British spectacle maker Cubitts hits the Norther Quarter as it opens doors to first Manchester store
Cubitts has today announced the opening of its first Manchester store, at 16 Smithfield Buildings on Hilton Street in the Northern Quarter. This becomes the British spectacle maker’s 21st store worldwide and 19th in the UK, following the recent opening of The Yard, its new headquarters and optical manufactory in King’s Cross, London.
The Manchester location occupies part of the former Affleck & Brown department store. Established in the 1860s, the business grew from a drapery on Oldham St to occupy the full block between Oldham St, Church St, Tib St and Hilton St, becoming known as the “Harrods of the North”. For more than a century, the building sold cloth by the yard, made garments to measure and served generations of Mancunians.
Designed in partnership with Manchester-based studio YOUTH, the store has been conceived as a working optician first and a quiet reflection of the city around it second. It includes a dedicated repairs desk, an optometric room, a bespoke consultation area and display space for 72 optical frames and sunglasses.
“We’ve been looking for the right home in Manchester for almost a decade. We wanted to be in the Northern Quarter, but only if we could find a building with the history and character to justify our arrival,” says Tom Broughton, Founder at Cubitts. “Smithfield Buildings felt immediately right: a spectacle shop inside a former draper’s department store, in a neighbourhood shaped by making, music and independent trade.”
“Manchester does not need another London brand telling it how interesting it is. We’re simply pleased to finally be here, and hope to make ourselves useful. It was important that Cubitts Manchester was designed in Manchester, and not just deposited here. YOUTH understood how to make the space feel distinctly Cubitts without resorting to the usual Manchester shorthand. The result is thoughtful, industrial and warm, with references to the city embedded in its materials, objects and music rather than announced from the walls.”
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Physical stores will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
