Vagabond to launch UK’s largest urban winery at Canada Water

Vagabond Wines, the self-pour wine bar group, has signed a deal for 6,000 sq ft of space within British Land and AustralianSuper’s 53-acre Canada Water Masterplan, with the venue expected to open later this year.

The new Vagabond bar will house the UK’s largest urban winery, introducing large-scale winemaking to Central London alongside immersive experiences and a selection of over 100 wines available by the glass.

Supported by investment from parent company Majestic Group, the facility is set to quadruple Vagabond’s English wine production. This expansion will fuel the continued growth of its small-batch, multi-award-winning still and sparkling wines—most notably Solena, which was recently named Best English Still Wine at the Independent Wine Awards, and Vagabond itself, awarded Boutique Producer of the Year 2024 by WineGB.

Led by Vagabond’s Head Winemaker, José Quintana, the winery will showcase distinctive design features including a striking concrete egg fermenter and an experimental solera system—offering guests the unique opportunity to see, smell, taste, and experience wine at every stage of its creation.

The unit is located on the ground floor of the recently completed Dock Shed, a mixed-use building with HQ-ready workspace above and the new Canada Water Leisure Centre to the rear.

The space will feature a working 100-tonne winery, a Vagabond bar with the brand’s signature self-pour wine machines, and multiple event and private hire spaces – from weddings to tastings, winemaker dinners to corporate events. With production capacity of up to 100,000 bottles per year, and space for more than 300 daily visitors, the new winery will offer visitors the chance to see, smell, taste, and enjoy wine at every stage of its journey.

The new Vagabond location will join a vibrant lineup of experience-driven venues in Canada Water, including Corner Corner—the area’s newest leisure and entertainment spot featuring an immersive Minecraft experience—and the forthcoming Titanic exhibition at the neighboring Dock X.

The urban winery represents the latest addition to a growing cluster of indoor food and beverage production spaces, following the launch of Harvest London’s indoor farm earlier this year, which supplies fresh salad and herbs to Corner Corner’s food hall as well as to local restaurants and cafes.

Wine tourism in the UK is experiencing significant growth, with visitor numbers rising by 55% since 2022, according to WineGB, reaching over 1.5 million visits last year. Vagabond’s urban winery will bring this booming trend to central London on an unprecedented scale.

This launch is a cornerstone of Vagabond’s broader growth strategy, in partnership with Savills’ retail and leisure team, aiming to double its estate size within the next three years. The initial phase of expansion later this year includes new bar openings in St Paul’s and at British Land and GIC’s Broadgate in Liverpool Street.

Vagabond Managing Director Christobell Giles said: “This urban winery is unlike anything we’ve done before. It’s a cathedral to wine – a space that lets people get up close to the winemaking process and connects them to the stories and passion behind every bottle. Wine shouldn’t live on a dusty shelf. It should be alive, expressive, and social – and that’s exactly what we’re building.”

Majestic Group CEO John Colley said: “We are really excited to be launching the Uk’s largest urban winery, in a prime central London location. This is a project we have been working on for a number of months and we can’t wait to welcome our first guests later this year. This significant investment from Majestic Group demonstrates the huge potential we see in the Vagabond brand, and we are committed to supporting its expansion into major towns and cities outside of London in the coming years.”

Alice Keown, Leasing Director Restaurants and Leisure at British Land, said: “The addition of Vagabond to Canada Water forms a key part of our vision to create one of the most vibrant cultural and experiential destinations in London. It will be in a prime position surrounded by brand new homes, workspace and the Leisure Centre. The in-house winery will be a flagship attraction, combining innovation, hospitality, and community under one roof.”

The first phase of the Canada Water masterplan is set to complete this summer, delivering 300,000 sq ft of workspace and 13,000 sq ft of retail space at Three Deal Porters and Dock Shed, alongside a new leisure centre for Southwark Council and 186 new homes at The Founding. Additionally, two new restaurants—Sushi Revolution and Village Tree—will be opening soon, further enhancing Canada Water’s appeal as a vibrant destination.