London's hair and beauty firms think business rates hikes are ugly

Vidal Sassoon on Tuesday led an army of London’s hair and beauty firms that warned new business rates hikes will make the capital uglier for investors.

The company, founded by the late celebrity hairdresser Vidal Sassoon, said the rates bill for its four London salons will surge 18% this year as part of the Government’s revaluation of the rateable value of commercial property.

Managing director Jackie Lang told the Standard: “This is an unfair burden on London based hairdressers, both independent and national, and could result in businesses closing and jobs being lost. It will certainly cause many companies to rethink expansion plans for London.”

Paul Simbler, director at Hob Salons which has 19 London branches, said: “The rates are exactly what businesses don’t need. Business is tough enough, especially with rents in London being sky high.”

Lucy Patterson, the founder of waxing and manicure specialist Milk Beauty, added: “Salons have a maximum sales capacity as only so many treatments can be delivered each day. This limitation makes them inherently more vulnerable to increases in overhead costs like the April rates rise.”

Property specialist CVS said that of 1600 London hair and beauty parlours it analysed, they are collectively paying £10.5 million per year in rates, but that will be nearly £13 million from April.