FOLLOWING a speedy two-week transformation, a Winchester tattoo parlour has re-opened under new ownership.
Daisy Pike-Quantick and Gemma Kennedy have rebranded the tattoo and barber shop in City Road changing the name from Headcase to Sacred Garden Tattoos.
The friends and colleagues of five years, who worked under the previous owner who left last month, decided to take over the lease to keep on the same team and expand the tattoo side of the business.
The unit with its formerly black walls and ceilings has had a near £10,000 makeover, creating a larger tattoo studio space, with plans to introduce a coffee bar as well as an outdoor seating area.
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Co-owner Daisy, 27, said: “The previous owner had the space for 10 years and it had fallen into disrepair. It needed a bit of love. He didn’t want to renew his lease and we didn’t want to lose our jobs so we took the opportunity.
“The whole place was black and very dark and we didn’t want that anymore. We’re looking forward to renovating the garden for people to have their drinks, it’s a really good little sun trap out there.
“We’re definitely happy with the result. We all worked 12-hour days for two weeks straight – it was a real team effort. As soon as Tom, the barber, finished his last cut on the Friday the client stayed to help us start.
“We’ve had all our regulars in but since the renovation, we’ve had people come in to tell us how great it looks. We’re confident we can get more people in the door. We’ve got a diverse range of artists so we can cater to everyone’s style. We offer something different because it’s such a big, friendly and open space here.
Check out Sacred Garden Tattoos 👇
— Adele Bouchard (@adele_bouchard) August 23, 2023
Formerly named Headcase, the tattoo parlour and barbers, in City Road, has re-opened with a fresh look under its new owners.#tattoo #Winchester 🌿 pic.twitter.com/UIW58bf9gj
“We want this place to be really welcoming and friendly. There’s a real stigma around that tattoo places are scary and that’s not what we are.
“My vision is to create a creative hub where can run art classes and get that art up on the walls. We’ve got lots of ideas.”
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Co-owner Gemma Kennedy, 37, from Salisbury, said: “I’m very excited about it all which is unusual for me. I feel really positive and secure with the team we have got, it’s really strong. A good team is invaluable so we had to take over the lease to keep the team.
“It’s great that this is our own. I didn’t know it would look or feel as good as it does. It wasn’t as well looked after under the previous tenant.”
Sacred Garden Tattoos is holding a grand reopening flash day on Saturday, September 26 from 11am-5pm.
The business is also recruiting two more tattooists and/or piercers, to join its team of five artists, with the hope of adding piercings to its services.
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