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Following its \u00a36.5 million rescue acquisition of Vagabond Wines, Majestic plans a 6,000 sq ft urban winery at Canada Water, combining large-scale English wine production with innovative self-pour bars and immersive visitor experiences to redefine wine culture in the UK.<\/p>\n
Vagabond Wines is set to establish the UK\u2019s largest urban winery at Canada Water, a bold move backed by Majestic following its acquisition of the wine bar chain out of administration. Majestic purchased Vagabond last year in a \u00a36.5 million rescue deal and has since pledged to significantly expand Vagabond\u2019s English wine production. The new 6,000 sq ft facility, situated on the ground floor of the Dock Shed\u2014a recently completed mixed-use development\u2014will house a 100-tonne winery with an annual capacity of up to 100,000 bottles. It will also feature a Vagabond bar incorporating the brand\u2019s signature self-pour wine machines along with multiple event and private hire spaces.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis urban winery is unlike anything we\u2019ve done before,\u201d said Vagabond managing director Christobell Giles. She described the initiative as a \u201ccathedral to wine,\u201d designed to immerse visitors in the winemaking process and connect them directly with the stories and passion behind every bottle. Giles emphasised that wine should be \u201calive, expressive, and social,\u201d rather than \u201cliving on a dusty shelf,\u201d capturing Vagabond\u2019s philosophy of making wine a vivacious and interactive experience.<\/p>\n
Majestic Group chief executive John Colley added that the project had been in planning for several months, with the first guests expected later this year. He noted that the investment demonstrated Majestic\u2019s confidence in Vagabond\u2019s potential and its intention to expand the brand beyond London to major towns and cities across the UK. This aligns with Majestic\u2019s broader strategic vision following its purchase of Vagabond in April 2024, which secured nine operational venues and preserved over 170 jobs. The acquisition, seen as a strategic effort to engage younger wine consumers and enhance Majestic\u2019s hospitality presence, excluded underperforming locations such as Vagabond\u2019s Canary Wharf and two Gatwick Airport sites.<\/p>\n
Vagabond has built a reputation since its 2010 founding as a pioneer in urban wine discovery, with bars offering over 100 wines by the glass via self-serve machines, creating a distinctive customer experience centred on accessibility and exploration. The brand\u2019s commitment to urban winemaking is evidenced by its existing small-scale winery in Battersea, London, where it produces award-winning wines from grapes sourced within a two-hour radius to underline sustainability and locality. This artisanal approach reflects Vagabond\u2019s philosophy of minimal intervention, working with nature to craft wines that are expressive of their environment.<\/p>\n
The forthcoming Canada Water site aims to build on this ethos but on an unprecedented scale, combining the winery with social spaces and a bar that invites visitors to engage fully with the winemaking journey. Majestic conveys optimism about doubling Vagabond\u2019s estate footprint in the next three years, with new bars planned for St Paul\u2019s and Liverpool Street later this year, signalling clear ambitions for national expansion.<\/p>\n
This initiative not only secures Vagabond\u2019s future but also marks a significant evolution in the UK wine scene, bringing production and consumption closer together in vibrant urban settings. By integrating winemaking with interactive social environments and self-pour technology, Vagabond and Majestic seek to redefine how wine is experienced, targeting a demographic eager for discovery and participation in the beverage\u2019s craftsmanship.<\/p>\n