Ben Stephenson

Ben is the Managing Director and founder of hangingditch wine merchants. He has spent over 10 years in the wine industry starting with stints at Oddbins and Harvey Nichols as shop managers and latterly as an account manager at Pagendam Pratt Wine Cellars, Domaine Direct and Willoughby's Wine Warehouse.

Ben is a full panel judge for the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the International Wine Challenge. He was a UK semi-finalist for Ruinart Sommelier of the Year in 2004. He obtained his WSET Diploma in 2001 and holds and Art Foundation and BA in Graphic Design from Glasgow School of Art.

Mark Dent

Mark was involved in the initial creation of the hangingditch wine merchants concept along with Ben. He worked previously as a branch manager for Oddbins for almost 10 years. Prior to Oddbins, Mark worked in various top restaurants in his native Vancouver. He is the General Manager for the business and is in great demand for private, corporate and charity tasting events.

Mark is an experienced Full Panel Judge at the International Wine Challenge, Canadian chef-turned-International Sommelier Guild Diploma (recipient) and member of the Canadian Sommelier Guild.

Lianne Hughes

Lianne is an avid wine and spirits lover and joined hangingditch wine merchants in 2009 as a part-time Wine Advisor. She was a member of the English Youth Ballet and considered following a career in ballet before she discovered Barolo! She is currently in the second year of a B.A in History at Manchester University and obtained a Distinction in her WSET Intermediate exams in April 2010.

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