Following its £6.5 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.
Vagabond Wines is set to establish the UK’s 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 £6.5 million rescue deal and has since pledged to significantly expand Vagabond’s English wine production. The new 6,000 sq ft facility, situated on the ground floor of the Dock Shed—a recently completed mixed-use development—will 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’s signature self-pour wine machines along with multiple event and private hire spaces.
“This urban winery is unlike anything we’ve done before,” said Vagabond managing director Christobell Giles. She described the initiative as a “cathedral to wine,” 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 “alive, expressive, and social,” rather than “living on a dusty shelf,” capturing Vagabond’s philosophy of making wine a vivacious and interactive experience.
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’s confidence in Vagabond’s potential and its intention to expand the brand beyond London to major towns and cities across the UK. This aligns with Majestic’s 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’s hospitality presence, excluded underperforming locations such as Vagabond’s Canary Wharf and two Gatwick Airport sites.
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’s 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’s philosophy of minimal intervention, working with nature to craft wines that are expressive of their environment.
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’s estate footprint in the next three years, with new bars planned for St Paul’s and Liverpool Street later this year, signalling clear ambitions for national expansion.
This initiative not only secures Vagabond’s 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’s craftsmanship.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, dated July 25, 2025. The earliest known publication date of similar content is April 5, 2024, when Majestic completed the acquisition of Vagabond Wines. ([thegrocer.co.uk](https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/majestic-completes-acquisition-of-vagabond-wines/689997.article?utm_source=openai)) The current report introduces new information about the establishment of the UK's largest urban winery at Canada Water, indicating a fresh development. However, the narrative references earlier events, such as the acquisition and previous urban winery initiatives, which may affect its overall freshness score. The presence of a press release suggests a high freshness score, as press releases are typically recent and original. No significant discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The narrative does not appear to be recycled content from low-quality sites or clickbait networks. No earlier versions show different figures, dates, or quotes. The inclusion of updated data alongside older material may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes from Vagabond managing director Christobell Giles and Majestic Group chief executive John Colley are not found in earlier material, indicating potential originality or exclusivity. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, suggesting these are original statements. The wording of the quotes matches the current report, with no variations identified.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Grocer, a reputable UK-based publication known for its coverage of the grocery and retail sectors. This association with a reputable organisation strengthens the credibility of the report. The narrative does not originate from an obscure, unverifiable, or single-outlet source. The entities mentioned, such as Vagabond Wines and Majestic Group, have verifiable public presences and legitimate websites.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative's claims about the establishment of the UK's largest urban winery at Canada Water align with recent developments in the wine industry. The report is covered elsewhere, including The Drinks Business and The Standard, indicating that the information is corroborated by other reputable outlets. ([thedrinksbusiness.com](https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2024/04/majestic-completes-acquisition-of-vagabond-wines/?utm_source=openai), [standard.co.uk](https://www.standard.co.uk/business/business-news/majestic-buys-wine-bar-chain-vagabond-from-administration-b1149573.html?utm_source=openai)) The report includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, enhancing its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, with no strange phrasing or incorrect spelling variants identified. The structure focuses on the main claim without excessive or off-topic detail, and the tone is appropriate for a corporate announcement.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative presents recent and original information about the establishment of the UK's largest urban winery by Vagabond Wines, backed by Majestic. The quotes from key figures are original, and the source is reputable. The claims are plausible and corroborated by other reputable outlets, with no significant credibility risks identified.
