UK-based wine retailer Majestic Wine has secured the future of nine Vagabond wine bars by acquiring the chain from administration.
The move, which excludes two underperforming bars and the Gatwick Airport sites, marks Majestic’s entry into the hospitality sector.
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It aims to boost its growth strategy by reaching a younger wine-consuming demographic.
The acquisition follows Vagabond’s struggle with debt accumulated during the Covid-19 pandemic, which also saw the loss of its Heathrow Airport bar in early 2024.
Administrator Quantuma was appointed to restructure Vagabond’s balance sheet, leading to discussions with Majestic in March.
The acquisition has preserved 171 jobs and is set to enhance Majestic’s presence in the hospitality space.
Majestic’s plans for Vagabond include opening additional wine bars, utilising its customer relationship management capabilities and expanding the offerings of Wine and Spirit Education Trust qualifications.
Vagabond, established in 2009, is known for its self-pour machines, offering more than 100 wines by the glass.
The acquisition is expected to complement Majestic’s existing operations, which saw a gross profit of £5.2m on revenues of £7.4m in the year to March 2022.
Vagabond managing director Matt Fleming said that Majestic is the perfect partner to enhance the business’s strength and drive a new profitable growth phase.
He added: “We are looking forward to working with the Majestic team to accelerate our expansion, and help even more wine consumers to discover new and interesting wines.”
Majestic CEO John Colley said: “The completion of this deal marks the start of a long-term partnership and we are committed to investing in the Vagabond business, with the potential to open new wine bars across the UK when the right opportunities arise.”
