Barber to City Ground stars ‘privileged’ to work near stadium
HE DOESN’T THINK CLUB RELOCATION WILL HAPPEN: ‘IT JUST SEEMS SILLY’
A BARBER to the Nottingham Forest stars says he feels “privileged” to work in the shadow of the City Ground after reports that the club could be forced to relocate.
Shops, bars, restaurants and takeaways near the home of the Reds make much of their proximity to the stadium – perhaps none more so than the No. 9 Barbers. The shop unveiled a revamp in July 2022, a couple of months after Forest secured their return to the top flight of English football. Features include a waiting area designed to resemble the City Ground dugout.
Reports that Forest may scrap their multi-million-pound revamp of the City Ground – and even leave the stadium altogether – have therefore come as a blow to the business.
Owner Elliott Marzink, 50, said: “Since going up in the Premier League, this area has just had a buzz about it because there are a lot more tourists.
“We even had a family from New York in recently who were here just for the weekend and they’d booked with us, because they’d seen we have the association with the players and the club.”
Those to have enjoyed the services of the barbershop have ranged from striker Taiwo Awoniyi to former owner Fawaz Al Hasawi.
Mr Marzink was speaking after Nottingham City Council confirmed that talks on extending Forest’s City Ground lease had stalled. The council owns the land the ground sits on and the Reds have played there since 1898.
The council says it has been in talks with Forest about its future at the stadium, with options including retaining the current lease, negotiating a new one or selling the freehold on a permanent basis.
A 2019 deal did not progress as the council claimed it did not meet its duty to achieve best value for taxpayers. The council has now employed specialist agents to advise on the matter.
Despite the uncertainty, Mr Marzink said: “I don’t think it will happen. I think the council will come to something reasonable because it just seems silly to go and build another stadium when there’s this ground here with so much history.
“I feel privileged every day to drive to work over Trent Bridge and we’ve been thriving as a business since we themed the shop around the club. Even today we’ve got the replay of the Man United game running on loop and I talk about Forest every single day.
“As far as businesses around here are concerned, it’ll really affect the food shops, the bars, the restaurants.”
Councillor Ben Bradley, Nottinghamshire County Council’s leader, has pledged support if the lack of progress persists.
Councillor Bradley said: “As a Forest fan I want the club to thrive in the Premier League, and for that to benefit the whole city for years to come... They need a bigger stadium. [It] goes without saying that the county council and myself will do whatever we can to help the club to invest in our area, and to make the club a success.
“It’s a huge part of Nottingham and Rushcliffe’s economy, history and community. I hope they can make an agreement work. If not, I will work with them to ensure they can make something else work here.”
A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council previously said: “The council remains committed to further negotiations to find the best way forward and has offered to continue dialogue. We understand Forest’s need for a swift resolution and their ambition for expansion which will bring benefit to the area, and will work with them on a solution which meets their aims and our statutory responsibilities.”