A skincare brand which supplies some of Kent’s top hotels and restaurants and uses extracts from leftover vineyard grapes has launched its first physical store.
Pelegrims has taken over the unit previously occupied by Between the Lines in Canterbury city centre.
The brand was founded by friends Jerome Moisan, from Maidstone, and Alex Verier, from Hythe, after the pair combined their talents.
Mr Moisan is a former sommelier, while Mr Verier has previously been a director at Haeckels, the Margate-based skin-care company.
Pelegrims uses extracts from Pinot Noir and Ortega grape harvests sourced from the Westwell Wine Estates vineyard in Charing, near Ashford.
Since launching, a number of establishments across the country now stock their products, including Michelin-starred The Sportsman in Seasalter near Whitstable, Rocksalt in Folkestone and Boys Hall in Ashford.
Pelegrims is the old English word for pilgrims – and it is a tribute to the Pilgrims’ Way, which runs above the vineyard along the North Downs.
Speaking on the new store, Mr Verier said: “When we launched the brand in 2021, we always imagined our first store would be in Canterbury.
“Westwell, our partner vineyard, sits on the Pilgrims’ Way and by extension, the path takes you to the heart of Canterbury.
“We now have a nice 20-mile triangle between our partners in Charing, the lab in Folkestone and the new store in Canterbury.
“From September, we will also open Treatment Rooms for facials and massages. Watch this space.”
The duo officially opened the doors of their first boutique on Friday, June 20 in St Margarets Street, next to the Superdry store and Hotel Chocolat.
They added that for the first few weeks, the shop will be open from 11am to 5pm Mondays to Fridays and until 6pm at weekends.
It is the latest of many new additions to Canterbury city centre.
Planning documents also revealed clothing giant Urban Outfitters is poised to move in later this year, taking over the spot held by shoe store Deichmann, for its third site in Kent.
Takeaway restaurant Miss Millie’s is also set to open its first Kent branch.
Signage for the chain branded “the OG Britain fried chicken restaurant” appeared at the former Pavers unit in the city centre earlier this week.
Mountain Warehouse has also revealed the opening date for their relocation in Canterbury.
Signs in the current store in the Parade say it is set to move into the unit formerly occupied by Wilko in mid-August.
