Since opening in Rope Walk in 2012 Rye Barbers has been a thorough success and, having outgrown its original premises, owner Steve Lemon’s business has now moved to larger premises at 40 Cinque Ports Street. The new salon looks sleek, modern and stylish, a tribute to the multi-talented Lemon who did 90% of the refurbishment work himself.
Not content with finding a bigger and better salon Lemon wants to make getting a haircut more of an attraction than a chore. There is now coffee on sale at £1.50 a cup, a large screen to watch the footie, and papers and magazines to read if you have to wait. This fits in with Lemon’s plans to make the salon more of a social and community space whose appeal should stretch to those who don’t need a haircut. In summer there will be tables and chairs outside, and Lemon is introducing a special weekend deal where ‘Haircut and wash’ clients will get a complimentary beverage eg a bottle of lager. And there are plans for a VIP package of a combined haircut, beard trim and complimentary glass of fizz – ideal for wedding parties.
With an eye to the future Lemon has a new apprentice lined up, who happens to be his son Joe. With his forward vision Lemon’s enterprise deserves to go from strength to strength. He puts in the hours, too: he’s open seven days a week and takes a small break between noon and 12:30 for lunch.