About Us

Meet The Team

We view our team as being as one of our most important assets. They are enthusiastic, knowledgeable and passionate about providing our customers with the information and service they require.

Jeremy Palmer, Managing Director

I joined the wine trade in 1991 with Majestic Wine and, like almost all Majestic staff, initially worked as a trainee store manager, which provides an excellent grounding in wine generally, but also in customer service. From there I got a coveted job in the Buying Department and spent five years travelling, meeting wine producers, learning tasting and negotiation skills, and building a worldwide network of contacts. From buying I moved into e-commerce, developing the Majestic website from the ground up to meet the requirements of the 21st Century wine enthusiast. Finally, I became Commercial Director, with responsibility for fine wines, which gave me a full overview of the management of a successful wine business.

This broad experience within Majestic stands me in good stead as I make the move to Lay & Wheeler as Managing Director. I very much look forward to being part of a company with such an ingrained passion for fine wine; for the people that make it, and for you, the customers that enjoy it.

FINE WINE SALES

Andrew Caslin, Senior Wine Advisor

I have been in the wine trade for 25 years, all of which have been in Fine Wine and with Lay and Wheeler. I have been the Italian wine buyer for the company for almost as long.

My personal preferences in wine can almost all be found in France and Italy: specifically, Champagne, Burgundy, the Rhône and Piemonte. Outside working in wine, my interests encompass music, motorbikes and off-shore sailing. And fine wine.

Adrian Heaven, Senior Wine Advisor

Although I trained and briefly worked as a geologist, I decided to join the wine-trade and – like many – began by working for Oddbins. From there, I got a lucky break and was able to move to the independent, and fondly remembered, La Vigneronne in South Kensington. In 2007, I joined Lay & Wheeler as a member of the Fine Wine Team, and now manage many private clients and have formed part of the buying team for Bordeaux and Burgundy on several occasions.

I do not have a favourite wine region, but enjoy all wines that are good examples of their regions and varieties – for me the interest is in the diversity of wines and styles. Wine is not just work, and so I enjoy drinking it at home alongside home-cooked food.

Richard O'Mahony, Senior Wine Advisor

I began my wine career in Majestic Wine in 1994. After three years, I joined Sotheby’s Wine department, where I stayed for seven years, becoming an auctioneer and deputy director. In 2005 I went to live in New Zealand and worked for Villa Maria Wine Estates in their Auckland headquarters. I returned to the UK mid-2006 and joined Lay & Wheeler as manager of the Bin Club. My role has evolved since then and I now help manage the Fine Wine Team, as well as being a core member of the buying team for Bordeaux and for Burgundy.

Katherine Pickles, Senior Wine Advisor

I have been working in the Fine Wine Team for the past four years, having joined Lay & Wheeler in January 2005. I am greatly interested in the wines of France, especially those from Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, and have been pleased to visit both regions as part of the Lay & Wheeler buying team.

Outside work, my main love in life is travelling. I have visited many countries around the world, and have enjoyed experiencing their different cultures, and – of course – their foods and wines!

Victoria Chaplin, Wine Advisor

After graduating in psychology, I began at wine merchants Heyman Barwell Jones in Ipswich, which is where I first caught the wine-bug. Now in my 6th year at Lay & Wheeler, I am enjoying my role as Wine Advisor in the Sales Team, and my favourite regions would probably have to be Burgundy or the Rhône.

As well as enjoying my holidays in Europe, I am happiest when pottering in my garden, going for long walks and spending time with friends and family, especially when it involves meeting in one of the many country pubs that we are spoilt with in this part of Suffolk.

Sarah Hopps, Wine Advisor

I have been working at L&W for just over three years and am in the final stages of completing my WSET Diploma. Once that is finished, I would like a break from exams for a while! I am particularly keen on the fine wines of Italy and also believe that Canada is a much underrated wine region.

