The modern man has come a long way since half a tub of hair gel and a splash of Joop were all that was needed to leave him feeling fly. Now he’s paying close attention to the bushiness of his brows, the smoothness of his skin and the gradation of his beard. It’s all part of a boom in male grooming that’s seen a slew of new London salons spring up in recent years, their cupboards overflowing with moisturizer and moustache wax and other pots of goop designed to make men look like they’ve just walked off a particularly hipster page of GQ magazine.
Latest to the primping party is Charles Worthington with his revamped Broadgate Club. Although not exclusively for men, the renovation of this subterranean salon in late 2013 was done with the suited and booted fellows of the neighbourhood in mind, so now it’s all clean lines, shiny surfaces and sleek fittings, with a selection of angular fringes and runaway quiffs hanging on the walls for inspiration. Throw a swanky-sounding male members club into the mix and the transformation was complete, bringing with it a fistful of speedy grooming services for chaps in a rush.
For a simple tidy up the folks at The Broadgate Club can have you in and out within a quarter of an hour, or you can stay a little longer for something more thorough – a full wash, cut and finish takes 45 minutes and will set you back between £35 and £55. There’s also a clutch of treatments for the man who likes to be pampered, including a manicure and head massage, each of which is delivered promptly but never in a hurry so that you leave feeling replenished and relaxed.
Perhaps the highlight of this salon, however, is the menu of lip-smacking nibbles handed to each customer as soon as their bum hits their seat. A small charge of £2 turns it into an all-you-can-eat affair, and with champagne, smoked salmon blinis and chocolate brownies all in the mix you won’t find it hard to get your money’s worth. Geared towards the modern man this salon may be, but that’s an offer everyone can appreciate.
Mon – Thur: 8am – 8pm Fri: 10am – 7pm Sat: 10am – 6pm Sun: 10am - 6pm