Manchester’s fashion elite blown away by UK’s first Champagne blowout bar

Dawn Ward at Blowout Kate London

Manchester’s fashion elite were out in force for the VIP launch of the UK’s first Champagne blowout bar last night.

Real Housewives of Cheshire star Dawn Ward and her daughters Taylor and Darby were among the first to get a glimpse of the brand new Blowout Kate London which opened in the fast-expanding district of Spinningfields.

Her co-star, Nermina Pieters-Mekic, model Danielle Lloyd and Love Island’s Katie Salmon, were also treated to an exclusive preview of the venue.

Style sisters Ellie and Daisy O’Donnell also enjoyed cocktails and canapes.

Owner Katie Nixon welcomed the celebrities to her first blowout bar, which is the first of its kind in Britain, although she revealed plans for a Liverpool salon in January 2019, followed by Leeds, Newcastle and possibly Birmingham in 2020.

Londoner Katie explained how the concept of the ‘blowout bar’ evolved while unveiling her ambitious plans for the brand.

Former creative director for Portobello fashion market Katie fell in love with the idea of ‘blowout bars’ during a trip to America.

She said: “Blowout bars are blow-dry only bars which originated in the States – so there’s no upsell or hidden agenda – just a simple, amazing blowdry.

“As a blow-dry addict I loved the concept and so I left my job in London and spent a year in New York trying out nearly every single one.”

After carrying out extensive market research Katie decided to launch her first venture in Manchester, which she felt was the ideal home to start her branch of Blowout Kate London.

Kate revealed: “Manchester is ever-changing and really thriving with a booming property market and is the birthplace of many emerging fashion brands.”

Katie is confident that the style-conscious women of Manchester will love her new blowdry bar.

But, she said, this is no ordinary salon: “It’s beautiful inside, like a high-end Champagne bar.

“Ladies can sit at the bar and enjoy a glass of bubbles while they browse through my look book.

“The look book features five of my signature styles, all named after Champagne cocktails.

“There is something for everyone. They can choose from the Classic Blowout, which is sleek and straight with plenty of volume, to the sultry waves of the French 75, or get festival-ready at the Braid Bar.

“High-powered businesswomen will love the Black Velvet – just perfect for a power meeting,” she said.

Instead of the usual salon chairs with mirrors facing, clients sit at the bar quaffing their champers and don’t get to see their newly-blown hair until the end when the stylist performs the ‘big reveal’.

Kate aims for every woman to be able to enjoy the experience which she describes as an “affordable luxury”.

Prices start from £30 for a blowdry and a glass of fizz, and there’s a monthly tab for serious blowout addicts which includes four blowdries a month and a free birthday blowout.

Customers can pre-book appointments or walk up and book in with one of a team of front-of-house assistants who will also be responsible for washing hair and serving drinks at the bar.

With her first few weeks fully booked, Katie’s blowdry bar looks set to be a huge hit in Manchester and the 27-year-old entrepreneur said she is hungry for her brand to be established in every Northern city within three years.

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