TWO Winchester hairdressers have teamed up to open their first-ever business in a former café unit.

The new hair salon called ME Collective will open in St Thomas Street on Thursday, June 1, replacing the pink independent brunch café Ashby’s which closed just a year after opening.

Founders Jo Eykyn and Barry Maddocks first met working at Toni and Guy, in Winchester, 23 years ago and made the big decision to start their own business together in February.

Hampshire Chronicle: Me Collective to open in former Ashby's unit in St Thomas Street

The co-owners picked up the keys for the St Thomas Street unit at the beginning of May and have been busy re-designing space and booking future appointments ahead of the opening.

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Barry, 39, said: “We wanted to feel like we weren’t totally on the High Street, to give a bit more of a relaxed atmosphere.

“Hopefully, our customers have a space here that feels like their own and like a community, hence the name ‘Collective’. We’re already pretty booked up for June.

“It’s been a café for years so it’s nice to have something different. There are so many cafes in Winchester so we’ve heard from lots of people who see the change as a positive thing.

“It’s been a whirlwind but the closer we get to opening, the more interest we get and the more real it feels.

Jo, 47, added: “The amount of light here is perfect. We fell in love with the building as soon as we saw it but it was very pink.

“Having your hair done is such a personal thing so we wanted a space where people felt comfortable. We’re trying to be as sustainable and as kind to the environment as possible.

“Our prices are really competitive and transparent so we’re confident that we’re going to be able to make it work.”

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Hampshire Chronicle: Me Collective to open in former Ashby's unit in St Thomas Street

Sustainable and cost-effective features at the ME Collective will include a re-fillable station for customers to bring back their shampoo and conditioner bottles to re-stock and save on packaging.

Barry and Jo have recruited two fellow stylists an assistant and a receptionist ahead of the opening on Thursday, June 1.

The ground floor shop front will be repainted green, with a beige base and white pillars to match the new business’s branding ahead of the salon’s launch party at 7pm on Friday, June 2. For more information email Hello@mecollective.co.uk or go to mecollective.co.uk/.