Canada Water to welcome UK’s largest urban winery

Vagabond Wines is set to open the UK’s largest urban winery at British Land and AustralianSuper’s 53-acre Canada Water Masterplan later this year.

The self-pour wine bar group will take 6,000 sq ft of space on the ground floor of the recently-completed Dock Shed, a mixed-use building with workspace above and the new Canada Water Leisure Centre to the rear

The space will feature a 100-tonne winery, a Vagabond bar, and multiple event and private hire spaces for the likes of weddings, tastings, dinners, and corporate events.

The launch forms part of Vagabond’s wider growth strategy, with the brand working exclusively with the retail and leisure team at Savills to double the size of its estate over the next three years. The operator’s first tranche of openings is due later this year and includes new bars in St Paul’s and at British Land and GIC’s Broadgate, Liverpool Street.

John Colley, CEO of Majestic Group, which owns Vagabond, 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 of restaurants and leisure at British Land, added: “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 and deliver 300,000 sq ft of workspace and 13,000 sq ft of retail at Three Deal Porters and Dock Shed, a new leisure centre for Southwark Council, and 186 new homes at The Founding. Two further restaurants, Sushi Revolution and Village Tree, will also be opening soon.