Vagabond to open flagship London wine bar amid renewed expansion push

Vagabond Wines is set to open a flagship wine bar in the former site of Channel 4’s First Dates restaurant in London’s St Paul’s this August.

Taking over Paternoster Chophouse, a D&D restaurant until its closure and subsequent relocation in late 2020, the new Vagabond bar will feature a selection of over 110 wines by the glass and seating for more than 250 guests.

Vagabond has signed a 15-year lease on the site, which also marks the group’s first new bar since being bought out of administration by Majestic in April 2024.

Further openings are planned for London later this year, including an extra bar within the Broadgate Campus development in Liverpool Street, scheduled for September.  

Vagabond, which currently operates sites in London and Birmingham, is targeting doubling its estate over the next three years, focusing on units of approximately 2,000 to 5,000 sq ft in prime locations with substantial footfall across major UK cities.

Christobell Giles, managing director at Vagabond, said: “At Vagabond, we have always believed wine is about so much more than what is in the glass. It is about connection. Whether that is 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. After a brilliant first year with Majestic, this is a really exciting step forward for us at Vagabond.”

John Colley, chief executive of Majestic Group and executive chair of Vagabond, added: “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.”

Vagabond opened its first bar in London’s Fulham in 2010. At its peak, it operated 11 bars, nine of which were sold in a £6.5m deal to Majestic in 2024, with the remaining two at Gatwick Airport being sold to privately-run Airport Retail Enterprises (UK) Ltd for £400,000 last June.

Wine specialist Majestic was founded in 1980 and sold to Fortress Investment Group in 2019. It has since grown into a network of 213 stores across the UK and Jersey.

In April 2025, it also acquired rival supplier Enotria&Coe to bolster its presence across hospitality.