“We want people to come in and feel part of the team ” says Harley, owner of the new inclusive barbers, ALTR which opened on Brook street in mid January.

Harley has been cutting hair for 13 years and moved to Chester 4 years ago. Team members Mel and Dan have both been cutting hair in Chester for some years. ” We all had our own customer bases and I felt that I wanted to do my own thing. The whole ethos of the business is that we want to support as many local businesses as we can . Our coffee we get from Ginger Monkey Roasteries, all our printing is done by Sans Studios. All the artwork is from local artists, we want to be part of the community, anything we can get locally we will get locally. The business also offers a student discount.

“Originally I was going to call it “Alter” as in “alter your hair”. My friend thought I meant “Altar” as in a church, so I thought it would be cool to drop the “a” and the “e” and it works both ways.”

“I love Brook street. When I first moved to Chester it was one of my favourite places, the shop used to be my mates tattoo shop so I was down here quite a lot. We’d drink in The Cottage, get food on the street, its got a personality all of its own. We have good mates here. ”

Having previously worked in the city centre, Harley was waiting for the right time and location to open his own shop. “Its been really busy, most of our customers have come with us, but we have had a lot of walk ins and passing trade. ”

A frequent moan by Cestrians is that there are “too many” barbers in the city but Harley disagrees: “I think theres a lot of different style of barbering! Its not just one type of shop for one person. The type of person we cater for will be different from that other barbers on the street will. I think theres enough people to go around in Chester and its only getting busier. The styles we do are very different, we are more of a modern style barbers with creative cuts. Its inclusive as well.

“We take our time, we offer all the traditional services but its not an in and out 5 minute job, its more of an experience we go for. I think with the traditional days of being a barber shop, where only men go in, I don’t think the time are like that any more. As far as I’m concerned hair doesn’t have a gender. If its a style I’m capable of doing I am more than happy to do it and I want whoever comes in to feel welcome regardless of their gender identity. I want everyone that comes in to feel welcome and get provided the same level of service. I have got several customers who are non binary and trans gender and we provide an environment for people to feel safe. “

ALTR are at 61 Brook Street