Benjamin Nicholas is a business of two halves – on one side you can get your haircut, and on the other you can sit back and relax with a coffee or a drink!
The new business on Bank Street houses a men’s barbershop alongside a coffee house and fully licensed bar where everybody is welcome. And with live music, DJs and luxury pampering services in the pipeline, Benjamin Nicholas is all set to be the next ‘go to’ hot-spot in town.
The new destination in town for haircuts, cocktails and coffees is the brainchild of local man Ben Nicholas, who during the Covid-19 lockdown made the “game-changing’ decision to make a career change and open a new business.
“Lockdown was a game-changer for me,” said Ben speaking to Melksham News. “Prior to lockdown I was a stonemason, and I had my own stonemasonry company – but I knew that there wasn’t going to be a lot of work for me to go back to.
“Like everyone, lockdown gave me plenty of time to think and I made the decision to go back to hairstyling – I have always been passionate about hair and fashion. And I trained in Bath 10 years ago as a hairdresser and I went on to work for a really well-known stylist in London.
“I stepped away from that when I came back from London and I started up my stonemasonry business – and for the last few years I’ve been doing that. But stonemasonry was never my passion, hair has always been my passion.
“So lockdown gave me that push – opening my own barbershop is a ‘do or die’ moment for me. I realised that I had to go for it. If it wins, it wins, if it fails I go back to masonry!”
About the vision for his new venture, Ben said, “I wanted to create an environment where people can come for more of an experience rather than just a haircut. I didn’t want guys sitting around for hours – especially on a Friday and Saturday – waiting for a haircut wishing they were in the pub – now they’ve got the best of both worlds!
“And the coffee house and bar area isn’t just for our barbershop clients, it’s for everyone – everybody is welcome. It might seem daunting at first walking in – as you think it is a men’s barbers – but the café bar is for all the community.
“The idea was to make it a nice cosy place to come and have a drink or a coffee – and so far the reception we’ve had, even from the older generation, has been great. Customers have said that it will be their new place for a coffee, and barbershop clients have been staying longer after their appointment – which is exactly the vibe I was trying to create.”
Currently Benjamin Nicholas is operating a walk-in service for its barbershop – and joining Ben are well-known local barbers Sam Talliss and Sean Seales – but there are big plans for business in the weeks ahead.
“I’m all about luxury service,” said Ben. “Personally I like to travel away for services that offer that ‘extra luxury’. So I want to bring that experience to Melksham. In the next few weeks we will have a men’s pamper package – offering an express facial, hot towel shave, and a haircut and style – one big service that will last for an hour and a half to two hours.
“And in the coffee house bar area, we will soon have live music – there’s a DJ booth where DJs will play some gentle house music. And there’s space for live acoustic bands to play – that’s all on the way soon. I want to make something incredible for the town – give it a lift, and hopefully the town will get behind it.”
Benjamin Nicholas is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9am to 6pm; Thursdays 9am to 7pm; Fridays and Saturdays 9am to 9pm. Alcohol is served from 12pm.
Follow Benjamin Nicholas on Instagram: www.instagram.com/ benjamin_nicholas_hair
