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Barber’s has retro jukebox at new shop
CUSTOMERS can listen to records on a vintage jukebox while being pampered at a new retro-style barbershop.
Flux & Co has relocated to larger premises on Newcastle’s High Street after previously being based in King Street in the town.
Owner Cameron Forrest, of Loggerheads, wanted to make his shop stand out and offer a different experience to other barbers.
The 24-year-old said: “I’ve always liked that retro theme and I feel like the ‘gentleman barber’ style with Chesterfield sofas and so on has been overdone.
“I wanted to do something different and not just be a bog-standard barbers. It’s a similar style to where we were before but it’s on a bigger scale now.”
Cameron took over and rebranded the salon in October last year, having worked there for two years when it was known as Embassy Homme.
But when he spotted the more spacious unit in the town centre he seized the opportunity to expand and the new shop opened less than two weeks ago.
Cameron added: “We’ve had really good feedback about the new shop. It’s only been open for less than two weeks and we have been absolutely rammed with regular clients and new faces.
“There is much better footfall in the town centre and while we were getting it ready we had people with their faces up against the window seeing what we were doing.”
The striking design choices include a 1970s-style orange sofa, dark blue walls and artwork based on hits including David Bowie’s Rebel Rebel and Blondie’s Heart of Glass.
The centrepiece is a vintage jukebox stocked with records from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, many of which originally belonged to Cameron’s mum and aunt.
But there’s nothing retro about what they offer, with deluxe beard trims and facials using hot towels proving very popular.
Cameron added: “We started offering more treatments after lockdown.
“I think people are ready for a bit of pampering after a hard 18 months.”
There are currently two barbers at Flux and Co, with Cameron offering two more chairs on a rent-a-chair basis.
■ Appointments can be booked via the Booksy website or by calling 07789 919274.