The City just swapped its spreadsheets for stemware.
Vagabond Wines has opened its newest outpost in Broadgate, bringing its tap and pour playground to the glass jungle of Liverpool Street. It is the kind of place where meetings mysteriously turn into tastings and “just one” quietly becomes a mini masterclass in grape psychology.
Wedged between the financial pulse of the Broadgate campus, the creative hum of Shoreditch and the chaos of Spitalfields Market, this is Vagabond’s smartest move yet. The setting alone guarantees a steady flow of commuters, clients and characters, all in search of something more interesting than another post work pint.
Inside, things get playful fast. Over a hundred wines line the walls in gleaming self pour machines, waiting for you to make your move. No need for a sommelier’s nod or a brave guess at the menu. You are in charge. Swipe your card, choose your pour and sip your way through everything from moody Malbecs to flirty fizz. The only risk is falling in love with a bottle you cannot pronounce.
Vagabond’s genius lies in how easy it makes exploration. The app handles all the notes, regions and romantic backstories, while the Find My Style quiz matches you with wines based on taste rather than intimidation. It is basically Tinder for grown-ups, only this time the pairing might actually last.
Of course, even the best wine tastes better with food, and Vagabond’s menu is built for exactly that. Think truffle mac and cheese croquettes, slow cooked short ribs and a gloriously gooey fondue that has become something of a legend. Their fondue campaign went viral last year, proving that the internet’s true love language is melted cheese. Now it is back for another round of unapologetic dipping.
Managing Director Christobell Giles says the team is thrilled to be pouring in the heart of the City, surrounded by people who already know and love the brand. It is easy to see why. Liverpool Street is London’s busiest crossroads, a mix of commuters from Essex, tech founders in sneakers and finance types pretending not to check their emails. For once, they all have a reason to stay.
This opening follows the new flagship at St Paul’s and signals a wider expansion under the Majestic Wine Group and its owner Fortress Investment. With Broadgate undergoing a major revival, Vagabond has arrived just in time to catch the after work crowd as it discovers its playful side.
But the story does not stop at the bar. Next month, Vagabond will open the UK’s largest urban winery at Canada Water. Six thousand square feet of tanks, barrels and buzz, producing up to one hundred thousand bottles in five years. The space will double as a bar, shop and event venue for two hundred guests, giving Londoners the rare thrill of drinking wine made practically down the street.
For all the technology and trendiness, Vagabond’s core idea is beautifully simple. Wine should not be snobbish. It should be social, a little spontaneous and occasionally spilled. You do not need to speak French to enjoy it. You just need curiosity and maybe someone to share the fondue.
So whether you are clocking out early, killing time before a train or pretending your tasting notes are work notes, Vagabond Liverpool Street will be happy to pour one for you. Probably two. Possibly twelve.
By the end of the night you might not be fluent in wine, but you will be fluent in fun.
And that is exactly the point.
Broadgate Central, Finsbury Avenue, London EC2M 2AX
