A DISTINGUISHED wine and spirits merchant celebrated 50 years in Basingstoke last week.

Berry Bros. & Rudd, more recognised for its premises on London’s St James’s Street, marked half a century of its Basingstoke warehouse, in Hamilton Close, Houndmills, on Friday, 1 September, with a staff barbecue and party.

Joining guests at the barbecue in the afternoon were 21 cyclists who had ridden from the St James's Street office to the Basingstoke warehouse to raise money for the Sebastian's Action Trust charity, which helps children with life-limiting injuries and their families.

The warehouse was opened in 1967 to allow the company, founded in 1698, to expand and modernise. Two years later, a sales office was added and today the site is home to two state-of-the-art warehouses containing nine million bottles, sales and marketing offices, tasting rooms, a shop and around 130 staff.

Firm chairman Simon Berry, who is the seventh generation Berry in the firm, said: “We are so pleased that we can celebrate our 50 year anniversary in Basingstoke. The warehouse has been a huge success and has enabled Berry Bros. & Rudd to evolve with the times.

"Even more importantly, we have been able to deliver exceptional service and storage to our customers, which has always been and continues to be the number one priority of our business.”

The celebration event featured a host of guests including Roy Eccarius, 79, who worked at the warehouse when it opened, and a selection of Berry and Rudd family members.

It was also a family occasion for Nick Chapman, a driver for the firm since 1997 was also present. His son, Michael, works in the warehouse, his parents-in-law Terry and Ann Fairbairn joined the business in 1967 as warehouse caretakers and worked for the company for 33 years and Ann Fairbairn's father was a carpenter who helped build the warehouse.

Nick Chapman said: "There is a real family connection for us to the place. When I first started date Melanie [his wife], Terry asked if I wanted to see his wine cellar which was obviously the warehouse!"

The firm hopes to raise around £2,400 for Sebastian's Action Trust, via the bicycle ride, as part of three years of overall fundraising for the charity.