Vagabond chooses Brighton for first new regional bar in five years. August 11, 2026 Vagabond is to open a new wine bar in Brighton later this year as the experiential hospitality brand accelerates its expansion outside London. The company has secured a 2,980 sq ft site on Duke Street in The Lanes, formerly occupied by Browns Brasserie, with the venue scheduled to open in late autumn following an extensive refurbishment. The opening will mark Vagabond's first new high street location outside the capital since it launched in Birmingham in 2021. Backed by Majestic Wine Group and Fortress Investment Group, Vagabond currently operates 14 locations and is targeting a portfolio of 25 sites during the next five years. The Brighton venue will feature the company's self-pour wine machines, allowing guests to choose from more than 100 wines by the glass. Its range will include English wines produced at Vagabond's Urban Winery in Canada Water using grapes sourced from vineyards including producers across Sussex and the South East. Vagabond was named Producer of the Year at the Independent English Wine Awards 2026, where its wines collected seven medals. Its Solena Batch 004 also received the award for Best Alternative or Experimental Still Wine, while Chardonnay, Dios Mío, Pinot Noir, Night Tripper and Nature Series Cuvée 2019 were among its other medal-winning wines. Design details planned for Brighton include a staircase incorporating riddling racks and a stainless-steel bar inspired by the tanks used within Vagabond's winemaking operation. The property will also include a private dining room for group celebrations, wine tastings and corporate events. 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." The Brighton opening will follow the launch of Vagabond's Soho venue in June and its return to Canary Wharf earlier this month. The Canary Wharf opening took Vagabond to 14 venues and followed launches at St Paul's, Liverpool Street and the Canada Water Urban Winery during the previous year. Alongside physical expansion, Vagabond has been investing in its digital offer. During the past 12 months, the company has introduced a smartphone app, digital wine flights and an ecommerce website, enabling customers across the UK to order its wines for home delivery. John Colley, Executive Chairman and CEO of Majestic Wine Group, said: "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." Majestic Wine Group acquired Vagabond in 2024 and has subsequently invested in new venues, refurbishment, technology and wine production as it develops the brand's multichannel hospitality model. Associated Articles Vagabond Launches Fifth New Venue in Under a Year with Canary Wharf Return Provides direct Vagabond expansion context, covering its most recent opening and plans to grow from 14 venues to 25 during the next five years. Vagabond Opens Flagship Soho Venue as Expansion Plans Gather Pace Provides further direct brand context, following the June opening of Vagabond's largest venue to date as Majestic Wine Group continues investing in the experiential wine bar business. Two Twins Tacos to Open Fourth Site at Spitalfields Market Adds recent multi-site hospitality expansion context, highlighting another growing operator targeting high-footfall locations while developing its estate beyond its original neighbourhood base.

Wayflyer, the global working capital provider for small businesses, today announces a new forward flow agreement with funds managed by affiliates of Fortress...

Wayflyer, a global working capital provider for small businesses, has announced a three-year forward-flow agreement with Fortress Investment Group worth up to $1.5 billion. Under the deal, Fortress will purchase assets originated through Wayflyer's platform. The agreement positions Wayflyer to deploy up to $4.5 billion in capital to small businesses over the next 24 months. The forward-flow structure allows Wayflyer to originate loans and transfer eligible receivables to institutional buyers, enabling faster capital recycling. "This agreement is a milestone in how we fund and scale our business," said Aidan Corbett, Wayflyer's CEO and co-founder. The deal follows a $250 million credit facility with ATLAS SP Partners announced earlier this year. Since launching in 2020, Wayflyer has deployed over $6 billion in working capital to businesses worldwide.