Trouble at the Barbers

The covid-19 lockdowns were brutal for small businesses. They were particularly tough for barbers. In an industry when getting up-close and personal is the only way to get the job done, the business of hair-cutting was simply unworkable. Phil, a barber in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, knows that the gentleman's shaves, haircuts, skin-fades and beard-trims he offers can be so much more than just personal grooming - they can be a much needed self-esteem boost, a chance to chat to a sympathetic ear, or a moment of peace on a tough day. In March 2020, finding himself shut down like the rest of the industry, Phil was keen to find a way to stay connected to his customers, haircuts or no haircuts. He took to facebook and - reluctantly at first - started hosting live chat sessions... just a chance to connect, chill out and have a chat. As the world went in, then out, then back in to successive waves of lockdowns, Phil felt he was making it work. Weathering the storm, and making the best of a bad situation. But June 2021 was to bring a shock that no-one could have predicted, and which might just be the final straw. Produced in Bristol by Emily Knight

You can listen to Trouble at the Barbers online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Trouble at the Barbers is an episode from The Untold by BBC.

This episode is 27:25 long.

This episode was published on May 30, 2022.

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