Vagabond, the experiential wine bar operator that offers more than 100 wines for customers to self-pour and explore by the glass, has toasted the launch of its newest venue in Brighton – a major milestone in the brand’s ambitious plans to expand into major towns and cities across the UK.
The Brighton opening marks Vagabond’s third new venue this year, and its first new high street location outside of London since 2021, when it welcomed its first guests in Birmingham.
Vagabond has transformed the 2,980 sq ft site in Duke Street, formerly occupied by Browns Brasserie, into a wine wonderland. The brand’s signature tap and pour machines allow guests to explore an eclectic selection of more than 100 wines from around the world.
The innovative range includes a host of English wines produced at Vagabond’s Urban Winery in Canada Water, made using grapes from vineyards across Sussex and the South East. The success and popularity of Vagabond’s wines – made by Head Winemaker Jose Quintana who grew up on a farm in Sussex – saw the brand claim the Producer of the Year crown at the Independent English Wine Awards earlier this year.
Vagabond Brighton features a striking stainless steel bar – a nod to the tanks it uses to produce its award-winning wines – as well as a stunning staircase lined with riddling racks. The venue also has its own private dining room, perfect for those looking to book group celebrations or private corporate functions. The space will also host a calendar of Vagabond events throughout the year, including wine tastings and cheese and wine masterclasses.
In addition to cheese and artisan charcuterie boards, Vagabond Brighton will also serve up a mouth-watering menu of seasonal sharing plates, including customer favourites pil pil prawns, padrón peppers and hanger steak tagliata.
Joining Brighton’s vibrant and diverse hospitality landscape, Vagabond seeks to strip away the intimidation surrounding wine, replacing it with an approachable, social and exploratory environment for visitors to discover and try new wines at their own pace, on their own budget.
Vagabond’s Brighton launch comes as part of an exciting expansion strategy for the brand, with backing from the Majestic Wine Group and Fortress Investment Group, Vagabond has extended its portfolio from nine locations to 15 in the past 18 months alone and is now targeting more towns and cities across the UK with its modern and highly differentiated hospitality concept. Vagabond’s bars bring together the unique combination of eclectic wines, WSET-qualified teams, technology and app-driven experiences to attract a younger, digitally engaged generation of wine lovers.
In addition to the significant investment in growing its physical presence, Vagabond is also ramping up its multichannel capabilities to help its customers enjoy wine in new ways. Since 2025, Vagabond has launched a new smartphone app, digital wine flights and a transactional website, which allows visitors from all four corners of the UK to order their Vagabond favourites directly to their door.
Graham Hall, interim managing director of Vagabond Wines, said: “Everyone at Vagabond is buzzing to be in Brighton. It’s a city with such a brilliant range of bars and restaurants, and we’re really proud to be adding something a little bit different to that mix. We know the locals will love our unique wine experience and we can’t wait to help them explore the world of wine in a new and exciting way. Our team has already had an incredible welcome from the local community over the past week or so, and we’re really looking forward to sharing a glass with them all.”
John Colley, executive chairman and CEO of Majestic Wine Group, added: “We’ve been looking for opportunities to take Vagabond to new towns and cities outside London ever since we welcomed the business into the Majestic family two years ago, so we’re delighted to be opening our doors in Brighton.
“Vagabond’s experiential and highly differentiated hospitality concept is at the heart of the Majestic Wine Group’s strategy to engage with younger, more adventurous wine consumers. Locations like Brighton that attract residents, professionals and tourists are absolutely perfect for the Vagabond brand, and we will continue investing into similar locations across the UK as we grow Vagabond’s footprint in the coming years.”
