NEW owners are relaunching an Oxford wine cafe business four months after it fell into the hands of administrators.

The Oxford Wine Company has taken over the building formerly occupied by the Summertown Wine Cafe in South Parade and will relaunch in April.

It will be the first time the Standlake-based wine dealer has opened a licensed premises which will be renamed the Oxford Wine Cafe.

Managing director Ted Sandbach said: “The Oxford Wine Cafe gives us the perfect opportunity to tap into the discerning North Oxford market and to give all our customers an opportunity to taste quality wines in a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.”

The Summertown Wine Cafe closed last September with management blaming the wet summer and the poor economic climate for its demise.

Bosses at the Oxford Wine Company, which also has a shop on Oxford’s Botley Road, intend to keep many aspects of the old business but say prices will be cheaper with a choice of up to 100 different wines which they already source and distribute to existing customers.

Spokesman Theo Sloot said: “We ship wine ourselves rather than buying it in.

“So many peoople have been asking about when the cafe was going to reopen and there is a very good community in the area who will hopefully support it.”

A refurbishment of the premises has now started and the business will be managed by Louise Ferreira, who has been working on the sales side of the Oxford Wine Company but spent eight years running the Blue Boar at Longworth.

She said: “We are not going to change too much because the locals really liked it.

“For example, we are using the same coffee supplier.

“The food is going to be simple and we are talking to local suppliers. We want to build a good atmosphere – the sound of people having a good time is music to my ears.”

The aim is to attract a wide client base from business people to parents dropping in after the school run. Regular tastings will be held and wine will also be for general sale.

A sommelier, Callum Peaston, who previously worked at The Feathered Nest at Nether Westcote, near Fyfield, will also be employed, along with up to six other full and part-time staff.