Vagabond opened its fifth new venue in under a year with a 4,000 sq ft Canary Wharf site offering 120+ wines by the glass, as owners Majestic Wine Group and Fortress Investment Group back a plan to reach 25 locations across the UK.
Vagabond opened its newest location in Canary Wharf on Monday, marking its fifth new venue in under a year as the wine bar chain accelerates toward a target of 25 sites across the UK.
The 4,000 sq ft site on Park Drive offers more than 120 wines by the glass. Some of those come from Vagabond's own Urban Winery in Canada Water, roughly 1,300 metres away. A private events space overlooking the water gives the venue a second revenue stream for corporate bookings and celebrations.
The expansion pace has picked up sharply. Vagabond opened in St Paul's and Liverpool Street last autumn, launched the UK's largest Urban Winery in Canada Water last December, and opened its biggest-ever bar in Soho just last month. The chain now runs 14 locations.
Owners Majestic Wine Group and Fortress Investment Group are funding the push. Vagabond's plan calls for 25 sites within five years, targeting major towns and cities outside London alongside further expansion in the capital.
"Everyone at Vagabond is excited to finally return to Canary Wharf today," interim managing director Graham Hall said. "It's a district that, like Vagabond, has evolved so much over the past few years."
John Colley, executive chairman and CEO of Majestic Wine Group, said locations that "attract a real mix of residents, professionals and visitors are exactly where Vagabond belongs."
The Canary Wharf district drew 76 million visitors last year. Weekend footfall more than doubled versus 2019, according to landlord CWG. The area now has more than 380 shops, bars, cafes and restaurants.
"We're delighted to welcome Vagabond to Canary Wharf," Stuart Fyfe, managing director of retail, leisure and hospitality at CWG, said. "Another innovative concept wanting to be part of our thriving district, attracted by our growing footfall and the diverse and expanding customer base."
The tap-and-pour model lets customers self-serve samples before buying a full glass, a format designed to push discovery over the traditional wine-list experience. Vagabond has also invested in digital over the past year, launching a smartphone app, digital wine flights and a transactional website for nationwide delivery.
"Vagabond's experience-led hospitality proposition is at the heart of our Group's strategy to engage with younger, more adventurous wine consumers," Colley said.
Starbucks has an Alpha Score of 47 out of 100 from AlphaScala, labelled Mixed, in the Consumer Discretionary sector. The score reflects the heavy capital requirements of Vagabond's rapid rollout against the growing demand for experiential retail in London's commercial districts.
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