Colin McAndrew, MD of Edinburgh-based salon group, Medusa, has offered a local barber business a lifeline. The Sink & Anchor barbershop was destroyed in a fire caused by a neighbouring restaurant on Sunday 12 March. Upon seeing the post on social media, Colin reached out to offer Luke and Rachel Ellis and their team of six barbers, space in his Bread Street salon.
“I hadn’t met Luke or Rachel before, but as soon as I saw the image on Instagram, I knew we had to help them. As a salon owner, I know the pressure businesses are under right now. Many are struggling just to survive so something like a fire could potentially finish off any salon. We had space available in our Bread Street training academy which is not far from Sink & Anchor so I knew it would work for them and their clients.”
Since Monday 20 March, the Sink & Anchor barbering team have been operating from Medusa, and will temporarily be at home there until summer, when the insurance company has suggested their salon should be fit for business.
Luke Ellis, Co-Owner of Sink & Anchor says: “We cannot thank Colin enough for this opportunity to be able to keep our team together and start to get back on our feet. Without him, I can honestly say that Sink & Anchor wouldn’t be here. Between Covid, setting up the new salon in August 2022, and the stress of expecting our first baby days after the fire, we have been absolutely devastated. The kindness Colin has shown is something we could only ever have dreamed of, and we will be eternally grateful to him and his team.”
You can help support Sink & Anchor by purchasing one of their t-shirts. Priced at £22 including postage, the money raised from the sales will go to elements of the business not covered by insurance. To make a purchase, please DM them with your size and address on Instagram – @sinkandanchor.
