Award-winning Yorkshire wine merchants Firth & Co have announced the appointment of Richard Pickles as a senior sales representative.
Richard rejoins Andrew Firth, the founder and manager director of Firth & Co, for whom he worked when Andrew ran the legendary Thirsk-based wine merchants Playford Ros.
This is a key development in the continued expansion of Firth & Co.
After Playford Ros, Richard joined national wine suppliers Bibendum, becoming director of sales in The North and Scotland, before moving to another national wine merchant, Enotria & Coe, selling premium wine in the north and London restaurants.
Richard commented: “This is a very exciting move for me and I am delighted to be working with Andrew again, one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable wine merchants in the UK. His drive and passion have established Firth & Co’s reputation as a formidable player in the wine and spirits sector in the north – and beyond.
“After many years working for successful national wine companies across England and Scotland, it’s now the perfect time to return closer to my North Yorkshire home and to join up with some of the great names of the Yorkshire hospitality sector.
“I will be assisting Andrew, his deputy William Tilling and the fantastic Firth & Co team to introduce exciting independently sourced wines to the best restaurants and bars in the north. Firth & Co already supply some of the finest hospitality venues in the region and I look forward to adding to the illustrious list.”
Richard begins his new role on Monday February 3.
Andrew Firth commented: “This is a crucially important appointment for us as we continue to expand across the north of England. It’s 10 years now since we moved to our spacious premises at Ainderby Steeple, near Northallerton, and we have grown steadily year on year. Richard’s appointment will take us to the next level.”
William Tilling added: “I’m delighted that Richard has joined our team. His experience and expertise, together with his enthusiasm, will make him a tremendous asset for us.
“We have established a strong reputation for being a niche supplier of excellent European wines at competitive prices. We pride ourselves on a swift and personal service and are proud of the fact that we supply some of the very best hotels and restaurants in Yorkshire and the North East.”
These include: The Star at Harome; The Star in the City, York; The Pipe and Glass near Beverley; Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall; The Angel at Hetton; The Blue Lion at East Witton; the White Horse and Griffin in Whitby; and The Bay Horse at Hurworth, near Darlington.
William added: “We also run a very successful bespoke private customer service, providing wines for clients across Yorkshire and the North East. Over the past decade, our flagship premises have enabled us to provide an ever better service, with a wider selection of quality wines, predominantly from Europe, but also from the New World, too.”
Richard Pickles has lived in Boroughbridge for 30 years and ran the popular Grantham Arms in the town between 1994 until 2006, before selling it and joining Playford Ros.
He was originally from Oxenhope in West Yorkshire, where his forefathers farmed the Haworth Moors, before the Brontes made them famous.
