Vagabond picks Brighton for first new venue outside of London for five years
Wine bar operator Vagabond is set to open its first new high street location outside of London on Brighton’s Duke Street.
Spanning 2,980 sq ft, the new venue, which was formerly occupied by Browns Brasserie, is set to open in late autumn following a refurbishment.
The opening will mark Vagabond’s first foray into the capital since its Birmingham launch in 2021.
The venue will feature the brand’s range of signature self-pour wine machines, offering a selection of over 100 wines by the glass, including a host of English wines produced at Vagabond’s own Urban Winery in Canada Water.
Backed by the Majestic Wine Group and Fortress Investment Group, the Brighton bar marks a significant step in Vagabond’s strategy to target even more towns and cities across the UK. It will mark Vagabond’s third new venue of 2026, following openings in London’s Soho in June and Canary Wharf last week. Vagabond said it is planning to expand its portfolio of experiential bars from 14 sites today to 25 over the next five years.
Graham Hall, interim managing director of Vagabond Wines, said: “Brighton has always been a city that marches to its own beat – it’s fun, vibrant and fiercely independent, all of which make it a dream location for Vagabond. It’s been a while since we opened a new bar outside of London, and we couldn’t have picked a more perfect place to do it.
“Brighton has such a diverse and colourful mix of bars, restaurants and retailers, all offering something unique and innovative. We’re really excited to bring our wine experience to the party and introduce the city to a brand new way of enjoying wine, one pour at a time.”
John Colley, executive chairman and CEO of Majestic Wine Group, added: “We’ve been looking for opportunities to extend Vagabond’s reach outside of London ever since we welcomed the business into the Majestic family two years ago. The launch of our nationwide direct-to-consumer website was the first stage of that exciting journey, and now we’re pressing ahead with our plans to open more bars in key towns and cities right across the UK. Brighton has been near the top of our list of target locations since day one, and we can’t wait to introduce wine lovers from across the city to the Vagabond experience.”