Barber Lew’s Bishop Auckland nominated for Echo Best Barber Shop 2026

Lewis Ebdon, who runs Barber Lew’s on Newgate Street, has owned the shop for six years.

Mr Ebdon worked from other shops picking before making his dreams a reality by taking on his own venue.

Lewis Ebdon at Barber Lew's in Bishop Auckland (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Barber Lew’s is one of ten places named in our Best Barber Shop competition for 2026, with others including Brown's Barbers in Sedgefield and Evolution Grooming in Darlington.

And now he's been nominated, Lewis has said his customers "mean everything" to him, and credits the other "brilliant barbers" who share the shop space.

"Our customers mean everything to me, and it means a lot that they come back time and time again," Lewis said.

"We cut the hair of all ages.

"Some people we've known for a long time, and new customers are always coming to us.

"I had no experience when I started, but built it up from the ground up."

Lewis Ebdon at Barber Lew's in Bishop Auckland (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Lewis has said that customers use their barbering sessions as a way to "get things off their chest".

"Sometimes, a barber can be a person to speak problems through with," Lewis added.

"If people are having arguments with partners, stress at work, feeling a bit low, we're there to hear their problems.

"Sometimes people think it's just cutting hair, but it's also somewhere where we'll listen to customers and be an ear to listen, and it's somewhere they can blow off steam.

"It's nice to be recognised in this competition and it means a lot."

You can read the full shortlist here.

To vote for Barber Lew’s, 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.