Can you introduce yourself and tell me a little about your background?
I’m Anthony Davies. Before founding The Grape Escape, I spent many years at Cadbury and later at a marketing agency in London. My wife, Zoe, was a secondary school English teacher. Then, in 2014, we took a bold leap: we quit our jobs, sold our house, and opened The Grape Escape Wine Bar in 2015, first on Bath Road and now at 15 Regent Street.
Last year was an incredibly special one for us. We celebrated the bar’s 10 year anniversary and in September, we were thrilled to be recognised by a leading global wine publication, The World of Fine Wine Magazine, as having the best value wine list in the world, beating off opposition from other regional winners in Brisbane, Johannesburg, and Colorado to scoop the trophy during the awards ceremony at The Savoy.
We were also awarded three stars for our wine list, the highest accolade, achieved by only 205 establishments across the globe.

What inspired you to start The Grape Escape?
We’ve always been passionate about food, eating out, and cooking. Over time, I became more fascinated by wine than by food. I studied wine, took courses and exams, travelled to wine regions, and started a blog called Confessions of a Wine Geek to document my learning.
Initially, we considered opening a wine shop, but the growing London wine bar scene inspired us. We loved the focused, ever-changing wine lists at places like Sager + Wilde and The Remedy, and we wanted to bring that concept to Cheltenham. We combined everything we liked from our favourite wine bars in the capital to create The Grape Escape, a European-style bar, with an interesting wine list and top-quality cheese and charcuterie.
What do you have planned for 2026?
We’ll be sticking to our simple philosophy: focus on one thing and do it well. Our award-winning “by the bottle” list will no doubt grow and develop still further as we discover new wines that we think our customers will love.
We will continue to change our extensive “by the glass” list every Thursday, offering the chance to try something new each week. And of course, we’ll keep pouring our ever-popular blind wine flights!
Also, we’ve already got some exciting Wednesday evening tasting events planned and are hoping to hold even more ‘meet the winemaker’ nights too.
How would you describe The Grape Escape in three words?
I’d also add friendly and fun. Many customers say they feel at ease coming in even in jeans, which reflects the atmosphere we aim for.
What kind of experience do you want customers to have when they visit?
It’s very important to us that everyone who comes through our door feels comfortable and welcome. There’s still an idea about wine that it’s a sort of exclusive club and that you need to know a lot or spend a lot to belong. We want to keep dispelling this myth.
Whether someone simply chooses the cheapest glass on the menu to enjoy in peace or wants to have a long conversation about the region and the winemaker, everyone is welcome. Our space is perfect for small groups of friends, couples on date nights, and those who want to sit on their own at the bar with a glass of wine and a good book.
When we opened The Grape Escape a decade ago, our aim was simply to serve good wine to good people, and that principle is still at the heart of what we do.
How do you see your role in the local community?
The Cheltenham hospitality scene is vibrant and varied. We love visiting other independent businesses on our days off and often see hospitality professionals in The Grape Escape on their days off too; there’s a real sense of the food and drink community supporting each other, which makes this town very special.
Of course, there wouldn’t be an independent hospitality scene at all without the ongoing support of Cheltenham residents. We didn’t expect to become anyone’s ‘local’ bar, but we absolutely love that we have a wonderful group of regulars that keeps on growing! We wouldn’t be here without them.
What would you say are the biggest challenges facing businesses in Cheltenham now?
For us and the hospitality sector more broadly the two biggest challenges are business rates and VAT. If those issues could be addressed, the industry would be in a far stronger position immediately.
About the Grape Escape
The Grape Escape is more than a wine bar—it’s a testament to passion, resilience, and community spirit. Anthony and Zoe have created a welcoming, unpretentious space rooted in Cheltenham’s independent scene. Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or just looking for a friendly spot to unwind, The Grape Escape promises an experience worth savouring.
Opening hours:
Thursday & Friday: 5–11 pm
Saturday: 2–11 pm
Sunday: 2–8 pm
Most Wednesdays: tasting events, alternating between organised sessions and private bookings.