North England, North Wales, East Midlands and Scotland
Alex Gittins
Regional Sales Manager
Having travelled extensively around wine regions in France, Spain, Italy and Australia, Alex’s big beef with the industry is the lack of understanding of certain varietals, especially Riesling. He’s been with us since 2000 and has gained his WSET Diploma in the meantime. He’d love a working lunch with Sir Alex Ferguson, then on to La Becasse in Ludlow for dinner.
Beth Lodwick
Business Development Manager
Since joining Majestic in 2006 Beth has gone on to pass her WSET Advanced Certificate with distinction. If she could only ever drink one grape variety again, it would be Chardonnay, while her biggest grumble about the wine industry is the prevalence of the big brands. Beth cooks a mean prawn, pea and mint risotto and would pick sushi over fish and chips any day of the week.
Chris Plimmer
Business Development Manager
Smiths fan Chris, who joined Majestic in 2004, has taken in the vineyards of Tuscany and Umbria in his time, which perhaps explains why his taste in wine runs to the Italian. True to form, if he could only ever drink one variety again, it would be Corvina. His signature dish, however, is English through and through – roast belly of pork with cider gravy.
Jay Rodger
Business Development Manager
Jay’s a man of impeccable taste – a big fan of Paris’ famous Au Pied de Cochon restaurant who’d love to share a bottle of Puligny-Montrachet with Scarlett Johansson. All the same, his professional bugbear is snobbery in the wine industry. If Jay had a super power, it would be to see into the future. He’s been with us since 2004.
Joe Beveridge
Key Account Manager
A huge cricket enthusiast Joe’s proudest moment was when he won the league and cup double as captain of his village cricket team. With an expensive taste in wine Joe has spent £120 on a bottle of Chateau Trotanoy, Pomerol, 1995 and revels in the idea of reminiscing over past Ashes series with Geoffrey Boycott over fillet steak with all the trimmings washed down with a bottle of Salon 1995. Once an extra in Peak Practice these days Joe is more likely to be seen out walking his gorgeous Spaniel Jasper.
Matt Davenport
Key Account Manager
Petit Verdot quaffer Matt is the former holder of two somewhat peculiar world records, both of which he achieved since joining us in 2000. In 2002, he set the record for ‘furthest distance covered on a waterslide in 24 hours’. In 2005 he added ‘furthest distance covered on a waterslide in 4 hours’. He has the certificates to prove it, even if both records have since been broken.
Sean Beveridge
Business Development Manager
Sean joined the company in 1988 and has since racked up visits to vineyards everywhere from Adelaide to the Rhone Valley to Tuscany. His all-time favourite grape is Cabernet Sauvignon and he would happily ban plastic corks. He’d return to the Camino Real restaurant in Santiago, Chile in a heartbeat. Failing that, he’ll settle for Australia for the next Ashes tour.
Tim Beck
Business Development Manager
After completing a physiotherapy degree at Northumbria University Tim travelled around Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and Thailand before spending 6 months working a ski season in Meribel, France. These days when Tim is not working or visiting vineyards around the world he is likely to be found following the national cricket and rugby teams or his all time favourite football team, Arsenal. Tim would like nothing more than to share a bottle of Aussie Shiraz with Thierry Henry.
Nicola Barnes
Business Development Manager
Nicola completed a degree in Physiotherapy at Glasgow Caledonian University, she quickly knew she wanted a career in the drinks industry and not in the NHS! Nicola joined Majestic in 2009 with her WSET Intermediate certificate and is now studying for her diploma. A girl of simple pleasures, Nicola loves nothing more than sitting on the beach with fish and chips and that ultimate food and wine match - Champagne!