Rebecca Tomlinson is loving life in Little Eaton(Image: Derby Telegraph)

Inside hidden gem wine cellar thriving in quiet village near Derby

by · Derbyshire Live

An impressive and increasingly popular wine bar has proved popular among locals in a village near Derby, so much so that the team are up for a prestigious award.

Rebecca Tomlinson has always loved wine, so when she opened her own wine shop in the heart of Little Eaton, it was "a dream come true".

Bouquet Wine opened within a small shop - about the size of a box bedroom - around three years ago, on a site that would allow her to find her feet, build a reputation, and expand into something much more.

Now, a year after she opened Bouquet Wine Cellar, which offers coffee and treats in the day before transforming into a wine bar at night, it seems Little Eaton has taken a liking to Bouquet, so much so that it's been nominated for Best New Business at the National Business Women’s Awards 2026.

Rather than the old shop, which focused on retail, the new site at Old Mill Hall Business Park focuses on wine tasting and the overall experience - and customer service plays a huge part in the operation.

"We started off as a tiny little shop that was almost like an off-license, but we knew we needed a bigger premises in order to be what we wanted to be," Rebecca said.

"We're open seven days a week from 9am, and offer coffees and cakes throughout the day. In the afternoon, we offer Italian sandwiches and other light bites, but in the evening, we become more of a bar.

"We have more than 250 wines, local beer, cocktails, local spirits - as well as food that goes with wine, such as charcuterie boards and tapas-style small plates - and we're also looking to launch our spring menu, which will include Spanish croquettes, patatas bravas, and that kind of small-plate Mediterranean vibe."

They focus on doing the simple things right at Bouquet Wine Cellar, making the most of the small kitchen space available, and ensuring their expert staff, who have qualifications in all things wine, show great customer service at all times.

People can still come and buy wines over the counter, as they could at the old site, but the expansion allows the team to focus on the overall experience.

Plus, they have the only self-service wine machine in the Derby area - something Rebecca hopes will continue to be popular among locals and those visiting from further afield.

People simply top up a special card with cash, which can be spent on a range of self-serving wines, all available in different sizes.

They always have at least 20 wines ready to serve by the glass, but also offer a range of specials which change each week, as well as the hundreds of bottles.

Rebecca says her love for wine actually started when she stumbled across another love of her life, her husband, who used to work for wine merchants.

"I used to be so jealous when we'd go out for food and he'd be able to pick out the best wine for each meal on the menu - I wished I could do that," added Rebecca.

"I got a qualification in 2020, more for fun, really, but then I got really hooked. We always said that if we found a suitable place, we'd love to have a little wine bar and a shop, so when we had the chance to start life in Little Eaton, we really couldn't say no.

"We now have seven members of staff who all have a wine qualification, and we put them through training ourselves, mainly because we want to be able to offer that expert face-to-face opinion which you'd struggle to find anywhere else."

Speaking on Little Eaton as a whole, Rebecca continued: "Everyone seems to love our shop and it makes me so proud.

"The locals went mad when they found out we were moving to our current home. The support has just been incredible.

"I think it's just the fact that there is no other venue like it. We've worked really hard to make it an amazing venue and a lovely place.

"You've got a really cosy seating area and bar area, big tables for big groups - you can be out walking your dog and come in with muddy shoes, or you can be out on a date night, it's just a venue that ticks all those boxes.

"I don't know how we've achieved it, but we have. It's important to mention that it's not some snobby wine bar just for people dressed in suits and looking all fancy, it's a laid-back place for everyone, and I think that's why the village loves it so much."

Rebecca now looks ahead to June, when Bouquet will compete against a series of strong nominees as the team aims to claim the Best New Business at the National Business Women’s Awards 2026.

"This recognition means the world to us, especially as a young business finding our feet in such a competitive landscape," said Rebecca.

"We started this journey with a mission to share a passion and enthusiasm for great wine at an affordable price, and being recognised alongside other incredible businesswomen is a dream come true.

"I'd like to thank all our customers who make every day possible, and my fantastic team who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make Bouquet such an amazing place."

The shelves are stacked with hundreds of different wines(Image: Derby Telegraph)
You can browse a range of wines from all over the globe(Image: Derby Telegraph)
You can grab a coffee during the day(Image: Derby Telegraph)
It's open as a cafe seven days a week, with the wine bar open from Wednesday to Sunday(Image: Derby Telegraph)