A cornerstone of Fleet Street, the traditional barber shop Leonard & Michael is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Established in 1976, the salon has been a consistent presence in the City of London, providing haircuts to generations of professionals, from newspaper editors to barristers and financial workers. It stands as one of the oldest hairdressers in the Square Mile and has recently been nominated for Retailer of the Year at the upcoming Toast the City Awards in October.
The shop was founded by Leonard Ludwin and Michael Whall at 1-2 Poppins Court, just off Fleet Street. Michael Whall, who had previously worked for Leonard at his popular West End salon in St Martin's Lane, aimed to bring a similar standard of quality to the City. Although their direct partnership lasted only a year, Michael retained Leonard's name above the door due to the cost of changing the sign, a decision that has preserved the original Art Deco-styled sign which is still displayed today.
Over the decades, Leonard & Michael has seen a diverse clientele, including notable figures such as former Mirror Group editor David Montgomery, actor David Jason, and human rights barrister Michael Mansfield in the 1980s. The walls of the salon are adorned with photographs donated by Fleet Street's picture editors, many of whom were loyal customers, offering a visual history of the area in its print era heyday. Remarkably, four current clients have been regular customers since the shop first opened, having started coming for trims in their twenties and now in their seventies.
Tom Whall, Michael's son, now runs the business, continuing the tradition of friendly service and quality cuts his father was known for. Tom notes that City professionals typically seek a 'reliable, repeatable quality' in their haircuts, preferring to blend in rather than stand out. He also shares insights into the unspoken etiquette of the barber's chair, observing that a client closing their eyes often signals a preference for quiet. Recent challenges for the business include tight margins, rising business taxes, and the impact of hybrid working models, which have shifted some personal errands like haircuts to 'work from home days'.
Despite these modern pressures, Leonard & Michael continues to thrive, supported by loyal clients from nearby firms like Deloitte and Goldman Sachs. Tom Whall is proud to uphold the barbering techniques passed down from his father, who passed away shortly after the pandemic. A recent 50th birthday event for the shop raised funds for the Alzheimer's Society, in memory of Michael Whall who battled the disease.