Esquire UK

Esquire UK launched in Spring 1991 as the British edition of the American men's magazine, originally published by the National Magazine Company (later folded into Hearst Magazines UK in 2011). The first cover featured Brigitte Bardot, setting a sophisticated tone that set it apart from the lad mag explosion of the 1990s. Over the decades, the magazine has covered luxury design, food, business, technology, fashion, music, and books, with cover stars ranging from Jeff Bridges and Jake Gyllenhaal to Dizzee Rascal.

The print schedule has shifted several times: monthly until 2019, then six issues a year, then quarterly from 2021, before a 2025 relaunch under editor Teo van den Broeke brought it back to bimonthly with a redesigned logo, upgraded paper stock, and the new ethos "For Better Men." Digital operations at esquire.com/uk include daily articles, video content, and shopping guides, while live events such as the annual Esquire Townhouse and Esquire Awards extend the brand offline.

Esquire UK competes directly with GQ in the style and culture space, as well as with luxury lifestyle titles like The Rake and Mr Porter. Its market position is niche and upscale, targeting affluent male readers aged 25–55. The 2025 relaunch signals a renewed push to differentiate through quality journalism and cultural authority rather than celebrity-driven trends.[edit]