Esquire UK

Esquire UK is the British edition of the Esquire men's magazine brand. Its first edition appeared in spring or summer 1991, establishing a UK publication aimed at readers interested in fashion, culture, design, food, business, technology and the arts. The magazine was originally published by the National Magazine Company, which became part of Hearst's UK magazine operation after a 2011 merger and was subsequently known as Hearst Magazines UK. The title positioned itself toward an affluent and culturally engaged male readership. Its editorial proposition was closer to an upscale lifestyle and general-interest magazine than to the more youth-oriented "lad" magazines that were prominent in the British market during the 1990s and 2000s. It also occupied a competitive space alongside titles such as GQ, while seeking a more mature and editorially substantial tone. Coverage has traditionally combined service journalism with long-form interviews, profiles, fashion and grooming, luxury design, food, travel-related lifestyle material, business, technology, music and books. A visible part of Esquire UK's identity has been its use of high-profile cover subjects. The first cover star was Brigitte Bardot, and later covers featured personalities including Katy Perry, Rachel Weisz, Jeff Bridges, Jake Gyllenhaal and Dizzee Rascal. The publication has therefore used a mixture of film, music and cultural figures to connect its editorial themes with popular culture and premium fashion imagery. The magazine's frequency and physical format have changed over time. It began as a monthly title. In 2019, it underwent a substantial redesign that reduced its schedule to six issues per year while increasing the physical size, page count and paper quality. In 2021, the July/August issue was identified as the final bi-monthly edition before the title moved to a quarterly schedule. These changes reflected an emphasis on a more premium print product rather than a high-volume monthly cadence. In 2025, under editor Teo van den Broeke, Esquire UK received another major rebrand. The relaunch increased the schedule to six issues annually and introduced the editorial ethos "For Better Men." The new positioning continued the brand's interest in style and culture while presenting the magazine as a broader guide to contemporary masculinity, personal development and responsible engagement with the world. Its current operation combines the print magazine with the Esquire UK digital platform, extending the brand's editorial coverage beyond the physical issue.

Esquire UK began publication in 1991 as the British edition of the established Esquire magazine brand. The launch gave the UK market a men's title combining fashion, culture and lifestyle journalism with a more mature editorial sensibility. Rather than following the highly youth-oriented model associated with British lad magazines, the publication sought to address men interested in style, design, food, business, technology, music and books. Its intended readership was relatively affluent and culturally engaged, and its positioning placed it in the same broad premium market as GQ while maintaining a distinct Esquire identity. The publication was initially associated with the National Magazine Company. In 2011, following a merger, that company became known as Hearst Magazines UK and operated as part of the US-based Hearst Corporation's magazine business. The corporate transition did not change the title's basic editorial role, but placed the UK edition within a larger international publishing group with access to shared media, commercial and digital capabilities. Esquire UK's cover strategy has consistently linked the magazine to prominent figures from entertainment and culture. Brigitte Bardot appeared on the first cover, while later cover subjects included actors, musicians and other celebrities such as Katy Perry, Rachel Weisz, Jeff Bridges, Jake Gyllenhaal and Dizzee Rascal. These covers supported the magazine's combination of premium visual presentation, personality-driven journalism and lifestyle recommendations. For much of its early history, Esquire UK was published monthly. The title later moved toward a more premium print model. A significant redesign in 2019 reduced the frequency to six issues annually while enlarging the magazine, increasing the page count and using higher-quality paper. The change emphasized collectability and depth of content over a rapid monthly cycle. In 2021, the July/August issue marked the end of the bi-monthly format, after which the title adopted quarterly publication. Editorial leadership changed several times across the magazine's history. Alex Finer served as editor around the launch period, followed by Rosie Boycott, Peter Howarth, Simon Tiffin, Jeremy Langmead and Alex Bilmes. Bilmes edited the magazine from 2011 to 2025, a period that included the transition into Hearst Magazines UK's current corporate structure and the substantial print redesign. Teo van den Broeke became editor in 2025. The 2025 rebrand represented another important strategic shift. Esquire UK increased its frequency from quarterly publication to six issues per year and adopted the ethos "For Better Men." The relaunch retained the title's established strengths in fashion, grooming, culture and premium lifestyle journalism while presenting a broader interpretation of modern masculinity. The brand now operates across print and digital channels, with the website extending its editorial coverage and enabling more timely publishing than the magazine's periodic print schedule.

