the shop with our unique machine. It gives people a lot of choice with 24 different wines in the machine."

Tasting House was established in the summer of 2013 and a year later was in the running for the Independent Retailer of the Year award.

Customers are able to purchase bottles made from an extensive range of grapes, with prices varying from £7.50 to £150.

There is also a Wine Club with 55 passionate members, which meets Ciaran added: "We have grown from a concept on a paper to an established business with a strong following. We have a lot of regular customers looking for advice on wine.

"Owning your own business is tough and being independent means you don't have a support network. You stand on your own two feet and you learn very quickly.

"We try to break down the barriers associated with wine tasting and we certainly don't out ourselves on a pedestal.

"I don't want to say we are more passionate about what we do, but we have an intimate family feel and people really seem to like that."

Entry forms for the Reading Retail Awards are available from Broad Street Mall and The Oracle and nominations close on July 10.

Visit: www.readingretailawards.co.uk for more information.