Rolls-Royce Manchester has unveiled its luxurious new showroom in the leafy South Manchester suburb of Wilmslow after extensive redesign and redevelopment, coincidentally in the same week that Henley and Partners (H&P) annual World’s Wealthiest Cities report revealed that Manchester has overtaken London in terms of growth of its millionaire population.
H&P’s report, published yesterday, revealed that, although the Northern powerhouse still lags some way behind the capital in terms of total number of millionaires – 23,400, plus 68 centi-millionaires and seven billionaires to London’s 215,700/352/33/ – it has seen growth in its millionaire population of 7% since last year’s report, compared to London’s 12% drop.
In 46th place, Manchester (including Trafford) was the only UK city outside the capital to feature in the top 50. London placed sixth, overtaken by Los Angeles this year to drop out of the top five which, in descending order, also featured Singapore, Tokyo, The Bay Area and New York in top spot.
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Right on cue, Rolls-Royce Manchester today unveiled its new showroom in its hometown, describing it as “the next step in the story of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the city of Manchester, which has a significant historical connection to the marque.”
The redesign features new visual language to resonate with a younger demographic of clients, while contemporary redesign reflects increasing demand for the marque’s high-end products.
“After extensive redevelopment, I am delighted to unveil the newly refurbished Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manchester. The northern metropolis has long been an important place for Rolls-Royce: on 4th May 1904, Charles Rolls and Henry Royce first met in the Midland Hotel, in central Manchester, and it was from this meeting that the marque’s two founding fathers laid the foundations for what would become a brand synonymous with creating ‘the best car in the world,’” said Boris Weletzky, regional director, United Kingdom, Europe, and Central Asia, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
It was at that fateful meeting that Royce and Rolls forged an agreement that Rolls would sell all the cars Royce could make, under the name Rolls-Royce, but Weletzky insisted the hi-tech new showroom would be about more than the brand’s ancient history in the city – in 2024, the dealership was honoured with the ‘Global Provenance Dealer of the Year’ award, and in 2023, its highly skilled team collaborated with the marque’s designers to create the ‘Manchester Ghost’ – an exclusive, one-of-one bespoke commission that beautifully celebrated the city’s rich legacy and heritage.
The redesigned showroom will look to the future too, he said: “The new showroom, with its wealth of innovative digital technologies and elegant, luxurious design, marks an important step for the marque and our clients. The space is the perfect embodiment of the marque, an ideal space for our highly experienced team to welcome clients, media, and friends of the brand, and brings our visual identity to life.”
The door to the new space is modelled on Rolls-Royce’s famous Pantheon grille and provides a discreet, tantalising glimpse of what lies within. The doorway is topped by the marque’s iconic figurine, the Spirit of Ecstasy.
Inside, highlights include The Cabinet of Curiosities, an eclectic mix of intriguing, timeless and iconic objects, curated to inspire creativity and spark meaningful conversations as part of the commissioning process. The pièce de résistance, the Atelier, houses some of the marque’s most exquisite examples of craftsmanship, including wood veneers, leathers, embroidery threads in a variety of vivacious hues, as well as lambswool samples.
Jon Crossley, managing director, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Manchester, added: “We are thrilled to unveil our new, state-of-the-art showroom in Manchester, an extensive redesign that perfectly reflects the luxury and craftsmanship of Rolls-Royce. As we celebrate 30 years of partnership with the marque, we’re proud to mark this milestone with a facility that matches the unparalleled excellence of the brand. Located in Wilmslow, Cheshire, this new space offers our clients an elevated experience, blending heritage with cutting-edge technology and showcases Rolls-Royce craftmanship.
“Our long-standing relationship with the team at Rolls-Royce Goodwood has always been strong, and this exciting new chapter further cements our shared commitment to providing the finest service and motor car experience. We’re looking forward to welcoming clients to this exceptional facility, and to continuing our journey with Rolls-Royce as we look to the future.”
