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Mitchell’s Wines boasts some ‘wacky’ statues and an array of bespoke alcohol and cigars(Image: Lyra Auld)<\/p>\nI used to judge this store too harshly – I was completely wrongMitchell’s Wines boasts some ‘wacky’ statues and an array of bespoke alcohol and cigars(Image: Lyra Auld)<\/p>\n
A year before I joined YorkshireLive, <\/a>I spent nearly every workday commuting past what I considered to be a truly weird statue.<\/p>\n To my limited knowledge, the bust of Marilyn Monroe with her skirt dramatically blown up belonged to a local wine shop. <\/a>For the better part of a year, I spent at least 100 meters in slow-moving traffic peering at it with disdain through my peripheral vision.<\/p>\n Joining the statue were three others: a knight, butcher, and guard, all standing side-by-side, overlooking the busy road beneath. With each journey past, I would notice one or two new details. The Knight had a red tassel the same colour as the shop\u2019s fascia. The Butcher wore a striped apron. The Guard\u2019s jacket had tiny golden details.<\/p>\n Much like the statues, my single question about the shop <\/a>remained unchanged: \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n The Marilyn Monroe bust – depicting her famed publicity stunt – was an odd choice in itself, especially alongside the other trio. Not even from a particularly feminist point of view, I just genuinely had never seen anything like it.<\/p>\n When I finally joined, I seldom had to drive past the store, and I completely forgot about it until I was Christmas shopping earlier this year. A friend suggested I pop into \u201cMitchell\u2019s Wines\u201d if I needed some bespoke alcohol, so I entered the postcode, and my face dropped when I realised it was sending me to the “flashing Marilyn store”.<\/p>\n Walking inside for the first time, greeted by the lovely owner, Frankie Mitchell, felt like walking into an Aladdin’s Cave. For starters, the store stretched back far further than what one possibly imagines from peering in through its shutters. Rows and rows of bespoke Whisky, Craft Beer, and of course, wines. It blew me away – both in terms of quality and sheer volume of stock.<\/p>\n After browsing the immense haul of Cuban cigars, liqueurs, and accompanying accessories, Frankie kindly took the time to finally debunk my burning questions.<\/p>\n Laughing, she told me that her alcohol emporium belonged to her grandfather, Dennis, and that the business had been in her family for 90 years this year. The business has been taken over by Frankie\u2019s own father, John, who had decided to buy Marilyn for the store.<\/p>\n Frankie explained: \u201cMy dad chose it because it was eye-catching. We thought it was a bit bonkers, but it clearly works because you remember it, and everyone mentions it to us.\u201d<\/p>\n She then went on to fondly explain that the trio of other busts had been purchased in quick succession to keep Marilyn company: The Butcher was brought because, before being a wine shop, the venue was a butcher’s. The Guard was brought to represent their beloved Grandad, and the Knight was a compromise because her dad had originally wanted to buy a giraffe.<\/p>\n Frankie added: \u201cThey really do draw people inside. I love watching people who think the shop is small walk in and seeing their jaws drop when they realise what we have in stock.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are really proud of the variety because it is quite immense; we even get people travelling to see what we have got available, from specialist whiskey to cigars and obviously wines.\u201d<\/p>\n I can personally attest to the quality of the store, which was wonderfully warm and friendly. The team were incredibly helpful, and I will absolutely be returning for future purchases when I need a thoughtful gift. Whilst I will always find the statues odd-looking, I must admit, hand on heart, that I was wrong about the beautifully quirky store.<\/p>\n On the rare occasion I drive past, I now smile, thinking of all the little stories attached to them. I will hand it to the Mitchell’s Wines<\/a> – it is a very effective PR strategy.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_IMG_4533.jpg\")
Inside the shop is a true ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ of stock and is run by a team of friendly staff – including owner, Frankie Mitchell (Image: Lyra Auld)<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_n-jhjlk.jpg\")
Mitchell’s Wines has been a family-run business for 90 years (Image: Mitchell’s Wines )<\/p>\n