A national chain is bringing its first wine bar and kitchen to County Durham next month.
Veeno Wine Bar and Kitchen will open on Wednesday, September 3, at The Riverwalk in Durham city, taking over the former Pizza Punks site and creating up to 20 new jobs.
The venue will pair Sicilian wines with Italian meat and cheese sharing boards, bringing a ‘true taste of Sicily’ to the city.
County Durham couple Dan and Donna Lewis have joined the franchise after previously managing the clubhouse at Bishop Auckland Rugby Club.
County Durham husband and wife duo Dan and Donna Lewis are opening the new Veeno wine bar and kitchen in Durham (Image: Joshua Greenwood)Veeno founders Nino Caruso and Rodrigue Trouillet, run five other sites across the UK. The new wine bar will follow Veeno’s business model, offering wines from Nino’s family vineyard, Caruso and Minini, based in Marsala in western Sicily.
Italian platters will be sourced from artisan suppliers and Italian cocktails will also be on offer.
New owner Dan said: “We cannot wait to bring a slice of Sicily to Durham city.
“The wines at Veeno are a true expression of Sicilian soul – bold, elegant, and rooted in generations of craftsmanship. Every bottle tells a story of sun-drenched vineyards, family heritage, and a deep respect for the land.
“The commitment to tradition, innovation, and sustainability shines through in each vintage, capturing the unique terroir of western Sicily with authenticity and finesse.”
Donna and Dan Lewis (Image: JOSHUA GREENWOOD) Donna added: “We fell in love with the Veeno story, the authenticity of the wines, the tradition and innovation – and we wanted to bring the joy that we experienced there to the people of Durham. You’ll not find any of the wines served here in another venue in the city.
“The experiences are a really fun way of exploring the wines, from vibrant fruity reds, to crisp, citrus whites and refreshing rose.”
Nino, whose great-grandfather Francesco founded the family vineyard, opened the first Veeno in Manchester in 2013.
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He said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Dan and Donna into the Veeno family as the new owners of Veeno Durham. Their passion for hospitality, commitment to quality, and genuine love of great wine and food perfectly reflect the values we built Veeno on.
“I have every confidence they will create something truly special in Durham – a place where people can relax, connect, and enjoy the authentic Veeno experience.”
To celebrate the opening of Veeno Durham, not only will anyone who visits the Durham venue throughout September be treated to a free glass of wine, but one lucky winner – and a guest – will be flown out to Sicily to experience the vineyard and wines.
To find out more, visit: https://veenobars.com/pages/veeno-durham
Dining and Cooking