Luxury drinks retailer, The Whisky Shop, today (Thursday 22nd August) opened the doors to its newest store located in the heart of Manchester’s retail area.
Located at 3 Exchange Street, close to exclusive retailers Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, The Whisky Shop is designed to be luxurious, accessible and educational to whisky novices and connoisseurs, leading them on a journey of discovery and celebrating the heritage and craftsmanship of the product.
The Whisky Shop is the first retail store in the UK to provide a dedicated platform for some of the world’s most exclusive whiskies. Its flagship London store in Piccadilly which opened late last year is widely regarded by the industry as the leading specialist whisky retailer in the world.
The Manchester opening is just the latest in a series of exciting developments for the business in 2013. Following on from the opening of its flagship London store in November 2012, the retailer acquired specialist whisky store, Loch Fyne Whiskies, for an undisclosed sum in May.
The London Piccadilly store recently fought off competition from the new Burberry global flagship on Regent Street and the bespoke Christian Louboutin boutique in Selfridges to scoop a prestigious retail design award.* The Whisky Shop’s commitment to design excellence is set to continue in its Manchester store.
The store is spread over two floors, showcasing almost 600 sq ft of retail space. Featuring slate and timber flooring, glass display vitrines and a new fully-glazed shop front featuring copper signage, the store has a comfortable but luxurious feel.
Prominent space in the main retail section is given to The Whisky Shop’s key retail partners Diageo and Brown-Forman. Located up a few steps from the main retail area is The Whisky Shop Library which features an array of rare and exclusive whiskies. Situated at the top of the Library stairs are inset angel wings, in reference to whisky terminology, ‘the angels’ share’ and a signature symbol of The Whisky Shop.
Andrew Torrance, managing director of The Whisky Shop, said: “These are very exciting times for The Whisky Shop. Manchester has a fantastic retail offering and we’re delighted to be opening our newest store in this vibrant and interesting city.
“Our aim is to inform and entertain our customers. Whisky is a wonderful and diverse drink that should be enjoyed rather than revered. We look forward to bringing The Whisky Shop experience to Manchester.”
Paul Simpson, managing director of Visit Manchester, said: “The Whisky Shop’s decision to open a second flagship store in Manchester is a testament to both its retail and its food and drink offering. We are certain the brand will experience great success in the already thriving area in and around Exchange Street, and wish it all the best as a new business in the city.”
Ffion Jones, Brand Manager – Super Premium American Whiskey, UK at Brown-Forman, said: “Brown-Forman is delighted to be partnering with The Whisky Shop on the launch of its second premium flagship store in the UK, following the success of the London Piccadilly store. There is no doubt that the new Manchester store will provide an excellent platform to showcase Brown-Forman’s leading range of American Whiskey, as well as allowing us to interact with consumers in store to educate them on the growing American Whiskey category.”
Nick Temperley, Head of Diageo Reserve Great Britain, said: “I am very proud that Diageo Reserve Brands are partnering with The Whisky Shop in Manchester. The interactive and innovative retail space created will highlight the history and range of the Johnnie Walker brand and educate shoppers on the vibrancy of the malt whisky category, showcasing the range of flavours across our malt whisky brands.”
The Whisky Shop is the UK’s largest whisky only specialist retailer with 22 stores nationwide. For further information please visit www.whiskyshop.com or contact 0141 427 2977.
* The 2013 National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) Design Partnership Award for Retail
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