I have a degree in English Literature and Classical Civilization and dabble in a bit of creative writing occasionally. Beyond work, I love horses and sailing – although I am a bit of a fair weather, warm seas sailor! I also enjoy hiking, climbing and the occasional jog!

Jane Watts, Secretary, Fine Wine Plan

After spending 8 years as a broker at Lloyds of London, I took a “short” sabbatical of 14 years to raise my two beautiful daughters. Following this, I trained in computer literacy and took a job with Lay & Wheeler in 2002, as the secretary to the Bin Club. Since then I have gained both the intermediate & advanced WSET certificates in order to better acquaint myself with the wine world.

My interests include reading, amateur dramatics, Mudbug Karting and recently I have taken up horse riding again, which is something I have had little time for until now.

Liz Rivett, Wine Administrator

I joined Lay & Wheeler one year ago, having spent many years working in the hospitality industry. As a bar manager, and later a pub licensee, I was in contact with wine a great deal and so was delighted to be taken on by Lay & Wheeler, where I have been able to enhance my knowledge about and interest in fine wines.

Outside work, I am a busy mum of two and enjoy socialising with family and friends, and keeping fit, especially going on bike rides on glorious summer days.

FINE WINE TRADING

Simon Larkin MW, Head of Fine Wine Trading

Often described as a commercial MW, I have been with Lay & Wheeler for 13 years, working my way up from the cellars to my current role as Head of Trading. I passed the Master of Wine examination back in 2001 at the first attempt, and won the Madame Bollinger Award for excellence in tasting.

Playing an active role in Lay & Wheeler’s buying strategy, I buy for the Rhône Valley, Champagne and Alsace as well as being a key member on the buying panels for Bordeaux and Burgundy. Outside Lay & Wheeler, I taste and contribute to various wine journals.

Karen Graves, Fine Wine Trading

Following relocation from Cardiff to Suffolk, I joined Lay & Wheeler in 2004 as part of the Hotel & Restaurant sales team, moving to the Fine Wine Trading team in 2006. I have over twenty years’ sales experience gained in telecommunications and civil-engineering, to name but a few, and developed a keen interest in wine, following a three year working assignment on a Welsh vineyard estate.

Outside Lay & Wheeler, I make regular trips to Wales and the Cotswolds to visit family and friends and, when I venture a bit further afield, France or Italy are my destinations of choice.

Martin Wheatley, Fine Wine Trading

I have worked at Lay & Wheeler since 1993, with a five year interlude from 2000, during which I joined H&H Bancroft.

Outside work, I have recently renovated my house, indulging my love of interior design and gardening, and am also interested in classic cars (I own an original Fiat 500 called Dino). Good food and wine are often on the menu at home, my favourite wine regions being the Rhône and Bordeaux. On a slightly different note, I am a committed football fan and make regular trips to Yorkshire to watch my team.

CUSTOMER RESERVES

Niki Clarke, Customer Reserves Manager

I joined Lay & Wheeler 2½ years ago, and was appointed as Customer Reserves Manager in March 2008, overseeing all aspects of the management, storage and delivery of our customers’ own stocks. As part of this, I manage the relationship between ourselves and Vinothèque, and make several visits a year to ensure that our Portfolio Service continues to represent the industry’s highest standard.

I don’t have many spare hours for myself, as my daughter’s hobbies tend to take over, but I do enjoy getting away for the weekend in our caravan and sampling a few glasses of a nicely chilled white.

Paula Wenman, Customer Reserves

I work as part of the customer reserves team, booking in customers’ stocks as they arrive in Vinothèque, arranging under bond transfers and handling many aspects of the Portfolio Service.

I have a degree in Art & Design and a huge love for photography. I am also a keen diver, both in the UK and abroad, and love spending time walking and cycling by the coast.

I enjoy drinking wine, and would say that I am probably most interested in New World wines, which is most probably linked to my times spent travelling in Australia and New Zealand.