Riddling Rack: Trendy bar 'growing year on year' after shifting focus

Launching as a cafe bar in 2018, Riddling Rack has been quick to adapt to the various crises and changing trends that have occurred in recent years, while always retaining a relaxed atmosphere to grab a drink or bite to eat.

Switching its focus from quality wines to premium cocktails, the High Street business has also organised countless private events, repeatedly refreshed its menu, and even refurbished the premises to offer food and an upstairs lounge space.

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Bernie and some of the Riddling Rack team (Image: Alex Myhill)
Speaking about the business, general manager Bernie Stagg said: "People have always wanted to enjoy a nice night out, so we have tried to provide a place that has the quality of the city centre on your local high street.

"There is a great mix of businesses in Newton and we want to be one of the best places on the high street, so that means moving with the trends and reacting to what customers want.

"Whether that has been changes in drinks, offering new menus, or more people wanting a private space upstairs, we're changing things all the time, and it has interesting to see how the business has grown and evolved year on year."

The business has shifted its focus to premium cocktails of late (Image: Alex Myhill)
While the business has shifted focus over the years, one thing that has remained constant for Riddling Rack is its high standards and customer-first approach.

This means only using the highest quality products for their food and drink offers, despite this often taking much longer to source, and listening to customer's feedback and suggestions.

The business' private events, such as wine tasting and cocktail classes, as well as the hiring of its upstairs space have also helped to build relationships with customers and make Riddling Rack a place that people want to recommend and return.

Riddling Rack opened along High Street in 2018 (Image: Alex Myhill)
Owner of Riddling Rack, Alex Myhill, added: "There is a real community feel in Newton so that's one of the reasons that we offer our events and upstairs space, to interact with customers and grow our reputation as a place that caters for a diverse range of groups.

"We've also been growing our social media presence and a loyal audience online, and we're always thinking of new ways to improve the business or to change things around.

"The main challenge can be the unpredictability of how things change, but I think we've been able to see what works and what doesn't, and we now have a huge amount of regulars who come in and support us, as well as more and more people coming here from surrounding areas."

Riddling Rack has adapted to succeed over the years (Image: Alex Myhill)