Plan for 'luxurious and sophisticated' gentleman's club

by Lisa Reeves

Wednesday 13^th February 2019

Wed 13^th Feb 2019

Plans have been submitted to convert an empty town centre retail unit into a drinking establishment, with 'high class' male hairdressing facilities.

Oliver Ritchie, of Salford, has applied for a change of use of 13 to 15 Alderley Road to enable him to open Oliver's Club the former Fat Face shop,

The application states "Oliver's Club combines elements from a "traditional, old-fashioned" gentleman's barbers with today's modern day male lifestyle. We aim to create a truly luxurious and sophisticated environment where we can provide a grooming experience with a difference.

"Our unique bar area provides a home for all our clients to relax in style with a beverage, prior to enjoying the range of services offered by our creative team."

Oliver's Club will be made up of three main sections: a grooming area for haircuts, beard trims, wet cut-throat shaves and facials; a bar and a VIP room for A-List and high profile clientele to enjoy any of the services along with complimentary premium beverages, authentic Cuban cigars and shoe shine.

The application continues "Providing a social space for our clients whilst offering a combination of high end services not currently being offered by any direct competitor in the East Cheshire Area. Oliver's Club will provide a sense of belonging with a hint of private members club, adding great value to the local community."

The proposed opening hours are 9am to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays and 9am to midnight on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The plans can be viewed on Cheshire East Council's planning portal, by searching for plannng reference 19/0511M. The last date for submitting comments is March 7th and a decision is expected by April 27th.

Tags:: Planning Applications

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Clive Cooksey

Wednesday 13^th February 2019 at 4:00 pm

More Gents barbers than charity shops at this rate!!

Barry Buxton

Wednesday 13^th February 2019 at 4:01 pm

I wasn't aware that a Salford base provided the know-how to understand what the "high class male" (whatever that is) requires! Is it really going to be closed for the whole of Monday to Thursday? I hope Oliver Ritchie has money to burn because this has failure written all over it.

John Truman

Wednesday 13^th February 2019 at 4:02 pm

Taking over the old " Face Face " shop seems the ideal premises for a barbers with shaving palour .....

Deleted Account False Name

Wednesday 13^th February 2019 at 4:10 pm

Ok..... I'm interested to see how many men need to drink whilst getting a haircut. Really. For science and stuff.

Wednesday 13^th February 2019 at 4:19 pm

'VIP room for A-List and high profile clientele'....pretentious or what? Who do think they are?

Ella G

Wednesday 13^th February 2019 at 4:33 pm

Rather sounds like a C19th proposal... Complete with Cuban cigars?! Blatantly flouting the smoking laws too....

Chris Hayes

Wednesday 13^th February 2019 at 5:43 pm

Are they going to have high end hostesses too?

Diane Walker

Wednesday 13^th February 2019 at 6:02 pm

This is a joke isn't it?? For a start it's sexist so illegal surely? And the opening days? I agree, failure written all over it!

Lynne Fowler

Wednesday 13^th February 2019 at 6:03 pm

'Oliver's Club will provide a sense of belonging, with a hint of private members club, adding great value to the community' - this all sounds very pretentious and, well, outdated in the worst possible way. Clearly he is aiming at a rather old-fashioned 'gent's club' atmosphere, a bit exclusive, probably at twice the price of other barbers, to keep the riff-raff out, on the back of the current trend for barbering and beards. I don't see what 'value' it will be adding to the community, since he is pitching the business at a very small target group, for just a few hours every week!

Peter Evans

Wednesday 13^th February 2019 at 8:47 pm

Ha ha, it's 1st April. Will never see the light of day

Richard Kaberry

Thursday 14^th February 2019 at 8:25 am

The planning application form (para 18) states that this will generate 2 new jobs. Hard to see how this fits with the receptionists, barbers, and bar staff they claim would be there.

Wendy Falk

Thursday 14^th February 2019 at 10:40 am

'opening hours are 9am to 3am on Fridays and Saturdays' sounds more like an undercover sex shop to me... When does a barbers stay open until 3am unless they're 'selling' more behind the scenes than they are promoting?!?

John Bowden

Thursday 14^th February 2019 at 10:58 am

Nothing 'Sophisticated' about pretension. I wonder who might be lucky enough to be considered a VIP? Ex-Corrie actors? Reality show 'stars'?
I give it 6 months!

