Stockton Heath stylists are celebrating after scooping a national hair and beauty award less than 12 months after they opened their doors.

Talented members of staff at BRHAIVE were also highly recommended in several of the categories they were nominated in at the UK Hair and Beauty Awards at the end of March.

Leanne Bartlett opened the salon on London Road in July last year at the end of the first national lockdown offering a new ‘self care’ approach to hair and beauty.

BRHAIVE, which is pronounced brave, was extensively refurbished and provides a warm, welcoming space for clients, focusing on not only making people look good but feel good too.

At the virtual awards ceremony, the business scooped the top award for best branding – a category that they weren’t actually nominated for but they caught the attention of the judging panel and were chosen as the overall winners.

BRHAIVE was second in best social media coverage, stylist Mia Rawlinson came second in the best for blonde category and Leanne came 23rd in the UK’s top 50 entrepreneurs of the year.

Stylists Bethany Lynskey and Hannah Brown were also shortlisted finalists out of thousands of applicants and beautician Lucy Entwistle made it to the finals. 

Leanne said: “We never actually celebrated our official opening last July so we’re hoping to do something special in the summer for our first birthday and celebrate the awards at the same time.

“I’ve applied for so many awards over the years and not heard anything so just being nominated in so many categories this year was fantastic.

“Winning is just the icing on the cake!”

The salon was only open for business for four months having been closed under Covid-19 lockdown restrictions but they are looking forward to Monday, April 12 when government guidance allows all non-essential businesses to reopen.

Leanne said: “We aren’t an essential service and have had to remain closed but we can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the salon next week.

“Looking good and feeling good are crucial to good mental wellbeing and it’s something that we’ve all missed over the past few months.”