Winchester deli expands to larger unit in St George’s Street

Basil Leaf Deli has taken over the former MegaBet unit in St George’s Street to expand the business to better satisfy customer demands, two years after it opened in Winchester.

Construction workers have been on site for the last few weeks to convert the space into a deli and commercial kitchen, with around £40,000 to £50,000 being spent on the refit.

Director of Basil Leaf Deli, Klaudia Cynarska, says she still doesn’t know what will happen to their current unit at 48 St George’s Street with the team contemplating keeping the shop to further allow the expansion of their services.

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Basil Leaf Deli owner Klaudia Cynarska (right) and her sister (Image: Adele Bouchard)

Nevertheless, the shop and catering service hopes to open in its new location in around a month’s time – with the official opening date yet to be decided.

The business owner said: “It’s going to be a big deli selling fresh fish and meat. We’re expanding to have a commercial kitchen downstairs with wine tasting and cocktails.

“There’s going to be really amazing home-made food like cheese platters. Real food like granny’s dinners which are hard to find at all the fast-food places and restaurants in Winchester.

“We’re going to leave our current unit for a while, it’s a big surprise even to us what will happen. The bigger premises has loads of potential. We’re lacking space in here and had to risk it all with the new unit. There’s no space here to introduce the new things that people are asking for.

“People want to shop for local produce and there’s nothing like that here apart from when the market is on. All our meats will be sourced from Hampshire. Hopefully, it will be good.

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The former MegaBet unit (Image: Adele Bouchard)

“We’ll close here for a week or two while we move some of the stuff and decide what we want to do with the space. We might expand some of the different services to be based here.”

Basil Leaf Deli has submitted an application to sell alcohol on and off the premises everyday from 9am-11pm. Winchester City Council is accepting any representations or queries surrounding the application until Tuesday, July 11.

As well as in-store produce like bakery items, fruit and veg and charcuterie, the deli offers a bespoke catering service including ham carving and cheese towers as well as an online shop. For more information go to basil-leaf.co.uk/.