How Can We Help You?

How can I contact you?

You can contact us via email at hello@hic-winemerchants.com or fill out a contact form here: Contact Us 

You can also open up a "CHAT" message via the website and we will reply back to you as soon as possible.

You can also find us on Facebook 

When are you open?

At present our retail store in Ledston is open:

Monday - Closed

Tuesday - Closed

Wednesday - Closed

Thursday - Closed

Friday - 12 noon till 8pm

Saturday - 12 noon till 8pm

Sunday - 12 noon till 6pm

Our opening hours do vary over holiday periods so if you’re travelling a long distance to visit us, it’s always worth contacting us ahead to double check we’ll be open.

What is your email address and when will you reply?

You can email us at hello@hic-winemerchants.com and we’ll do our very best to help you as soon as possible. We aim to reply to all emails within 24 hours, but this is often much sooner.

Where do you deliver?

We deliver across the UK mainland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands. We focus our delivery network entirely within these regions and do not ship to the Republic of Ireland, EU countries, or international destinations.

You can find out more about all our delivery services, prices and restrictions on our Delivery Page .

How long will it take for my order to arrive?

We operate a 'Hybrid Cellar' model to give you access to over 2,000 exceptional wines. This means we consolidate immediate shop stock from our Ledston cellar with specialist bottles from our temperature-controlled Bonded Reserve once a week. Because we personally inspect and pack every single bottle, please allow 5 to 7 working days for your order to be prepared, consolidated, and carefully dispatched.

How can I track my order?

The moment your consolidated order leaves our Ledston cellar, it enters a fully tracked 24-hour delivery network. You will receive an immediate dispatch email containing your tracking details. On the morning of delivery, our delivery partner will send you a text or email with a convenient 1-hour time window. We highly recommend downloading the DPD courier app to manage your slot.

Who will deliver my order?

To ensure your bottles arrive safely, we partner exclusively with DPD for our multi-bottle consignments, recognised as the UK's leading premium carrier. For single or oversized individual bottle orders, we utilise Royal Mail's reliable Tracked 48 service.

Do I need to be in to sign for the parcel?

Yes. Due to UK laws governing the sale of alcohol, our couriers need to verify the recipient is over the age of 18 upon delivery. Wine cannot be left unattended or dropped off without verification. If you are not available during your time slot, you can easily use the tracking link to re-arrange a convenient delivery day.

What happens if a bottle is damaged in transit?

We pack our wines using PulpSafe bottle packaging, a heavy-duty, completely compostable system made from 100% recycled materials that offers the highest level of shock absorption. In the rare event that a bottle arrives damaged, please contact us immediately. We will handle the collection details and dispatch a replacement package to you as a priority.

How much does delivery cost?

Our delivery charges reflect the genuine cost of secure packaging, transit insurance, and a fully tracked courier service.

• Multi-bottle orders over £165: FREE (UK Mainland)

• Multi-bottle orders under £165: £12.75 per consignment (UK Mainland)

• Single standard bottle (under 2kg): £5.00 via Royal Mail Tracked 48

• Oversize or large-format bottle (up to 3kg): £8.50 via Royal Mail Tracked 48

Do you deliver to the Scottish Highlands and Islands?

Yes. Shipping heavy, fragile cases of glass to non-mainland or remote addresses requires specialist, extended routing. For multi-bottle orders over 2kg going to Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, or the Scottish Highlands and Islands, the following rates apply:

• Orders under £250: £20.00 surcharge

• Orders over £250: FREE (we fully absorb the extended courier premium)

How much does it cost to deliver a single bottle?

Single Bottle orders (under 2kg) are delivered using a tracked Royal Mail service and charged at £5.00 per order. Over sized and larger format bottles (up to 3kg) are delivered using a tracked Royal Mail service and charged at £8.50 per order.

Do you offer a Click & Collect service?

Yes, you can now order online and select our local pickup service option at checkout and you can then collect your order from our store in Ledston. If your order is urgent we recommend you contact us beforehand to check that your requirements are available and to arrange a convenient collection date and time. Please note that third-parties - for example taxi drivers, chauffeurs or any individual who is not the customer – will not be permitted to collect an order.

Please read our terms of sale carefully before placing your order and retain a copy of these terms and your order for future reference.

These terms and conditions apply to all wines, spirits or other goods or services supplied by Hic! to you.

• General Terms & Conditions 
• Hic! Privacy Policy 
• Hic! Cookie Policy 

How can I place an order with you?

You can buy online via our website www.hic-winemerchants.com or you can call and speak to us about your order requirements. You can also send an email with the details of what you would like to purchase.

Which wines or spirits should I pick?

We pride ourselves on customer service and having retailed wines and spirits for 25 years are confident we have the knowledge to support you. Just get in touch and we can guide you through the process of choosing the most suitable wines for your particular needs. If you prefer to shop online then we have ensured our website provides plenty of producer and wine information, alongside a great search and filtering function, to help you find exactly what you need.

What does it mean to buy wine in bond?

Purchasing wine “In Bond” (IB) is the traditional way of securing some of the world’s leading fine wines, particularly when they are first released for sale onto the market En Primeur. Fine wines are almost exclusively traded “In Bond” as they are often purchased as an investment and as such are a far more attractive to prospective buyers or brokers in this regard. IB Wines have not yet had the duty and VAT paid on them. They must be stored in a bonded warehouse approved by HM Customs & Excise. A selection of our wines can be purchased In Bond; however, they must be purchased by the unmixed case and are not available for delivery or consumption until the duty and VAT has been paid. If/when you choose to have the wines delivered these taxes become payable (at UK rates).

