Chaps of Winchester barbers celebrates 30 years in business

In 1993, Helen Whitehouse opened 'Chaps of Winchester' in High Street on October 23, and this week the barbershop celebrated three decades in business.

Lorraine Baker, 46, began working at Chaps in 1998, until Helen asked her to take over in 2008.

The 46-year-old, who lives in Southampton, bought the barbershop when she turned 30, so she could raise her daughter Ella with financial independence.

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The barbershop first opened in 1993 (Image: Chaps)

Over the years, Lorraine has built up a good relationship with her regulars, with many former clients bringing their sons for a haircut.

She spoke of a regular who always came in for a flat top and often spoke highly of his wife and two girls.

Lorraine said they bonded over their shared taste in music, and she was very upset when she learned he'd passed away.

Since she first started at Chaps, Lorraine has seen a significant rise in competitive barber shops across Winchester.

Lorraine said there were originally one to four barbershops in the area, but that number has now risen to include over 20 different hairdressers in Winchester city centre alone.

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Chaps made cupcakes to celebrate the occasion (Image: Chaps)

The staff at Chaps have always been self-employed, which has only increased the work ethic in the shop, according to Lorraine.

Many of her barbers have worked at Chaps for a long time, ranging from six to 12 years of employment.

She admitted: "I've been lucky; my staff are really hard working.”

Like many businesses, Chaps was affected by the pandemic, with many older regulars now returning for the first time since 2020.

Before Covid hit, it was a walk-in-only barbershop and Lorraine fondly remembers the long line of customers snaking along the storefront on a Saturday morning.

But, to follow government guidelines, Chaps had to quickly change to bookings only to stay open. 

Looking back, Lorraine said this reduced pressure on her staff and increased customer satisfaction as people weren’t waiting for hours to be seated.

She said: "It took ages to bounce back." 

In light of these changes, she certainly believes this anniversary is a cause for celebration:

She added: "It's incredible, especially considering the climate. To have a business still standing and thriving is all I can ask for."