Steve's Barbers, Ellesmere Port celebrate 20 years in business

Stephen Davenport, from Liverpool, took over Steve's Barbers on Vale Road in Whitby, on September 25 2003.

In 1940, 83 years ago, the barbershop was opened by Jim Percival, and Jim's son, Bob Percival took it over from his dad when he retired.

Stephen served as a slater tiler in Liverpool, and after the 1980s recession, he got a job with Co-Op insurance.

Speaking to the Globe, he said: "I was quite good at talking and I then got promoted to the Chester office. 

"Bob called me in to talk about his retirement in two years and I wanted to change my occupation so I said to him 'I'm quite good with my hands how long does it take to learn' and it was agreed I would take the business over."

Steve's Barbers (Image: Steve's Barbers)

Opening Steve's Barbers

Stephen attended West Cheshire College and trained to be a barber before taking the shop over and re-naming it Steve's Barbers.

The 60-year-old added: "At that time there were four barbers in the area, now in 2023, there are 20."

As Stephen celebrates 20 years of his barbershop, he described it as a "traditional British barbershop."

"It’s a very traditional British barbershop, there are not many of us left", he said.

"My highlight has been having so many customers have turned into brilliant friends, they walk in and we chat and I know all the family.

"I cut three generations of hair, and the Ellesmere Port area has such a good community which I'm glad I've been a part of.

"We cut tiny babies hair well up to people in their 90s, and I've developed such good relationships with people."

At Steve's Barbers, there is a Marvel Room for children who are "scared of getting haircuts" or have special needs.

The Marvel Room (Image: Steve's Barbers)

There is also a back area with football nets and astro-turf for children to play on when they are waiting for their haircut.

Stephen and his team of three other workers are all local to Ellesmere Port.

To celebrate 20 years, Stephen said he and his team "just carried on making the people of Ellesmere Port looking beautiful".

To find out more about Steve's Barbers, click here.