Stylist returns to her roots with new venture
Lesley Morgan-Macbain was a ‘Saturday girl’ in Monica Frances hairdressers in Southport which closed in 2008 after 41 years – now she has opened a barbershop at the same site. Andrew Brown reports
A new barbershop has opened in Churchtown Village in Southport after a successful local businesswoman went back to her roots.
Mojos Barbers at 144a Cambridge Road, near Churchtown Lights, welcomed its first customers in the unit previously occupied by Pud.
It has been opened by Lesley Morgan-Macbain, who already owns the House of Mojos hairdressers and the Barklays dog friendly cafe nearby.
Many people locally will remember the site as the home of Monica Frances Hairdressers. It was owned by Monica Owen and opened its doors in February 1967, operating for 41 years before closing in 2008.
As a teenager, Lesley worked during Saturdays at the business and is delighted to be back at the site where she began her thriving career. Her first customer at the new shop was Nick Owen, Monica’s husband.
As a mental health and autism awareness champion, Lesley will be hosting special quiet days for clients, both adults and children. She will be offering a range of services including barbering, wet shaves, nose waxing, ear waxing, and much more.
Lesley said: “I am looking forward to taking care of the guys in Churchtown. There is nowhere else in the area that offers cut throat shaving like we do. We also offer package deals for weddings, stag parties, and other events and groups.
“I am also an autism friendly barber and a mental health ambassador. I am going to have quiet days with a one-to-one service available to both adults and children, on Wednesdays and every other Sunday.
“On the other days we are open, it will be me and Harry McGrath working together. Another team member will be joining us in four weeks.”
When Lesley was 15 she worked as a “Saturday girl” at the shop when it was the Monica Frances hairdressers. She added: “Sadly Monica passed away last year but I still enjoy cutting her husband Nick’s hair. He is lovely. It was an honour for him to come in as my first customer. It feels very emotional to be back here again, it feels really good.”
Former traffic policeman Nick called in with his beloved dog, Betty, and was impressed with the new venture. He said: “Monica and I got married in 1966 and then my wife opened Monica Frances hairdresser here in February 1967.
“We had two children, John and Charlotte, and were raising them while Monica was running the business. I was working as a police officer and it helped that I was working shifts.
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“It looked very different back then. The railway and Churchtown Railway Station had closed, but the railway embankment was still there.
“We saw a lot of changes over the years. I remember the embankment coming down, and the doctor’s surgery over the road being built, next door to NatWest bank, which is now Peaky Blinders bar.
“I am so glad that Mojos Barbers has now opened on the same site, although it is very different to how it was when Monica was here. I like Lesley, she is a superb hairdresser and barber.”