A BEAUTY business had a beautiful result when it scooped the title of ‘Best Local Salon’ at a national awards ceremony.

Sleek Nails and Beauty in Cinderford scooped the English Hair and Beauty Awards crown just 16 months after owner Isobel Marriott realised her dream of opening her own salon.

And after being declared the winner at a Maidenhead hotel, she said: “I’m gobsmacked to be honest. I’m speechless, which is rare for me.

“We were up against 10 other finalists in our group, including some very large and long-running businesses from all over England, but our salon in the beautiful Forest of Dean pipped them all to the post.

“Hopefully it makes us little boutique salons now a force to be reckoned with, as well as putting Cinderford on the map.”

Speaking the day after picking up the award with salon staff Drew Randall and Chloe Major on Sunday, March 17, Isabelle added: “I’m still in shock, it still feels a little surreal to be honest.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to my girls, Drew and Chloe, not forgetting my mum.”

And thanking the salon’s customers for their support and loyalty after being presented with the award by TV presenter Zara Janjua, she said: “Without you we would not be where we are today... thank you everyone.”

Clients and supporters have congratulated the salon, which was opened by Cinderford mayor Cllr Roger Sterry in November 2017.

Those who took to the business’s Facebook page praised the ’amazing’ result, while one said ‘well deserved, just shows hard

work pays off.”

Another said: “Well done girlies! You deserve it! Such a hard working team and you do all you can to make everyone happy!!”

Isobel said she hoped their win would help spur on other small business owners in Cinderford and the Forest to “get out there and show their business off.”

“My small team create that personal experience to whomever walks through the door, females and males alike.”

More than 500 of England’s hair and beauty gurus gathered in Maidenhead for the prestigious awards night, with the winners voted for by the English public.

A spokesperson for the English Hair and Beauty Awards said: “These winners represent the industry’s gold standard who work tirelessly to meet and satisfy the demands of their clients.

Another Forest salon – Oasis Beauty and Nails in Coleford – has also been shortlisted for the online British Hair and Beauty awards in six categories next month.

Laura Green founded the St John’s Street salon after being made redundant as a beauty lecturer from Cirencester College nearly six years ago when she was on maternity leave with her first son, starting the business in her spare room at home.

She also has a training academy which she runs from the salon, training up others in the industry, and her team includes Abi Wilkinson and Lisa Ormonde.

The salon has been shortlisted for beauty salon of the year; excellence in customer care; best new business; nail salon of the year; beauty therapist of the year; and training centre of excellence.

Laura has to decide which categories she wants to contend and create a portfolio of the business.

For more information see www.facebook.com/EnglishHairandBeautyAwards/, www.thebritishbeautyawards.co.uk and the salons’ Facebook pages.