A Stanningley barber whose premises were badly damaged when a drunk driver ploughed into it has opened its doors again after a ten-month rebuild and refurbishment.
Phil Townend, who founded Philip Nicholas barbers eight years ago, is welcoming customers back to his premises on Bradford Road, Stanningley Bottom.
Mr Townend said:
“It’s been ten long months since the accident. We’d only been open six weeks after the third lockdown when the car went through our shop frontage in June 2021. The damage was extensive, the ceiling had to be propped up and the collision also took out two internal walls.”
Following the horror smash, nearby business owner Steven Lightfoot, from Pudsey Computers, started a JustGiving appeal for the two businesses housed in the premises – Philip Nicholas barbers and Creating Utopia tattoo studio – which raised more than £3,000. Mr Townend added:
“The money raised made a huge difference and allowed us to get through those first few challenging weeks, where we didn’t know if the business could survive.
“Madison Offices on Richardshaw Road in Pudsey offered us a space for free for the first few weeks and we were there for ten months! We are so grateful to them, and to Steven, for what they did, coming to our rescue in our hour of need.”
Mr Toiwnend and his team offer a wide range of barbering services including skin fades, longer hair, head shaves, beard trims, hot towel shaves and male grooming.
“We are so excited to be back in our barbers’ shop,” he added. “It’s been fully reconfigured and has a totally different look and feel. It will take our clients’ experience of the barber shop to another level. We’re looking forward to welcoming customers, old and new, back to our rightful place.”
Police and crews from Stanningley, Bradford and Cleckheaton fire stations were called to the incident when a black Audi crashed into the shops in the early hours of the morning on June 17 last year.