You can find out more about buying wine in bond here: Buy Wine In Bond 

You can find out more about Alcohol Duty Rates here: UK Duty Rates 

Can I buy Wine as a Gift for someone else?

Yes, you can purchase products as a gift for someone else and have it delivered to their address. Our independence allows us to offer a bespoke gifting service and we offer a range of gift packaging solutions to which you can add a gift message free of charge.

What Gift Packaging do you offer?

As standard all our wines are delivered in the industry leading "Pulpsafe" bottle packaging. This is fully recycled, recyclable, compostable and biodegradable. It can be re-used as planters for your garden or placed in any household compost and will biodegrade in less than 6 months. If you would like additional gift packaging, we can supply a wide range of options to suit most bottles and popular quantities. You can see our range here: Gift Bottle Presentation Packs

Please note that we are able to source and supply a wide range of gift packaging so please contact us if you would like a bespoke solution for your needs.

Can I send a gift message?

Yes, you can add a gift message for any order you place. You can enter this as part of the checkout process if you purchase online or when you speak to us about your requirements.

Do you sell Gift Vouchers?

Yes. We sell a range of Gift Vouchers in denominations of £10; £25; £35; £50 and £100 that are available to use online or in our store at Ledston.

How can I buy Gift Vouchers?

You can purchase our electronic gift vouchers on our website here: Hic! Gift Cards 

Our gift vouchers are delivered by email with full instructions on how to redeem them online at checkout.

If you wish to send a gift card as a gift, during the checkout process, you can enter the recipient's email address instead of your own. You can also include a gift message too.

Once the purchase is confirmed the gift card is sent electronically to the recipient’s email address provided during the checkout process.

Which credit cards do you accept?

We accept all major debit and credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and American Express.

Can I pay by PayPal?

No. PayPal have implemented operating practices which we believe are prohibitive to small business and as such we no longer support their payment option. 

Do you accept Apple Pay?

Yes our online store accepts payments using Apple Pay.

Can I pay with Google Pay?

Yes you can pay securely online using Google Pay.

Is my payment secure?

Yes. Shopping with Hic! is totally secure. Our payment provider is 'Shopify Payments' and they are PCI compliant and support 3D Secure checkouts. We do not store any customers financial details on our site.

Can I return the wine I purchased from you?

Yes. If you change your mind for any reason, you have 14 calendar days from the day you receive your order to notify us in writing by emailing hello@hic-winemerchants.com.

To receive a full refund, the bottles must remain in a perfectly saleable condition - meaning no damage to the labels, capsules, or closures. Once you notify us, you must return the goods to our shop in Ledston at your own expense within 14 days. We will process your refund via your original payment method within 14 days of receiving the bottles safely back at our premises.

How do I cancel and order I have just placed?

If your order has not yet been dispatched from our Ledston cellar, please email us immediately at hello@hic-winemerchants.com to cancel it for a full refund.

If your order is already in transit or has been delivered, you can still cancel within the standard 14-day window by emailing us or writing to our shop at Hic! Wine Merchants, 23 Main Street, Ledston, Castleford, WF10 2AB. In this instance, you will need to arrange and pay for the secure return of the goods. For your own protection, we strongly recommend using a recorded delivery service, as the bottles remain your responsibility until they are safely back in our hands.

I think my wine is corked. What should I do?

Cork taint (TCA) is a rare, naturally occurring fault that can affect wines sealed with natural cork. If you open a bottle and believe it is defective, please email us straight away at hello@hic-winemerchants.com so we can help.

To quality-test the wine and report back to the winery, our guarantee requires physical evidence of the fault. Please do not pour the wine away. To process a valid claim, you must retain and return:

• The original bottle.

• The original cork.

• At least two-thirds (2/3) of the liquid contents.

Are there any deadlines or exceptions for faulty wines?

Yes, we have a few practical safeguards in place to manage older and high-value bottles fairly:

• The 30-Day Window: All claims for faulty or corked wine must be initiated within 30 days of your original purchase date. Once a valid claim is opened, we will arrange and cover the cost of the return shipping for verification.

• Aged & Fine Wines: Due to the natural risks associated with mature bottles, any wines older than 5 years from their release date, or retailing over £150, are evaluated strictly on a case-by-case basis. For these bottles, we reserve the right to offer store credit or a partial refund only.

• Storage Exclusions: Our quality guarantee does not cover wines that have spoiled due to improper storage after delivery (such as being left in direct sunlight, next to a radiator, or in excessive heat).

Are all your wines available in your Ledston store?

Regrettably, not all wines listed for sale online are on the shelves of our Ledston store. Although we have an excellent selection of some 1000+ wines and spirits to view in our shop, space prevents us from having all our wines on display. If you intend to visit our store for a particular wine it is best to check in advance that it is in stock before you set off. If we do not have stock, we can request it from our bonded warehouse facility for delivery within 2-3 working days.

Are all your wines online in stock?

As we are retail stockists, selling from our Ledston shop as well as online, it makes it difficult for us to show a 'real-time' inventory of our wines and spirits online. As such, very occasionally, a wine may be out of stock that the website has allowed you to order.

To ensure a timely delivery, we are happy to substitute your order with a similar wine of equal or higher value and at no additional cost to you! If this is not an acceptable solution please advise us in the 'Special Instructions' at the checkout.

Are the vintages of your wines correct?

We endeavour to display accurate and current vintages on all our wines listed on the website; however, from time to time stocks of the vintage listed do become exhausted. If this is the case with your order we will always contact you to recommend another vintage of the same wine, if it is still available. 

If the vintage of a wine is important to you then please either contact us, or leave us a message in the 'Special Instructions Box' at checkout.