Lauren Pyrah visits a new Saks
salon on a country estate

ON a list of things you would expect to find in the depths of the countryside, it’s a pretty safe bet a hair salon wouldn’t feature. But Saks Scotch Corner, who tapped into the trend for out-of-town salons years before many of the rest caught on, are once again leading the way by relocating to a rural idyll just off the A66.

Although it’s less than a mile from their previous premises at the Scotch Corner Hotel and just off the A66, driving down the private woodland road to the salon’s new premises in the grounds of Sedbury Hall feels like you’ve escaped to the middle of nowhere.

When you pull up to The Stables, it’s easy to see why salon owners Anna Brewster and Wilson Derbyshire chose to relocate there after outgrowing their previous premises due to an increasing number of clients and need for more space and staff.

Now renovated to accommodate a number of 21st century businesses, the Grade II-listed stables were designed by Georgian architect John Carr and built in 1771 for King Charles II to keep his racehorses.

Making the most of the double height room, the new salon is fitted out in white marble and boasts views across Sedbury Hall’s 300-acre grounds.

“We needed to expand,” Anna tells me. “This really is an exquisite site and we saw this as an opportunity to offer our clients our awardwinning services in a unique environment.”

Anna, who has won a number of awards for her hairdressing skills and is a former member of the world-renowned Saks Art Team, says she expects vintage styles to feature strongly for autumn/winter 2012.

“The vintage trend is still really strong. Over the summer, we’ve seen a lot of messy top knots and updos and I expect that to continue into autumn and winter – but a little more refined,” she says.

“People quite often like to get their hair cut shorter for the colder months and we tend to do a lot of fringes as people like a sharp new look, whereas in summer women seem to like to keep their hair a little longer, so they can put it up when it gets hot.

“Colour-wise, I think we will see a lot of rich hues and dip-dyes this autumn, as they featured in quite a lot of catwalk shows.”

The relocation is the first in a larger plan for Saks to create a new generation of destination salons, and Scotch Corner is planning to recruit three more team members in the near future to help cater for their increasing client numbers.

And instead of leaving you looking windswept, a trip to the country can now give you a cutting edge do.

Win a cut and blow dry

Saks Scotch Corner is offering the chance for two readers to win a cut and blow dry at the new salon. To win, answer this question: Of which city was John Carr Lord Mayor between 1770 and 1785? Send your answer, with full contact details, to Saks Scotch Corner, Features, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington, DL1 1NF. The closing date is Friday, September 7, and usual competition rules apply.

  • For more information, or to book an appointment with Saks Scotch Corner, telephone 01748-850101.