WE'RE highlighting the shortlisted hairdressers and barbers in our competition in the News & Star. Each of the establishments will be featured over the following issues.

Duke Hare Barbers has been nominated by News & Star readers as one of the ten finalists in its 'Best Hairdresser/Barber 2024' award.

The award-winning barbers, which is located on Carlisle's Scotland Road, is owned by Sarah McKibbin who opened the Duke Hare in 2016. 

After being informed that Duke Hare Barbers has been nominated as a finalist in the News & Star's 'Best Hairdresser/Barber 2024' award, Sarah was on hand to express his delight. 

She said: "It feels great.

"I’ve been a barber for 20 years now and still feel humbled by every customer choosing us, leaving us positive reviews, or even just giving us positive feedback.

"Even after all this time that still feels genuinely touching, so to be nominated for an award feels incredible and makes all the hard work we do worth it.

"I know people support us, we’ve been exceptionally blessed with great clientele, and a busy booking system but the fact people have gone out of their way to nominate us is just something extra special.

"We are very grateful for every single one of the votes.

Sarah also discussed the community that she built around the Duke Hare and the close relationships she has built with other barbers in the city. 

She said: "I was the first barbershop in Stanwix for example and didn’t really know this area so it was a big risk that I could get it all completely wrong.

I personally moved this end of Carlisle as a result of the community being so friendly and welcoming to us when I opened Duke Hare over 8 years ago.

"From the other businesses nearby to the locals, our clients come from all over but a lot also live or work in this area too.

"Clients and locals aside it’s opened us up to getting to know so many other people within this industry too especially locally.

"We have other barbers we recommend when we are fully booked, we have built relationships with other barbers locally.

"It’s an industry I genuinely love being in and couldn’t imagine doing anything else now."