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Mason Moore, Vaughan Moore & Mark Farmer | 13 July 2023

It is an elegant and luxurious experience at Hinckley’s Beauty Bar Bistro, which will leave you feeling relaxed, pampered, and fulfilled until your next visit.

This stunning salon and bar, nestled away on Mill Hill Road, has been described as a ‘hidden gem’ by locals and visitors alike, and is just a three-minute walk away from the town centre.

The ever-friendly duo of Cathy Homer and Debs Bennett will ensure you have a great day out.

Cathy is a locally well-renowned chef, who serves up freshly-prepared afternoon teas, cakes, pastries, and desserts, who has crafted the menu around her travels with the many dishes she has sampled and indulged in from across the globe, while experienced make-up artist Debs provides a fantastic service specialising in beauty treatments and massages, leaving you both looking and feeling good.

Award nominated – and ranked in top five

Impressively, having been open for less than a year, it has seen such great fanfare from its customers and clients that it has already been nominated for an award, making the finals of Muddy Stilettos Leicestershire & Rutland, ranking in their top five Best Beauty Salons of the county.

Save and scan with Squid for rewards

Cathy and Debs understand that people are looking to manage their budget more stringently amidst the current financial situation, which is why they are lending a ‘helping hand’ in saving up, by offering many different discounts, and even some special and exclusive freebies.

One of the ways that they are rewarding customers is through a new digital loyalty card scheme that they’ve recently registered with, named ‘Squid’.

All you have to do to use it is download the app on either your Android or Apple phone before visiting, and once in-store, scan the Squid machine using your phone’s near-field communication (NFC) technology.

Once inside, and the machine has been scanned with the contactless Squid machine for the first time, you will be treated to a complimentary cup of coffee, and then if you scan it on eight more visits, you will be treated to a free freshly-prepared lunch.

The new Squid platform will see you treated to a number of deals, and if you scan upon every visit, you will be helping to support a local business but also be rewarded with offers you wouldn’t have otherwise got.

Creative cocktail concoctions

These bistro bosses are always keen to experiment with new boozy bevvies, and it shows with their highly-anticipated weekly Hidden Cocktail Club, which is held every Wednesday from 5pm to 9pm, where many of their regulars head on down to try their new sophisticated signature serves from their extensive collection.

Their creative concoctions always prove popular, making for the perfect chance to held on down and socialise with new people for the first time with similar tastes to you, or even some familiar faces.

In fact, you don’t even need to get up and worry about waiting in a long line like most mainstream cocktail bars, you just simply sit on down in the designated dining area at the bistro, order from their menu and a server will bring your drinks over to you throughout the course of the night.

Some of their Cocktail Collection drinks include Strawberries and Cream, Boozy Biscoff Latte, Bakewell Tart, Key Lime Vodka Pie, Plum Bellini, a Grown-Up Affogato, and their self-titled ‘BBB Fizz’ (berry grenadine, orange juice, and Prosecco), just to name a few.

Pamper packages and treatments

The Beauty Bar Bistro also provides pamper packages, treatments for eyebrows, nails.

To provide the best experience possible, their unforgettable and all-inclusive specialist facial treatments use “Germaine de Capuccini”. They are the only spa to use these products in the town, making their facial sessions that much more elusive and exclusive.

The treatment room itself makes for an intimate experience as customers are in a secluded area just one-on-one. This environment is anything but intimidating as visitors can relax, and are made to feel welcome in the nurturing, exclusive setting.

Remote workers who spend most of their time talking to colleagues on video calls and Slack have a package of their own, so they can relax and have some time to themselves away from the desk, guaranteed to help ‘not only relax, but boost energy’, including a zesty, bubbly foot soak, an invigorating neck and shoulder massage, brunch, tea or coffee, and free Wi-Fi.

If you are after a brief break and want to relax in an instant, look no further than the Express package. This 20-minute-long session consists of a scalp massage, neck and shoulder massage, facial, and manicure, with a glass of Prosecco, with an alluring and appetising afternoon tea, at just £49.

Their spectacular summertime packages, also priced at £49, helps to ‘relieve tension and get summertime ready’. The Brow and Lash Babe package has seen a whopping £31 reduction, and offers HD brows and LVL lash lifts. (A patch test needs to be done two days in advance for this treatment).

Look no further, foodies

If you are a keen foodie, then you are in for a treat, with the Beauty Bar’s dedicated bistro menu offering frivolous finger sandwiches, fries, toasties, and scrumptious salads. Decadent desserts are also served up: French toast stack, chocolate brownie, waffle bites, captivating cakes, and other delectable delicacies.

Satisfyingly scrumptious sharing platters and boards are also available, but require prior booking in advance.

The Parisian Platter and Prosecco includes croissants, waffle bites, mixed fruit, chocolate sauce, jam, French brioche toast, and crepes, served with a glass of Prosecco or non-alcoholic sparkling drink, and unlimited tea and coffee at £24.95 per person, or it can be served up with Bottomless Prosecco at £35.99 per person.

