HAIRDRESSERS can no longer afford to just do hair.
Many city centre salons have upped their game in recent years, offering extras such as nail treatments, eyelash extensions and even a glass of wine or three while you get your hair tended to. An appointment as basic as a fringe trim could easily turn into a head to toe pampering session.
We do look completely different to all other salons in Manchester. The one thing I’ve tried to do is create a homely feel. Everything you can see in here has a story.
Rob Czlapka, owner and director of new Adee Phelan franchise, Adee Phelan NQ is particularly keen to take his hairdressing offering way beyond the initial appointment. The whacky salon recently revealed its underground lair which features a cinema.
“I had this space downstairs and wanted to utilise it” said Rob. “Other places seem to use extra space for a gallery and that’s what we toyed with in the beginning but I still felt there’d be too much wasted space.”
Secret Cinema Club was born, filling space and exciting staff, clients and film boffs alike. The idea is to use the cinema as an educational as well as entertaining space.
Rob CzlapkaRob said: “Each quarter we’re going to put showreels on the screen for our clients. There’s not always enough time to talk to clients about all the new products during their appointments so this would be an opportunity for them to learn.”
Secret cinema club will make up the rest of time, mainly in the evenings when the space isn’t being used. Clients to the salon will get a discounted rate but the cinema will be open to anybody who fancies it.
Rob and the team are currently looking into distribution rights for them to show films but the idea is that they’ll show the trailers in a piano in the window display.
A piano?
“Yeah I’m hoping to papier-mâché a piano and then we’re going to put a TV in it to show trailers on. We’ve also just finished building the benches for the cinema and Joe and Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn have got involved too so there’ll be some really obscure flavours.”
‘Gin & Tonic’ flavoured popcorn anyone? Or perhaps ‘Madras Curry’?
Stage one of papier mache piano
Looking around the salon, you can see Rob’s off the wall eccentricity, well, all over the walls. There’s a stag’s head overlooking the entire salon, protruding from the gaudy green 70s wallpaper which couldn’t clash anymore with the flamingo adorned toilets, but somehow it all works.
“We do look completely different to all other salons in Manchester. The one thing I’ve tried to do is create a homely feel. Everything you can see in here has a story.
Flamingo toilets“The dressing table was my mum’s 21st birthday present, me and my dad built all the foot rests, the floor was sanded by us, the record player was my dad’s in the 70s. This is all now part of my family’s history. Everyone says how comfortable they feel here, and I’ve even had people say they don’t want to leave.”
The launch party for the cinema took place in August and was the first time Adee Phelan himself got to see his latest franchise (other Adee Phelan salons are in Birmingham, London and Bath). Adee Phelan is of course famous for creating David Beckham’s Mohawk hairstyle and therefore no stranger to inventiveness.
He said: “Rob’s a young lad, it’s his first business, he’s got some great clients already and we have some familiar famous faces here who have shown their support. Shop looks cool, location is really cool. This is the first salon I’ve not had an input in but I’m proud of it.”
You can take a look at the salon’s story in the pictures below...
Visit adeephelan.com/salons/northern-quarter for more information on the salon and hairdressing prices. Click here for updates on the Secret Cinema Club.
Adee And Rob
