Vagabond, the self-pour wine bar group, has signed a 15-year lease on a flagship site in Paternoster Square, St Paul’s, set to open this August. It will be the brand’s first new location since joining the Majestic Wine Group. A second bar will follow in Liverpool Street this autumn.
The new space, formerly the filming location of Channel 4’s First Dates restaurant, will feature over 110 wines available by the glass – more than at any of Vagabond’s other nine bars – through its signature self-serve ‘tap and pour’ dispensers, alongside a menu of seasonal small plates.
The St Paul’s site, due to open this summer, will be Vagabond’s tenth location and underscores the fresh focus and investment at the company following its acquisition by Majestic in April 2024. Majestic has committed to investing in Vagabond’s long-term future, including new site openings – with Liverpool Street set to follow in September as part of the Broadgate Campus development.
Vagabond is aiming to double its estate over the next three years, with a focus on units of approximately 2,000–5,000 sq ft in prime locations with substantial footfall and visibility across major UK cities.
Vagabond heads into the summer season with strong momentum. It reported like-for-like sales growth of 16.3% in the six weeks to 23 December, and unveiled the extensive refurbishment of its popular Battersea Power Station bar in February.
Christobell Giles, managing director at Vagabond, comments: “At Vagabond, we have always believed wine is about so much more than what’s in the glass. It’s about connection – whether that’s between you and our winemakers, you and our team, or you and the person across the table. Wine has a unique ability to bring people together and spark conversation.
“This new space in St Paul’s captures all of that. It’s welcoming, romantic, social and just a little bit iconic. We’re incredibly proud to be opening in such a special spot and cannot wait to welcome guests in for their first glass. After a brilliant first year with Majestic, this is a really exciting step forward for us at Vagabond.”
John Colley, CEO of Majestic Group and Executive Chair of Vagabond, adds:
“Vagabond is a brand with real energy and a unique proposition. Since joining the Majestic family last year, it has shown strong potential to attract new and younger customers who want to engage with wine in a more informal, experiential way.
“We’re committed to investing in new bar openings to help us reach new customers and provide multiple entry points into our wider business, from retail to subscription and beyond. We’re looking forward to supporting the Vagabond team with its expansion across the UK in the coming years.”
