Newbury mayor joins salon Sequoia Hair to cut the ribbon welcoming new coffee shop

You can now grab a coffee and a cut in one place at a Newbury hair salon’s new coffee shop, The Coffee Branch.

Sequoia Hair, named after the redwood tree, and its owners Oliver and Lauren Redwood, “branched out” yesterday (Thursday) in its official opening.

The coffee shop, just a stone's throw away from the hair salon on Queens Road, was declared open by Newbury mayor Billy Drummond, who wanted to show his support for local businesses.

Sequoia Hair has been a dream venture since the business partners and couple began working together at the age of 15.

They said that the new addition of selling coffee next door will “create an experience” for their customers.

Mr Redwood said: “We opened the hairdresser two years ago today, but now it is a one-stop shop.

"There is nothing on Queens Road so we are creating an experience for people.

"It’s nice to have something out of town.”

Mrs Redwood said: “It’s very exciting, it’s a lovely town, we love Newbury, we have got all our family and friends here.

“We want to give back to the community and make everyone look amazing.”

The shop, which sells coffee, cakes, flowers and fresh bread, was unveiled with a ribbon cut by the mayor, who also stopped for a spot of coffee.

Mr Drummond said: “It is great to see small independent businesses doing so well.

“I hope they get a lot of footfall.”

Friend and hairdresser co-worker Andrew Garden said it was “great to see” the Redwoods open their new shop, considering the impact Covid has had on local businesses.

He said: “I think it is just a testament to how resilient they are to go through what we went through with lockdown.

“To open a salon during that going on, and thinking we’ll branch into another arm with the business is really a testament to how resilient they are as people.”

Rihannon Shaw has been helping the Redwoods since the hairdresser opened and said it was “exciting” to see the mayor come out and show his support.

She said: “They are really great people to work with.

“They help everyone out in every way possible.”

Mr Redwood's mother Jill said she was proud of them and that the interest received already has been “really good”.

She said: “It was fantastic seeing people support us, they have worked really hard, it all was very exciting.”