Putting the Name Above the Door

When a young Tony Wood arrived on Castle Road in the late '80s, he wasn’t quite sure what to make of Alf Fleming, the formidable antiques dealer who ran his shop from the old clocktower. But as Tony’s salon business grew, so did his confidence. Before long, his daily chats with Alf turned into a solid friendship.

Tony was looking for a new space, and after many chats, Alf finally agreed to make him an offer he couldn’t ignore: buy the clocktower.

“I was terrified,” Tony recalls. “It was such a big step. But I’ve never been afraid of a gamble. People told me not to do it, but I pulled everything I had together, and went for it. I wanted to do the old building proud.”

There was just one problem: no walls. “Where was I going to hang the mirrors?! So, I started cutting hair around a table, like a dinner party.”

That kind of quick, creative thinking has always been part of Tony’s approach, helping him stay fresh, innovative, and ahead of the curve.

He launched the new space and a new name followed, United Salons - ‘US’ for short, a brand that held strong for years. But by 2013, he was ready for something more personal. Out went US, and Tony Wood Hair was born, complete with a sleek new logo based on his very first pair of scissors.

“When I started, using your own name felt a bit... uncool,” Tony admits. “And honestly, I was hesitant back then to use it. But looking back, I’m so glad I made the change.”

Since that day, Tony Wood Hair has become a true Castle Road landmark. The bold white lettering hugs the clocktower like it’s always been there, and the scissor logo—painted loud and proud by local artist Pete Codling, still catches eyes from the other end of the street. Instantly recognisable. ✂️