Oasis, City and United, Boddingtons, The Whitworth… Manchester is home to many iconic names linked to culture and creativity. It’s no wonder, then, that Audemars Piguet chose this city for the second of its UK Houses, which opened earlier this year on luxury shopping thoroughfare King Street.
The AP House project, conceived in 2017, has expanded to 24 global locations, from Amsterdam to Shanghai, and London, which opened in 2019. To say these brand showcases are simply retail and hospitality hybrids is not the full story, instead customers can explore the AP universe while relaxing and learning in a beautiful residential environment that offers top-class dining and indulgent entertainment. These spaces are where you can fully immerse yourself in the world of AP, while sharing your passion with others.
‘The concept was inspired by the vision of our founders, Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet,’ explains Daniel Compton, UK general manager. ‘We wanted to answer the question: ‘How would they cater to customers if they were living in the 21st century?’ So we created sophisticated spaces that feel like home, where guests can unwind and connect with the brand on a deeper level.’
What's everyone reading?
The new AP House on King Street is impressive. Its proportions, its impact, and the way it holds its own at the heart of the city’s premium shopping district speak to the building’s heritage. A three-storey Georgian townhouse, the Grade II-listed building is said to be the longest surviving on the street, illustrating the neighbourhood’s evolution from a domestic suburb to today’s commercial centre.
Entering the 701-square-metre space is like opening a box of delights. You’re ushered past a laser-cut grill of tiny AP logos into the reception where the welcome desk appears as indigenous rock emerging through the formal wooden flooring. In fact, it looks as if it’s carved from the valleys of the spectacular Jura mountains that overlook AP’s Swiss headquarters.
Look up and you’ll notice gently glowing, almost ethereal leaves made from bronze mesh floating below the ceiling. These delicate elements are an artistic salute to Manchester’s past, inspired by the city’s native black poplars, the only trees to survive the pollution of the Industrial Revolution and, thus, a symbol of resilience.
Beyond, in the main lounge and retail space, you’ll find AP timepieces in wall-mounted, honeycomb-shaped watch cellars, the shape a subtle nod to Manchester’s universal worker bee motif, symbolic of the city’s industrious spirit.
If the ground level showcases the brand’s expertise, the upper floors focus on entertainment. Access is via a staircase clad in patinated brass, a material seen throughout in stylish portals leading into each room. Leaning into the sense of locale further, the first floor is home to the music room, a tribute to Factory Records, the label behind the ‘Madchester’ scene of the late 1980s. The walls are covered in records and more line the shelves nearby, ready to be played on the room’s turntable.
Next door serves as a dining space with a mammoth table made by sustainable wood company Goldfinch. At the back of the room is a bar, where guests can enjoy a pint of AP’s very own draft beer. More hints to local pub culture are found in the games room a floor above, which also boasts a rooftop terrace with skyline views.
Innovative and as refreshing as a glass of that beer, Compton sums up the brand’s approach: ‘Blending retail and hospitality means putting our customers and watchmaking at the heart of all we do, and connecting with them in a unique way. We set out to create a functional house, a space meant to be lived in, where guests can feel completely at ease.’
AP House Manchester is at 35 King Street. Visit Audemars Piguet for more
