Luxe Beauty in Long Stratton shortlisted for national award just months after opening

A beauty salon owner is celebrating after her business was shortlisted for a top national award just two months after opening.

Beth Webb, 41, launched Luxe Beauty in Long Stratton in November, describing the opening as a dream come true.

Now, her salon, in The Street, has been named as a finalist in the Best New Salon category in the UK Hair and Beauty Awards 2024.

Beth said: “Business has been great since I launched and I heard about the shortlisting last month. It’s wonderful to be shortlisted after such a short space of time.

“To enter, I had to send all kinds of information, from reviews, to social media, services, statistics, what we have achieved.

“I have dreamt of setting up a salon for 20 years, so it really is a dream come true to be shortlisted so quickly.”

Though Beth trained in beauty therapy 20 years ago, she first worked in fashion retail.

“I carried on training while I was working in retail,” said Beth. “Then, when I moved to St Helena, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, in 2016, I took it up full-time.

“I lived there for a year before returning to the UK and carrying on in the beauty industry here, too.”

Beth has worked as a business manager for Benefit Cosmetics, Clarins SkinSpa Neals Yard Remedies, as well as a store manager for Oliver Bonas and beauty sales manager for Jarrolds, Norwich.

Luxe Beauty, at the site of a former bookshop and opposite the Swan Pub, offers a wide range of treatments, including brows and lashes, massage, waxing, facials, and has a walk-in tanning booth.

Beth is also looking to rent out spaces for other beauticians in the future, for services she does not offer.

“The salon is in a great location, in a former book shop and opposite the Swan pub,” said Beth, who lives in Kirstead.

“I am renting the building from my partner’s father and people here have been very supportive, which has been great. I’m looking to move closer to the salon at some point.”