1. 2025Rebrand and return to six issues per year

   Under Teo van den Broeke, Esquire UK relaunched with the "For Better Men" ethos and increased its print frequency to six issues annually.

   Source
2. 2021Quarterly publication begins

   The July/August 2021 issue was the final bi-monthly edition before the magazine moved to a quarterly schedule.

   Source
3. 2019Major print redesign

   Esquire UK reduced its publication schedule to six issues annually and introduced a larger format, more pages and higher-quality paper.

   Source
4. 2011National Magazine Company becomes Hearst Magazines UK

   Following a merger, the title's original publishing company was renamed Hearst Magazines UK and continued as part of Hearst's magazine group.

   Source
5. 1991First UK edition published

   The first British edition of Esquire was published in spring or summer 1991, beginning the title's UK history.

   Source

A premium, culturally focused men's lifestyle publication for an adult and affluent readership, positioned between fashion and luxury media, general-interest journalism and contemporary men's culture.

• Esquire UK print magazinePrint magazine1991

  The core print product is a premium men's lifestyle magazine covering style, grooming, culture, design, food, business, technology, music and books. Its format and publishing frequency have changed over time, including a larger, higher-production-value format introduced during the 2019 redesign and a later return to six issues annually in 2025.

• Esquire UK digital platformDigital media

  The UK website extends the magazine brand into digital publishing. It provides online editorial coverage related to men's style, culture, entertainment, food, design, business and technology, allowing the brand to publish beyond the periodic print issue.

• 2025For Better Men

  United Kingdom

  The 2025 rebrand introduced "For Better Men" as Esquire UK's new editorial ethos, supporting a broader interpretation of contemporary men's lifestyle and identity.

  Outcome. The brand returned to a six-issue annual schedule and continued under editor Teo van den Broeke.

  Source

• 2025Rebrand and increase in print frequencyStrategy

  The publication refreshed its brand under new editor Teo van den Broeke.

  What changed. It introduced the "For Better Men" ethos and increased publication from quarterly to six issues per year.

  Aftermath. The relaunch strengthened the title's emphasis on contemporary men's culture, style and broader lifestyle journalism.

  Source
• 2021Move to quarterly publicationStrategy

  After the 2019 frequency and format changes, the title further revised its print schedule.

  What changed. Following the July/August 2021 issue, Esquire UK switched from bi-monthly publication to a quarterly schedule.

  Aftermath. The magazine operated as a quarterly title until the 2025 rebrand.

  Source
• 2019Shift to a larger, lower-frequency print formatStrategy

  The magazine revised its print proposition during a major redesign.

  What changed. It reduced publication to six issues per year while increasing the physical size, page count and paper quality.

  Aftermath. The change established a more premium print model and preceded a later move to quarterly publication.

  Source

• 2025Esquire UK rebrands under the "For Better Men" ethos

  Under editor Teo van den Broeke, the title was relaunched with a new brand proposition and a return to six issues per year.

  CampaignLeadership change
  Source
• 2021Esquire UK moves from a bi-monthly schedule to quarterly publication

  The July/August 2021 issue was the final issue under the bi-monthly schedule before the title moved to quarterly publication.

  Other
  Source
• 2019Esquire UK launches a major print redesign and reduces frequency

  The magazine underwent a major revamp, moving from a monthly schedule to six issues per year and adopting a larger format, more pages and higher-quality paper.

  Other
  Source

1. Esquire (UK Edition)
2. Esquire UK