A leading wine merchant has been allowed to build a new, modern base that will double up as a tourist destination.

The Vinorium - currently based in Lenham - has received council backing for a new home in Egerton, where visitors will be able to taste wine and find out more about the growing process.

Specialising in wine from Australia, America, and New Zealand, the company is currently housed in a rented industrial estate unit despite being a global brand and the country’s leading seller of Australian wine.

The eye-catching new building, to be built at Bursombe Farm off Coach Road, will feature a tasting room, lounge, dining area and bottle storage facilities.

The tasting room will be bordered by a curved wine rack.

Despite the specialisation in international labels, a focus will be placed on Kent's wines which will be offered together for comparison in tasting events.

To make way for the eye-catching building, a disused grain store and asbestos-clad silos will be demolished.

A new vineyard will be planted alongside the building, while a tilted meadow roof will lessen the impact on the rural surroundings.

There will also be a designated area for a fruit orchard, beehives, a vegetable garden and outdoor kitchen and dining area - capable of seating 12.

In its submission, the applicant said: “It is intended that this will be an educational facility to educate employees, schoolchildren, local groups and local producers on the production of wine.

“This site was specifically chosen because it sits in the heart of the Kent wine region, strategically placed within easy reach of all Kent wineries and it will also provide a platform to promote Kent wines internationally.

“This facility will enable the Vinorium to grow and make its own wines, through the creation of a vineyard with the very best vines collected from around the world.

"The Vinorium is a thriving business and one that we think would enhance this site with its presence..."

“This is a fantastic opportunity to create a building of outstanding architectural merit, to the highest sustainable credentials.

“The Vinorium is a thriving business and one that we think would enhance this site with its presence.

“This proposal will provide a significant contribution to the local rural economy and will provide an exemplary sustainable and ecological design in the rural environment.”

The plan was approved on February 3.

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