Scotland’s oldest wine dealer calls in administrators

Cockburn's of Leith, Scotland's oldest wine dealer, has collapsed into administration.

The Edinburgh-based firm, which once supplied Charles Dickens and a banquet of King George IV, started trading in 1796 and became the first commercial importer in Scotland.

It also famously supplied Sir Walter Scott with 4,200 bottles of wine and 430 bottles of spirits in just one visit.

Cockburn's was forced to call in the administrators on Friday, after its order book fell as banking clients scaled back their budgets and supermarkets cut into its business.

But it hopes to find a new financial backer to take on the business and keep the name alive.

Colin Dempster from administrator Ernst & Young said: “The group has been impacted by the recent economic downturn, which has unfortunately led to a declining order book and the directors concluded that the business can no longer continue to trade.

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By Neil Gerrard

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