A TATTOO parlour has won a number of awards after being nominated by its loyal customers. 

Skins and Needles, which is based in Middlesbrough and Durham, has triumphed at the two separate beauty award nights.

The first of the awards were from the British Hair and Beauty Awards. The award ceremony saw the shop being crowned winners in five categories.

It won barbershop of the year 2021, employee Leah Waite was named barber of the year and owner Matthew Salvin won the employer of the year award. Durham branch House of Gentlemen won for best workplace environment of the year, and Mr Salvin also won entrepreneur of the year.

The talented beauticians also scored big at the UK Hair and Beauty Awards, Skins and Needles managing to win the barber shop of the year award, with owner Sam Grierson named entrepreneur of the year.

Skins and Needles and has been going for ten years and is based on Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough. 

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The business relies on local talent and aims to train up its beauticians to be "world class".

Skins and Needles owner Sam Grierson said: “We have been quite lucky that we have won a lot of awards for our tattoo shop, barbers, and beauty parlour.

“It has been tough over the last year, so to be recognised as one of the top players in the industry is brilliant.

“Every part of the personal care industry was hit hard by the lockdown, we were the last to reopen it which was very hard."

“So, I would like to thank our loyal clients because when we reopened we had floods of people wanting to book appointments.

He added: “We are always looking at ways we can improve our business and tailor it to the clients, but it’s good to see our hard work has paid off.

“We have put our heart and soul into the business, and we can do this because we are passionate about what we do. 

"We are like a family. We have several locations on the same street, so it really does feel like that. 

“When one part of the business is doing well it lifts us all up.”
To book an appointment at Skins and Needles visit: skinsnneedles.co.uk/tattooing/#book

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