Vagabond Wines has announced the return of its record-breaking festive fondue for winter 2025, following a hugely successful debut last year that helped drive one of the brand’s strongest ever Christmas trading periods.
The runaway hit became a social media favourite and was widely covered as one of London’s most joyful seasonal food moments, with high guest demand and strong press pick-up positioning it as a standout festive success story.
This year, the indulgence goes up a notch with the launch of a Black Truffle Swiss Fondue upgrade – a decadent twist designed to elevate the sharing experience, keep the concept fresh and continue building on the appetite for playful, premium comfort dining.
The core format remains the same: a bubbling pot of Swiss cheese served with toasted baguette, soft-herb potatoes and pickles, to be enjoyed by friends and festive groups across Vagabond’s bars. Guests can now supercharge their pot with rich black truffle, alongside the return of fan-favourite add-ons including pigs-in-blankets, portobello mushrooms and Serrano with gnocco fritto.
Last year’s fondue run generated thousands of social tags and stories, influencer buzz and consistent sold-out sittings in key sites, creating a high-energy festive atmosphere across the estate. Trade media reported the dish as a key contributor to Vagabond’s strong seasonal performance, praising the brand’s ability to innovate and deliver experience-led hospitality during the peak period.
The fondue will be available across the entire Vagabond estate, including the newest openings at Liverpool Street and First Dates Restaurant at Paternoster Square, St Pauls, cementing it as a city-wide winter ritual for cheese lovers, date-nighters and group celebrations alike. From once-in-a-lifetime first dates to big-energy team outings, there will be bubbling pots across London and Birmingham throughout the season.
Christobell Giles, Managing Director of Vagabond Wines, said:
“Fondue was pure joy last year – it gave guests permission to gather, indulge and have fun, and it delivered real commercial results too. We wanted to build on that energy rather than simply repeat it, so this year we’ve turned up the flavour dial. The black truffle upgrade is for people who really want to lean in and make those winter moments special. It’s a classic Vagabond move: keep the experience playful, keep it delicious, and give people a reason to come back.”
The Festive Fondue will be available from mid-October across all Vagabond bars, with pricing starting from £22 per person and a truffle upgrade available at an additional cost. Early bookings are strongly encouraged, with peak-season demand expected to surpass last year.
