THE BAR BARBER
Pub where you can get a back and sides to go with your short
DAILY STAR SUNDAY, March 8, 2020
A FATHER and son have made the perfect place for hair of the dog – a pub that’s also a bar-bers.
David Lala, 57, has been running The Bear boozer for 28 years.
But after their daytime trade dipped and a men’s hairdressers over the road shut down his lad John, 31, decided to cash in.
Now drinkers can come in and have a trim between pints.
Or customers can have a beer while waiting to get their hair cut.
The newly-named The
Bear Bar and Barbers, in Walton-on-Thames,
Surrey, has been doing a double roaring trade ever since.
John added: “I always wanted to be a barber from an early age and wanted to be my own boss after watching my dad in the pub.
“So when my dad offered me the chance to do this, I jumped at it.”
David said: “It sounds like a bit of a gimmick but we thought the two businesses would work well together and we would be able to employ more people.
“There was a barbershop across the road from the pub for many years until the area was redeveloped.
“I thought it was a great idea and we could combine our talents as father and son especially as the Government has relaxed the dual licensing in pubs and are trying to support them to try new things,” added David.
The barbers takes up 20% of the bar area and offers services ranging from a basic dry cut, skin fade or restyles to hot towel wet shaves.
“There are 48 coffee shops and restaurants in Walton now and the area is a little quiet,” said David.
“Many of the bigger stores in the town centre have closed. “There is not the footfall in the area so you’ve got to be diverse
to get people in.”