Their Mezze Platter includes a variety of hummus and dips, flatbread, cucumber, baby tomatoes, mixed olives, meat slices, soft cheese, honey, nuts, and a mixture of fruit, with unlimited tea or coffee, at £28.99 per person, or £39.99 for Bottomless Prosecco.

Their serene and alluring al-fresco dining area is the perfect place to enjoy delicious food and fresh air, as you have a drink and a bite to eat, and soak up the sun with your friends, family, and fluffy four-legged friends who can be brought on down to the dedicated cute and chic dog-friendly garden area at the front of the bar and spa.

Dog-friendly alluring al-fresco dining area

The bistro is more than happy to serve those accompanied by canine companions and while they are politely requested to remain outside, there is a more than spacious and open outdoor seating area with both fresh and spacious seating.

Inside, the seating area allows visitors to pass time in a comfortable atmosphere full of character. The low light feel provides guests with a break from the outside world with a number of aforementioned opportunities to visit, there is something for everybody.

Beauty Bar Bistro is a more than relaxing venue where customers are warmly welcomed and invited to spend their time. This is not just a place for those looking to pass a few hours away or enjoy a beauty treatment as the bar also caters for men as well.

On Wednesday, 26 July, the Beauty Bar Bistro will host a ticketed Pasta and Prosecco night in collaboration with Leicester-based pizza restaurant Oh My Pizza, who hand make their own pasta on a daily basis. Priced at £45 per person for a three course menu, tickets can be booked by simply emailing hello@beautybarbistro.co.uk.

Beauty Bar Bistro proudly pride themselves on sourcing their own homegrown herbs and vegetables from an allotment that they maintain themselves, the produce of which is fresh, sustainable, organic, and are primarily used as ingredients in the bistro’s seasonal menu.

Since the Beauty Bar proudly opened their doors to customers, patrons have been keen to share their rave reviews online about their exciting experiences and desirable day trips after being delighted with the ‘top-notch’ services and personalised one-to-one environment which they received from the always welcoming and attentive duo of Cathy and Debs.

An ‘amazing little gem’

Viviana Moroni was impressed with the new concept, and praised them on how ‘cosy’ the atmosphere was. She said: “What an amazing little gem in Hinckley. This place has an amazing new concept combining a cosy place with amazing food and service whilst visiting for beauty services. I love being a VIP member.”

Donna Pendlebury said she was more than happy with her experience with trying their afternoon tea, adding: “What a lovely presented afternoon tea, from the food and drinks to cutlery, it was amazing and all homemade, which brought back memories of grandma’s baking. Thank you for our treat.”

Amy Eyles described the venue as ‘glamorous’, stating: “What a glamorous place! My facial was calming and relaxing, which was just what I needed. Debs is welcoming and professional. I left feeling amazing!”

Julie Ann Lee-Goode, said: “The Beauty Bar Bistro is just up the road, we thought it would be easier and cheaper to just pop up for breakfast. The service and staff were both efficient and professional and the mushrooms on toast washed down with a Peroni was just delightful. Fantastic day. I even made a new friend!”

Another satisfied customer, Paula, has stated that it is a ‘hidden gem’. She said: “Thank you for a lovely morning for my daughter and I. A lovely experience, friendly staff and very tasty food. Such a hidden gem. I totally recommend paying them a visit!”

Jodie Pegg described every aspect of the venture as “stunning”, stating: “It is just stunning! – the venue, the customer service and the treatment! I booked in for a facial with Deb at Beauty Bar Bistro after hearing about the new, local, small business on Facebook and I would highly recommend it.

“I was greeted by both owners, and I was swiftly served a drink at the bar on arrival, which was a delightful first at a beauty salon.I then went on through for my facial, which included a gorgeous head massage. My skin is glowing and I feel like I’ve been to a spa…with a bar!

“The food menu looked so well thought out, with delicious food on offer, which I’ll be back for. Thank you ladies for such a lovely experience.”

Jemma Bates was impressed with their eyebrow treatments, adding the idea to book the session was the ‘best idea she has ever had’.

She said: “Brilliant service at the Beauty Bar Bistro. Booking the session was the best I have had! My eyebrows and eyelashes look amazing. The food and coffee is a great idea. I feel so relaxed, and I can’t wait to go back!”

Val White added: “Absolutely first class! The ladies there are friendly and make you feel very welcome. The food was delicious, and the massage was lovely. I will definitely be going back.”

Prominent parking nearby

Whilst there is no on-site parking at the spa and bar, it doesn’t stop you from parking up close by. There are three council-owned ‘pay and display’ car parks all within close proximity, as well as on-street parking on Mill Hill Road itself, providing the perfect opportunity to drive on down and head in for a hot or soft drink at any time of the day.

Meanwhile, non-drivers who enjoy walking and getting their steps in will be pleased to know it is only a 10 minute walk away from The Crescent, and a six minute walk from both Hinckley town centre and the Britannia Shopping Centre.

The bistro is well connected to their users, sporting a prominent social media presence, posting all across the web, with a total of four dedicated social media channels.

Where to ‘follow’ online

Their Facebook page showcases the latest updates, upcoming events, and special offers, while they also share exclusive videos to their TikTok and Instagram profiles. They have also recently joined the newest social media platform, Threads.