Paul’s Barber Shop

Photographer Andy Holloway captures a day in Paul’s Barber Shop, blending images and recorded conversations to document a Liverpool institution in a changing neighbourhood.

This is one day in the life of Paul’s Barbers.

Paul’s Barber Shop is in Lark Lane, Liverpool. Paul has owned and run the shop since the 1960s when he returned from his first adventure emigrating to Australia.

Paul left his native Liverpool as a ten-pound pom in the 1960s. He apprenticed to a barber in Sydney, eventually taking over the shop when the owner retired. Then tragedy struck – the business was destroyed by a fire.

Paul travelled back to the Liverpool the hard way, overland by mini moke, and opened up his shop in Lark Lane. He’s been here ever since.

Paul’s shop has been at heart of this close-knit neighbourhood and Paul has cut hair for generations of people.

Lark Lane is slowly succumbing to gentrification, the businesses changing to cater for a more chichi world. Paul’s remains a steadfast reminder of a community and values that are being swept away in the name of progress.

Images and excerpts from recorded conversations taken in February 2022.

“Where did you get your tattoos done? Australia, South Africa, Canada. Merchant Navy, all round the world as usual! 1960s. That’s supposed to be a ship – it looks like a cloud now.”

“So, the house – the skip’s outside. They’re working on it like, man, they’re coming for a couple of hours every day, but the skips there and they’ve literally taken the kitchen apart and the bathroom. Everything’s come out. So I said to Kate, I said, that belfast sink I said, what are you going to do with it? And I said because, Terry, when he does this kitchen, if you take it out, he’s going put it in his garden. And they said no, they’re going to actually keep it. So that’s great. That’s great. They’re going to refurbish it because they’re all in them, I’m thinking, it’s good to know it’s going to be again, isn’t it? You know, it’s nice to see that. And then obviously, they’ll do all the garden, they’ll do it and it’s nice to see it come alive again.”

“He’s not easy company Eric – a bit full of himself. He always had a lazy eye; he always had patches on it years ago when he was a kid – do you remember? He had the pink plasters – do you remember the pink plasters – you used to get it all round his glasses – and his eyes drifted apart a bit didn’t it? He always had trouble with his eyes. He’s blind in that one eye now. I feel sorry for him, but he’s not easy to talk to.”

“That’s his second wife then. The brother Mike just lost his second wife. I know, he was supposed to get married again. The second one’s dead now – sorry, I didn’t make that clear. So, she died? So, Jane’s picking me up next Saturday and we’re going to have a coffee with Steve cause he’s staying overnight with his brother, and then he’s taking him back to the house – his house. You’re going back up to see him?“

“I was a ten-pound pom. I emigrated to Australia. Do you believe in fate? I do believe in fate – I’m a great believer in fate. When I was there, I worked at Bondi Beach, in a little barber’s shop. The barber said, ”Paul, you’re getting on well here, everyone seems to like you – I’m thinking of selling would you like to buy it.” I thought yeah – you know, I’ll give it a go.

Saturday morning, I walked up to the shop, and I was standing outside and it had burned out. Fate. It wasn’t meant to be. No Paul – you’re coming back to Liverpool.”

Paul showing a feature on his fried and body builder Doug Thomella. Paul and Doug have been friends since school.

Doug in his glory days as a competitive body builder.

“I Like any music, I like Les Mis, Phantom. I love Motown, Rock & Roll, Elvis. I was brought up in the 60s, with that era, it stays with me. Fabulous memories. Great times. I’m not keen on this era now, you know, I feel sorry for them. What future have they got at the end of the day? It’s not good. We’re losing the ability to talk to each other these days. Talk to each other face to face, not on the phone, or texting – I just don’t agree.”

“That’s his second wife then. The brother Mike just lost his second wife. I know, he was supposed to get married again. The second one’s dead now – sorry, I didn’t make that clear.

So, she died?

So, Jane’s picking me up next Saturday and we’re going to have a coffee with Steve, cause he’s staying overnight with his brother, and then he’s taking him back to the house – his house.

You’re going back up to see him?”