A UNIQUE Rayleigh barber shop which boasts a licensed bar where you can enjoy a tipple while you get your hair cut has been lauded with a prestigious title.

The town’s Eighty8 Love to Create, in the High Street, launched in 2018 and has been breaking the boundaries of a typical barber shop ever since.

Alongside the traditional hair cut service visitors can also make use of the fully licensed bar - enjoying beer or iced coffee with their cut.

The team prides itself on its service which it says helped win the Wahl British Barber Shop of the Year Award.

Co-founders Joey Power, 35, and Joe Sloan, 35, said: “To be a finalist in such a prestigious award was naturally overwhelming.

“However, hearing our name called out when we won [is a] feeling [which] could never be rivalled.

“We were and still are so excited to share and talk about what we have achieved in such a short amount of time.

“The Wahl British Barbershop of the Year Award is for our clients, our community and of course our team at Eighty8 Love to Create.

“Being recognised as officially as the best barber shop in Great Britain is something that we get to all share with one another, and that’s exactly how it should be. This one’s for you guys.”

Last year, the team made it to the final three of the awards and were finalists for Modern Barber Best Shop Interior.

Rayleigh’s Mr Sloan and Bexley’s Mr Power formed their partnership six years ago working alongside each other for the Men’s Hairdressing Federation’s Young Fed’s artistic team, where a “deep and powerful relationship” sparked.

The shop was named Eighty8 as the pair were born in 1988.

The opening hours for the venue are Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and then Saturdays from 7am to 5.30pm.

For more information about Eighty8 Love to Create, visit eighty8lovetocreate.com.