Popular Plymouth stylist opens latest business at Millbay’s waterside development

Millbay has welcomed a five-star hair and beauty salon as the latest business to open in the multi-award-winning waterside regeneration.

Vaughan’s Hair and Beauty opened its doors at Quadrant Quay, one of the latest developments helping repurpose and transform the historic former docks into a vibrant new Coastal Quarter for Plymouth.

Owner Vaughan Goode launched his latest business venture in Millbay after searching for a new salon space for more than 18 months. Despite some delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, the business is now up and running in one of the new commercial spaces at the development, with Vaughan enjoying the benefits of having his salon in a central location by the water.

Vaughan said: “This came on the market and I had to take it. It was the best location in Plymouth because you have everything. You’ve got a fantastic view of the sea and all the activities on the water. It’s amazing out there.”

The new salon, which is located on the corner of Soap Street and Fin Street, underwent renovations in the months leading up to the opening which were completed by Goode Construction.

Vaughan, 72, has been in the hair and beauty industry for more than 50 years. After starting out as an apprentice Vaughan has gone on to own nine salons throughout his career. Vaughan feels that he is one of the lucky few who has never gone to work a day in his life and even came out of retirement to continue doing what he loves.

Vaughan became increasingly restless just six months into retirement and the father of five was encouraged by his sons to pick up his scissors again and go back to work. He went into business with a few partners and after four years decided to do something bigger and better. Vaughan said: “I wanted to give people something totally different and this beautiful development that’s taking place at the moment, and is going on into the future, will bring more shops, more restaurants and it will bring people to this area.

“People will want to come down in the day time, they’ll want to come shopping and eating in the evening, it’s going to make the whole place vibrant. It’s just wonderful. It’s all about to happen in Millbay and it is super for the whole of Plymouth.”

Millbay’s redevelopment is being delivered by The English Cities Fund – a strategic joint venture between national urban regenerator, Muse Developments, Legal and General, and Homes England – in partnership with Plymouth City Council.

With over £120 million of a planned £250 million invested in the area already, the new coastal quarter for Plymouth is delivering an innovative mix of residential, leisure, business, hotel, leisure and retail development, with high-quality public spaces and direct access to the waterfront.

Millbay latest development, Quadrant Wharf, was recently completed, taking forward the regeneration of the eastern side of the former docks which started with the development of Quadrant Quay.

The 137-home Quadrant Wharf features a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, laid out in two blocks and a row of split-level homes. The scheme also continues the new waterside promenade and Quadrant Quay’s award-winning coastal-themed, landscaped garden rooms.