Staff at Brighton hair salon have been keeping busy in lockdown but are keen to get back to work

Simon Webster Hair, In Gardner Street, is reopening on April 12 and the team at the award-winning salon cannot wait.

All non-essential retail and personal personal care premises such as hairdressers, beauty and nail salons, can reopen on Monday.

Sophie Webster, who owns the salon with husband Simon, said: "The team are raring to go. They've been great throughout, everyone is really supportive of each other."

When it comes to support, Sophie, who looks after staff wellbeing, said the stylists are encouraged to pursue other opportunities and bring their experiences back to the salon.

During lockdown, team members have furthered their skills with online education and have entered competitions. Apprentices have continued training online and more recently returned to college.

Sophie said: "Everyone has stayed really productive. This lockdown has been hard. The first one, the days were longer and the weather was better and everyone knew it was for three months."

As well as keeping in touch with staff virtually, including an online bakeathon, there have been deliveries of brownies and Prosecco to members of the team. Simon and Sophie even decided to pay the wages of one of the newest employees who had just missed out on being eligible for the furlough scheme.

And the kindness hasn't stopped there. They have donated beauty bags to beauty banks and maternity clinics.

The lockdowns have given the hair salon time to ensure all Covid regulations are in place. The front of the salon has also been repainted and they have been able to further improve their commitment to recycling and reducing use of plastics.

Sophie and Simon opened the salon in 2012, just nine months after they had their first date. They also got married in that time. Sophie said Simon takes charge of everything hair related while she has the role of salon manager, looking after admin, customer experience and staff wellbeing.

"Everybody is really keen to get back," said Sophie. "All we can do is put everything in place and be optimistic that we are going to stay open."

To find out more and book an appointment, visit Simon Webster Hair - Hairdressing | Book Online