PEOPLE have chosen barbers over boozing in Worcester this morning.

The pubs have been relatively quiet so far, but queues formed at barber shops from 7:30 this morning and continue throughout the day.

Worcester News:

Good Life Barber Shop opened this morning at 9 and is fully booked. Owner, Kieran Groves, said: "It is really exciting to be open again. We are only taking bookings and have sanitiser stations and lots of other safety measures in place but we are trying to create as normal experience as we possibly can.

Worcester News:

"We've already had to do a few rescue jobs from people doing it themselves at home. It's so great to be back. But we are still being cautious."

Customers could be seen queuing to get a haircut at Kents in the Corn Market and also at Taylor Bennetts on Friar Street.

Owner of the Eagle Vaults, Nick Gjoliku, took a picture from his flat above the pub at 7:30 this morning. He said the queue for Taylor Bennett barbers was at least 40 people long.

Worcester News:

Caroline Dyde was waiting for a long awaited hair appointment at Blushes in Worcester this morning.

She said: "I really need this. I booked as soon as I knew they were re-opening. I can't wait."

Worcester News:

The ladies over at SHE Hair Extensions on Angel Street are glad to be back. Staff say they are fully booked and customers are desperate to get their hair done after three long months.

Worcester News:

Hairdressers were forced to close in late March when non-essential shops closed in a bid to slow the spread of Covid-19.

All of the hairdressers we spoke to said they were reopening today, on what some have been calling “Independence Day” but they all said they had safety very much in mind.

Richard Apparicio-Davies, of Apparicio Hairdressing, said: “I know hairdressers in Italy who were ahead of us. I was inspired by them so (in lockdown) I did this work to make me, the staff and customers feel more secure.

“We have got hand sanitisers, glass shields separating each section and the basins as well. We will be using disposable gowns, towels, plus the face shields and we have the temperature check equipment. We want customers to still have as pleasant an experience as possible. We aren’t putting prices up. I was prepared to make less profit for safety, and increase the work we do instead.”