Anna Meadmore

Thursday 14^th February 2019 at 11:09 am

It is indeed difficult to reconcile "high profile", "A list clientele" and "private members' club" with value to the community. This hype comes in the same category as that seen on a van in Wilmslow promoting "celebrity references" for "aspirational carpets." The new cinema and post office are much more exciting!

Matt Jones

Thursday 14^th February 2019 at 1:23 pm

This sounds extremely “Chavy” there’s something reminiscent of the “gentleman’s” club that used to be on Grove street about this. Which in reality was a drug dridden, lap dancing bar.

And who are we classing as “A list” footballers and the odd soap actor?

David Pearce

Thursday 14^th February 2019 at 1:34 pm

Seems like we're going to get adult grooming with a twist!

Friday 15^th February 2019 at 11:44 am

(It's the twist that will cost you! •chortle•)

Simon Worthington

Friday 15^th February 2019 at 2:54 pm

Presumably a selection of hunting jackets, smoking jackets, blazers, silk pyjamas, fly fishing gear, humidors, caviar, smoked salmon, truffles, etc. will be available.

Friday 15^th February 2019 at 7:55 pm

Simon Worthington.. ooh I do hope so! Lol

I’m realisty though I think this is a Knocking shop maskerading

Geoff Shelmerdine

Saturday 16^th February 2019 at 8:39 am

So, let the premises remain empty and add to the decline of the Wilmslow high street. Support those independents in your town or watch its death toll. Here is somebody's dream to open his own business, he is investing a considerable amount of his hard earned cash in your town and this is how you treat him even before planning has been granted !!!
Perhaps those who mock would prefer more 'D' list celebrities to open up more candle shops instead.
I am a customer of Oliver, he is a gentleman and a professional who works in Manchester, Hale and Liverpool and has a supportive client base and know doubt some will follow him to support his new venture.
I wish him every succes in his new venture, only time will tell whether his research into location and concept proves to be a winner for him but give him a chance, Wilmslow is ready for something new and exciting - support him.

Jon Williams

Saturday 16^th February 2019 at 9:56 am

"authentic Cuban cigars" To take out I take it.
A smoking ban in England, making it illegal to smoke in all enclosed work places in England, came into force on 1 July 2007 as a consequence of the Health Act 2006.

Monday 18^th February 2019 at 9:24 am

In Mr Shelmerdine's comments (and all good debates need two sides of the argument) he mentions Mr Ritchie's research into the location and concept. This is part of the challenge people have, in that they need to understand what Wilmslow really is, as opposed to their perception of the town. The high profile, A list clientele, prepared to be out until the small hours, make up a tiny proportion, and Wilmslow is actually like most other towns, with its share of pot holes and food banks, traffic jams and parking problems. We have a Lidl as well as a Waitrose, people support their children, the community, the local hospices, the schools and the churches. Wilmslow will always welcome and support any venture which benefits the greatest number of people, and gives the town something it needs. Any investor will also do well to consider the language used in the application, so that they do not open themselves to ridicule and mockery, as Mr Shelmerdine describes. The market and the cinema, open and interesting to all, have been a great success.

Pete Taylor

Monday 18^th February 2019 at 3:46 pm

"The True Gentleman is the man whose conduct proceeds from good will and an acute sense of propriety, and whose self control is equal to all emergencies; who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity; who is himself humbled if necessity compels him to humble another; who does not flatter wealth, cringe before power, or boast of his own possessions or achievements; who speaks with frankness but always with sincerity and sympathy; whose deed follows his word; who thinks of the rights and feelings of others rather than his own; and who appears well in any company, a man with whom honor is sacred and virtue safe."

Richard Slater

Tuesday 19^th February 2019 at 1:22 pm

Is this like an upmarket Costa the Barbers? He had billionaire clients but Hawthorn Street was fine for them!

Steve Savage

Wednesday 20^th February 2019 at 8:51 am

Sounds like a cash laundrette to me......

Oliver Romain

Sunday 3^rd March 2019 at 7:48 am

WARNING: Make no mistake this is a late night bar with barbers not a barbers with late night bar. The applicant has fluffed the original opening hours and has now revised them. It will be serving drinks until midnight five days a week and open until three in the morning on Friday and Saturday.
Once change of use to late night bar has been approved the barbers element could drop away.
Residents need to think of this application as a late night drinking establishment and decide if that is what is needed on this road.
The application also includes installation of unsightly shutters. What with all the late night bars they will be needed!
Lisa I think the article needs revising to reflect the revised opening hours and main thrust of the application which is drinking establishment.