After 25 years on Acorn Road, Boilerhouse salon has moved into new, larger premises just next door. The hairdresser, which previously occupied No.7, has now expanded and  taken over No. 9, the former LeBeado shop.

JesmondLocal chief reporter Sophie Bauckham popped in to meet salon directors Kim Le-Neveu and Steve Jones, two weeks after they re-opened. Watch this video to take a look around the new premises.

Describing it as a move that they had debated about making for many years, salon director Steve Jones said: “We had the chance of taking no. 9 twice in the past, but we sort of chickened-out, because the expense of it and the disruption. But we thought if we didn’t do it this time we might not get the chance again, so we just bit the bullet and spent the money. And now we’re here, I wish we’d done it years ago.”

At a time when many small businesses are downsizing and even closing, Boilerhouse is bucking the trend. Le-Neuveu said: “You have to be brave – we’ve got 25 years of experience and a large clientel to build on. Sometimes you just have to go for it.”

The salon, which stretches over three floors, is now providing beauty services and has taken on more staff and trainees. All Boilerhouse staff  are trained in-house, which is overseen by Le-Neuveu, who also runs a voluntary wig cutting service for ladies with alopecia or hair loss as a result of cancer treatment.

Boilerhouse is now at No. 9 Acorn Road, Jesmond. Follow the Salon’s blog for more updates.