Winemaker Chapel Down says it is “considering a sale” to fund its growth plans.

The Tenterden-based vineyard, which is listed on London’s AIM (Alternative Investment Market), has become one of the leading lights in the English sparkling wine industry and has seen rapid growth in recent years.

Now, to further fuel its ambitious plans, it is conducting a strategic review into the various options open to it.

Among its plans are the investment in new vineyards, the development of a new Tenterden base and a new purpose-built winery in Bridge, near Canterbury.

In an announcement today, it confirmed it was reviewing “options to fund its plan to continue driving strong and profitable growth in the long-term”.

Those options include investments from existing or new shareholders, or “a sale of the company”.

The company says it currently remains on-track to deliver double-digit sales growth in 2024 and that it has “significant headroom” on its existing £12million debt facility - a facility it already has an agreement in principle to increase if necessary.

Its plan for a £32m winery in Bridge - which would create some 400 jobs - has, however, been hit by legal challenges.

Having been granted planning permission by Canterbury City Council it has met fierce opposition from campaigners who have threatened High Court action over its plans to build on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

However, Chapel Down hopes if it avoids being forced to shelve the project, it will secure the green light later this summer.

Earlier this year, the company’s latest annual financial report declared it was “strongly profitable at all levels”.

During 2023, it saw gross profit increase by 16% to £8.9m - compared to £7.7m the year before. Revenues increased 15% to £17.9m.