Q Hair & Beauty in Chichester has been around for 44 years, so it’s fair to say that a) it must be doing something really right and b) it’s had a fair few refreshes in that time. The latest upgrade was unveiled just last week, with the whole first floor ‘Drawing Room’ salon decked out in sustainably-sourced solid oak, so I went along to have a look.

The salon’s lovely owner Anthony Barnes-Smith – who’s had the place all those years and still gets stuck in cutting hair – snipped the ribbon along with managing director Dawn Lawrence.

And the rest of us got in the party mood… novel use for the sinks.

As you can imagine from a salon that’s been part of Chichester for so long it pulls a multi-generational clientele so there were   children to pensioners trying the new comfy hair wash chairs.

Along with all the mod-cons, in a nod to the past Q has kept the, still functioning, old dryers from when the salon opened.

This is what it looked like back then…. I was born in this ancient looking decade <shudder>.

Now, among the new bang-up-to-date touches USB connectors have been installed at all the workstations because this was a popular request when Q quizzed its clients.. There are also energy-efficient ceiling fans and under-floor heating to keep your toes toasty.

Q occupies a four-storey town house at 37 North Street so it’s something of a warren. The revamped first floor with lovely natural light is dedicated ladies hair and was once the drawing room of the original house on this site, the records for which go back to 1670.

Beauty treatments are at the top of the building, there’s also a basement barbers and a courtyard salon with French windows which sounds a prime spot for summer.

The ground floor reception area has lovely wood too, which inspired the upstairs refit.

Q calls its clients ‘guests’ and the ladies’ salon has seen 25,000 in the past year alone. So, if you live in area and haven’t already checked it out for a cut, colour or beauty treatment sounds like you’re missing out.

What’s your favourite Sussex salon? Cast you vote in the Muddy Stilettos Awards