Bridlesmith Gate will soon have a new addition to the street scene as an international salon with 'top stylists' is set to open. Described as a "cutting-edge" men’s grooming salon, director, Seamus O'Keeffe, says he will be "bringing four or five top men’s stylists" with him to Nottingham.
Menspire describes itself as providing a "revolutionary transition between precision barbering and contemporary hairdressing." Adding that it offers a "fusion of technical and artistic skills with a commitment to bridge the gap between the traditional barbershop and the modern hair business".
As the firm gears up to open its branch in 37 Bridlesmith Gate, 26-year-old Seamus, who already runs the firm’s salon in Anstey, Leicester, and counts a number of Premier League footballers among his list of regular clients, said the world of men’s hairdressing had changed “100 percent”, even in the seven years he had been doing the job.
He said: “There’s a lot more individuality now. People are much more open to having something that genuinely suits them, rather than just following the crowd."
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Seamus ran his own hairdressing business in Leicester before joining the Menspire team in 2020, although he has also worked as an educator at Menspire's hairdressing academies across the world for a number of years. He said his ambition was to open a new Menspire Academy in the East Midlands, potentially in Nottingham.
The rapidly expanding high-end brand, which offers its customers individually tailored hair consultations and bespoke styling, has more than 20 branches in locations including Amsterdam, Dublin, Budapest, Watford, Aberdeen, Naples and Portland, Oregon, in the US.
Explaining the concept of the business, Seamus added: “Focusing as we do on precision barbering with diverse creativity and tailor-made client consultations to find out exactly what they want, we are confident we will go down well in Nottingham. And we just love the new buzz in Bridlesmith Gate.”
The business is understood to have agreed terms on the new 353 sq. ft. Nottingham premises and will open in the next few weeks. The deal, struck with the aid of commercial estate agent FHP, follows a move by Nottingham-based landlord ALB Group to snap up properties in the street in an effort to give it a new lease of life after many shops had gone out of business.
The decline of the once top end designer street began with demise of the Broadmarsh centre and was hampered further by the Covid pandemic, however, the area began its turnaround following ALB's purchase of 11 retail buildings and introducing "cheaper and more flexible rent agreements". With recent deals done and a vibrant artistic revamp which led some to dub it having a Carnaby Street vibe, the street is being reimagined.
ALB managing director Arran Bailey, said: “The dream to revitalise this area of my hometown with independent, specialist and high-quality businesses has been coming together nicely over the past year or so.
“To add an amazing, international brand like Menspire to the list really is icing on the cake. It’s a real coup for Nottingham.”
With this arrival, only one of the original vacant units, formerly occupied by shoe store Office and, later, by fitness store Realbuzz, remains to be filled. Oliver Marshall, associate director of Nottingham property agent FHP, said: “It’s great to see a retailer with such a strong, international brand take one of the last Bridlesmith Gate units. It’s a real reflection on the refreshing vision that Arran Bailey has brought to the city.”
Other retailers that have taken properties in Bridlesmith Gate include ladieswear boutique Stick & Ribbon, independent estate agent Pygott & Crone, craft coffee shop Barista Lab, fashion store 18Montrose and Sneakerverse.
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