A Salisbury independent salon held its official opening event over the weekend, attended by mayor Caroline Corbin.

Studio 15 in Milford Street was due to open in April 2020, but the business had to wait until the end of lockdown in July last year to welcome customers.

The hair and beauty salon held its long-awaited opening party on Saturday July 31.

Read more: Salisbury's Studio 15 to host long-overdue opening ceremony

The event involved a charity raffle, with prizes donated by many Salisbury businesses.

It raised £710 for Alzheimer’s and dementia support charities.

Business owner Sophie Cormack, 25, said the cause is close to her heart, as her grandmother died with the illness.

Sophie started as a Saturday girl hairdresser when she was at school and went on to train at the Toni and Guy Academy in London.

Mum Linda Cormack offered her some retirement money so she could take the first step towards opening her own salon.

Linda said of the event: "We would like to say a big thank to everyone who dug deep into their pockets to make it a lovely night and amount raised.

"Lee Jones, who works South Western Railway as a guard sung for us. He was brilliant.

"Local chef Sean Adams made the delicious finger buffet, Phil Smith of Smith England gave us products to give all the ladies in goody bags for free, Shirley Snells Florist provided a free bouquet for the mayor of Salisbury.

"Chas H Baker gave us vouchers for the raffle, The Barn Dental Clinic prizes for the raffle and all ladies from Studio 15 donated treatments."

Cocktails were provided by YOYO Salisbury.

From first obtaining its Milford Street premises in 2019, the site has had to undergo building work to turn it into a salon.

Linda said: "It was just a big shell with this lovely staircase and lovely beams, and we then had to put up false walls to make cubicles for the beds.

"It was grade listed. We didn't want to move the old beams, take any of the old character away. We wanted to work with it."

Linda added that it was wonderful how businesses in Milford Street have supported the opening of Studio 15: "We want to give a big thank you to everyone supporting us. I really want to thank those businesses and the mayor coming to open it.

"It's quite a community in Milford Street. The day we opened, we had so many flowers welcoming us to the street. It was lovely.

"It's great when businesses support each other."

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