Bolton: Victoria Alice nominated for Hair and Beauty Awards

Victoria Alice, 28, from Smithills, originally planned to renovate and open a salon before Covid hit but had to wait until after lockdown in October 2020 to officially reopen.

Getting the salon together was no easy task and it was a team effort between herself and her mum and dad John and Julie, as well as other friends and family.

The family worked all kinds of hours to renovate the building during the first lockdown when they were able to, but it proved tricky during restrictions.

She says: “I am really close with my family and my mum and dad live with me whilst I take care of them.

“We did this all together.

Victoria Alice and her two children (Image: Public)

“It was really hard especially with two young children, but I kept going.

“Even though there were delays and I got the salon before Covid we just went for it.

“And I fell in love with it.”

She says that her main motivation was her two children Belle, 7, and Spencer, 5, as well as already telling a lot of friends and clients about her plans.

She added: “I have always done hairdressing and a lot of clients had asked when I was getting my own salon.

“I didn’t want to let anyone down.

“But it’s mainly for my kids.

“It sounds cheesy but it’s the main thing that kept me going.”

Victoria’s biggest supporter and fan was her grandad, John, who always said she needed a salon.

Victoria Alice as a toddler with her grandad John (Image: Public)

Victoria added: “He always said I could do it, but he sadly died just before I got the salon.

“But he was one of the reasons I did it and who I know would be most proud.

“I got the salon more as I know he would have wanted me to.”

She had always dreamed of having her own salon and had worked in five-star salon ever since she left school, and also spent some time training in Australia.

Victoria added: “I always wanted to do it.

“When I was in Health and Social Care at school, I would be cutting hair in the classroom.”

Victoria and her family have completely transformed the space now, which was previously empty for several years, pending several local authority applications for change of use.

Before and after the transformation (Image: Public)

Her dad did the reception desk with the brick work, Victoria tiled the place, her brother Gareth Bolton did the woodwork outside, and a really good family friends did the joinery.

She says it’s now very much a family place to come to.

She added: “Friends and family just turn up and have a brew and clients too.

“You can tell it’s a family thing.”

She is now up for best salon, best salon décor, and hair stylist of the year, in the UK Hair and Beauty Awards, where she is up against Liverpool and Manchester.

Victoria receiving her nomination (Image: Public)

The finals are in Birmingham 2023, which is expected to be a star-studded red-carpet event. 

Victoria said: “The Hair and Beauty Awards are the most prestigious and sought-after awards in our industry, so to be a young single mother trying my best and working as hard as I do, and to be noticed and to now represent Bolton, is just more than I could of dreamed of.

“We are currently the only salon representing Bolton, and the only salon ever from Bolton to be lucky enough to be chosen for three awards. 

“I’m not bothered about winning but getting recognised is more than I could have expected.”

The Victoria Alice salon is situated over two floors with hairdressers on the first floor and beauticians on the top floor.

Read More: 

• Danielle Hampson remembered as son celebrates 1st birthday
• Bolton sport is thriving as it prepares for Rugby League World Cup
• Bolton: Knifeman brought back to court
• Royal Bolton to combat bed blocking amid 35,000 waiting list

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.