The personal touch is paying off for a firm judged the best independent wine retailer in Britain.

Colin Barnes and Ian Jarman launched the Cooden Cellars shop in Compton Street, Eastbourne, in 2001.

They wanted to run a shop where people could say what they were cooking for dinner or what sort of wine they would like to try and get advice from experts.

To achieve this they have personally sampled each of the 650 wines and 150 spirits stocked. They also run regular wine tasting sessions.

Their expert knowledge has been recognised by the International Wine Challenge which named the shop Small Independent Merchant of the Year for 2005.

Mr Barnes has been in the wine trade for 15 years and won the International Wine Challenge's Australian Wine Merchant of the Year award in 1995. He said: "It's been such a whirlwind that we haven't had the time yet for a celebratory drink. We hoped we might get the regional prize but the Small Independent was a complete surprise. We haven't come down to earth yet."

Mr Jarman said: "The International Wine Challenge is known as the Oscars of the wine world so it was a real thrill to get the national award."