Barber shop dream comes true for 18-year-old

Harry Bushell seated in a chair at The Unknown Barbers, which he has opened in Much Wenlock
Harry Bushell said he had wanted to become a barber for a number of years [BBC]

An 18-year-old man has realised a dream he had throughout school to open his own barbers.

Harry Bushell has set up shop in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, with backing from his parents, after running a mobile hair-cutting business for 18 months.

He said the town had welcomed The Unknown Barbers "with open arms" and added: "Everyone's proud of me, seeing me do well."

Until he opened his shop, residents wanting a dedicated barber shop cut had to travel more than four miles and Mr Bushell said "everyone's really glad they can just walk out the house and just walk down the road".

The shop - named after the Raised Unknown clothing brand, he and a friend set up before Mr Bushell turned to hairdressing - opened last Saturday and he said business has already been good.

'Amazing spot'

Mr Bushell said that 18 months ago after working on the clothing brand, he switched to doing something he had wanted to do "all the way through school".

After putting himself through a barbering course in Birmingham he said he was able to find "an amazing spot" in Much Wenlock.

He said it was a "lovely town" and had been very supportive.

Brendan Quinn, who runs Croft Design gift shop and ecclesiastical outfitters, said: "Wenlock high street's pretty good, in that we're full of independent shops, so coming to Wenlock is a very different experience to going to a lot of towns of similar sizes."

Francine Coulson-Joy, from Linden Tree gallery, added: "It will not only bring local people in, hopefully it will bring people in from further afield."

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