Brown's Barbers in Sedgefield in Echo best barbers top ten

Paula Peacock, who owns Brown's Barbers on Front Street in Sedgefield, has said it would be a "dream come true" to be named The Northern Echo’s Best Barber Shop 2026, after her shop was shortlisted in the top ten.

She was 15-years-old when grandad, Harold Brown, surprised her with a pair of clippers, and she hasn't looked back since.

Paula Peacock of Browns Barbers in Sedgefield (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

After working in other barber shops including in Sedgefield and Newton Aycliffe, Paula set up alone seven years ago and named it after her grandad.

"My grandad bought me some clippers when I was 15," Paula said.

"He was a miner, and I'd practice cutting hair by doing his hair and his friend's hair, so it was a strange way to get into barbering.

Paula at Browns Barbers (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

"I was a single mother at the time, and his buying those clippers meant a lot."

Alongside Paula's origin story of joining the trade, she credits her "fantastic" customers and "incredible" team, which includes Kim, Claire, and Leah, who she works alongside each day.

While the Sedgefield-based barbers is one of many in Darlington and County Durham, Paula believes the fact that Brown's Barbers has turned into a community hub, and loves that she's got to know all of the regular customers over the years.

And winning The Northern Echo’s Best Barber Shop 2026 competition would be a "dream come true".

Paula Peacock (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

"It would be great to win this competition. I can't thank our customers enough for their continued support," she added.

Brown's Barbers is one of ten named in our competition this year, with others including J. Maddison Barbers, on West Auckland Road, and LJ Barbers, on Duke Street in Darlington. You can read the full shortlist here.

To vote for Brown's Barbers, simply complete the form in your The Northern Echo newspaper and return it to: The Northern Echo Best Barber Shop 2026, LOCALiQ House, 1 Dalston Road, Carlisle, CA2 5NP. 

Voting will close on Wednesday, July 8.