Vinyl, darts, and design: how Audemars Piguet reimagined the watch boutique for Manchester

The traditional watch boutique tends to present its wares in vitrines and on velvet cushions. Audemars Piguet, however, has been reimagining the setting as a luxurious immersive experience, creating convivial spaces in the likes of Amsterdam, New York, Tokyo and Zurich. At these AP Houses, the Swiss manufacturer’s chronographs and grand complications are showcased against a harmonious backdrop of art, design, music and cocktails.

The latest AP House – a double-fronted Georgian townhouse on Manchester’s King Street – is the brand’s second in the UK. The sensitively renovated, Grade II-listed property presents a clean, minimalist counterpart to the watches’ complex architectural codes, while curated details, objets and motifs reflect the history and culture of the northern city.

In the lobby, clad in Vallée de Joux limestone, an installation by silversmith artist Michelle McKinney pays homage to the black poplar (known locally as the Manchester poplar), as well as to the worker bee (a well-known symbol of the city, representing its industrial past and the hard-working spirit of its people) – it’s referenced in the hexagonal, honeycomb-like configuration of the watch display cases.

On the first floor, Factory Records artwork nods to Manchester’s reputation as a hotbed of musical talent, while a John Mayer and Paul Reed Smith ‘Silver Sky’ guitar alludes to Mayer’s long-term association with the brand.

The well-stocked bar, including craft beer on tap, will fuel competition in a games room that recreates the amusements of a classic northern pub via a luxury shove ha’penny table and dartboard, while a brace of DJ-grade turntables and a selection of 12-inches are available for spontaneous, Haçienda-style sessions.

So drop in, sip a beer, listen to some tunes and get lost in the world of Royal Oak Offshores and Perpetual Calendars.

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