Take a peek inside the ultimate beauty department store in Leeds...
Allertons is more than any one thing. It’s not just a shop. It’s not just a salon. It’s what owner Nicholas Nicola calls a ‘beauty department store’, with hairdressers, barbers, nail technicians, a GP, personal trainer, plus a boutique and a café, all under one roof. Discussing the business, Nicholas explains: “I wanted to create somewhere that combined the very best that each of the self-care industries has to offer.”
Key Facts
Name: Allertons
Address: 23 Victoria Gate, Harewood Street, Leeds, LS2 7AR
Owner: Nicholas Nicola
Size: 7,000sq ft
When did the salon open: January 2024
Staff: 45
Budget: £385,000
About the Salon Interior
When Nicholas acquired the unit, it had been a former restaurant. Everything was in-situ, from a fully fitted commercial kitchen, booth seating, about 20 bathrooms... plus everything you'd expect from a closed-down restaurant – gone-off food, rotten cooking oil, and more. Looking at it now, with its high ceilings, sleek retail displays and carefully curated lighting, you would never know the premises was once left in such disarray.
Nicholas designed Allertons alongside his partner and with the help of Wim Broekhuizen Design and Maletti, who also played a role in designing the store’s furniture – and with 22 styling stations, six barber chairs and ten backwashes, there was a lot of furniture to design. He describes the space as industrial-chic, explaining: “We have created a place that is visually stunning and impactful, while not being too masculine or too feminine, as to make everyone feel comfortable and welcome.”
The design utilises neutral yet striking colours such as black and greige to emphasise the store’s size, without taking attention away from the people or the products. Lighting also plays a key role in directing clients’ attention, with service areas fully illuminated and retail shelves benefitting from soft LED lights. The original concrete tiles were retained, providing a neutral yet durable floor, while walls were kept minimal, allowing brand packaging to pop.
Despite the space offering multiple services and room for up to 50 staff, Nicholas explains that the goal was to keep the same look and feel throughout, to make every area as appealing as the last. “We have designed the salon to appeal to everyone, specifically by not designing it to appeal to anyone in particular,” he adds.
While Allertons also has three other locations, the new Victoria Gate unit will be viewed as the brand’s flagship store. “Our new business model is so all-encompassing that we are now making plans to upgrade our other locations,” Nicholas explains. “The original vision for Victoria Gate was 'Everything for how you Live, Look and Feel', and I am confident we have finally achieved that.”
Nicholas' Top Tips
- Hire a Surveyor and Project Manager No matter how expensive they are, they will save you a lot of time, trouble and heartache.
- Don't lie to yourself Your business plan and financing need to add up before you start anything. If it doesn't, no matter how beautiful the space is, it will be doomed to fail.
- Negotiate with the landlord before signing There are more available units than there are quality retailers – always remember that.
