AN EXPERIENCED beautician has made the difficult decision to close her salon of 30 years — but is looking at the positives as she is able to focus more of her efforts on a different project.

Lesley Canfield was forced to close her salon, One2One Nail Bar and Beauty Spa during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although she was nearing the end of her career as a high street salon owner, the pressures of Covid-19 on the sector meant that the decision came sooner than planned.

Lesley said: “I closed that at the end of the first lockdown because it was obvious that it was going to keep opening and closing.

“I’m close to retirement. I didn’t think it was something I wanted to pursue.”

Lesley decided to focus efforts on her home-based business, At One Sanctuary, which is found in the basement of her Victorian town house in Whitehaven.

Under normal circumstances, clients would visit treatment and spa rooms all under Lesley’s home.

Lesley offers beauty and therapy services in the relaxing environment, but while salons have been closed, she has been selling beauty products online.

“I’ve got a good clientele so throughout the pandemic they’ve been buying products off me. It’s been okay, we’ve managed and the Government has helped because it’s a rateable business.”

This has meant that Lesley has been able to access support from the local authority.

“It has been an absolute godsend,” she said. It was a tough decision for Lesley to close her original salon, which was based in Egremont. It meant letting go of new and established employees.

She said: “A high street salon is different. You need to reach a certain age where you retire. That wasn’t too far away, but I would have liked to have reached that decision at that point.”

However, Lesley is focussed on the positives and it working to grow a business which was a side project for some time.

“It’s a business that’s been going for 12 years in its own right. It’s got a very bright future.”

The public have supported Lesley through a difficult period for the beauty sector. Lesley was tentative about making bookings for April 12 until Boris Johnson made the recent announcement that the restrictions would be rolled back as planned.

“I’ve already got my books full. People were phoning asking if they could book in.

"After he made the announcement on Monday, I phoned around again and got them all booked in. They’re clients that I’ve had for a very long time.”