it’s a family affair | bev harris & ben buckler cellars

Bev Harris with her children Stephen & Alicia, daughter-in-law Fiona, partner Neil and her grandchildren.

BEN BUCKLER CELLARS  | The (somewhat) New Kid on the Block 

Bev Harris, affectionately and respectfully known has “The Matriarch of Bondi” opened Ben Buckler Cellars on her birthday - December 23rd 1992. After almost 30 years trading, she decided to hand over the reins to her son Stephen, owner of all our stores under the Neighbourhood Cellars umbrella. We took over ownership on April 11th, 2022, and look forward to continuing Bev’s legacy, servicing the Bondi community with friendly service, and introducing our growing reputation for stocking an extensive range of wine, beer, cider and spirits sourced locally and internationally.

Pretty well everyone who lives in Bondi knows and loves Bev, especially those residing up the North end of the beach around Ben Buckler Point. Bev’s liquor store has been servicing the community and visitors for 3 decades - sunny afternoons on the Grassy Knoll mean countless trips to the shop for supplies to keep that summer feeling well into the Daylight Savings late evening swims & BBQ’s by the ocean. With a work ethic that is enviable, Bev has worked everyday on her feet keeping the coolroom full of ice-cold beer, the fridges full of chilled wine & bubbles, and the floors & shelves stacked with an array of red wine, white wine, champagne, spirits & rose. I doubt there would be many parties that have been held in North Bondi for the past 30 years that haven’t been kept in good supply thanks to Bev’s shop, Ben Buckler Cellars.

Bev is no stranger to our Neighbourhood Cellars stores either. She is often in one of our shops helping out, delivering stock, and has been at our Darlo store for several Mardi Gras Parade Day Trading days. Son Stephen, is the owner of our independent liquor stores under the Neighbourhood Cellars umbrella. It seemed inevitable that when the time came, he would take over his mother’s well-known business. It is not a decision that Bev has made lightly. Having traded all these years and grown to have so many locals become like family, parting comes with some sadness. That said, Bev will still be around in the shop, and in the neighbourhood. Since we took over trading in April, with Todd coming over for a month from our management team at Paddo, and our new manager Ellie, Bev has meticulously handed over the business, and we are settling in nicely. Getting to know the locals & regulars has been a treat, and we feel very welcomed by everyone.

Bev & Stephen at Darlinghurst Fine Wines during Mardi Gras

Bev took the time to train up and familiarise our team before heading to WA to join Stephen & his family on a road trip up the West Australian coastline. We hope she is having a well-deserved trip with family, soaking up the sunshine (lord knows we’ve been lacking the sun here), and enjoying some time out. We know we will still have Bev working alongside us at Ben Buckler Cellars when she is back in town, and we couldn’t be happier.

Bev enjoying time on the family road trip in Western Australia

Bev & Stephen…somewhere in WA. The smiles say it all!

Ben Buckler Cellars | Shop 2/53 Campbell Pde North Bondi | 0409 428 954

Hours | Sunday to Thursday 11am to 8pm | Friday & Saturday 11am to 10pm