A former hairdressers in the town centre has been redesigned into the towns newest tattoo studio.

Studio 51 is based where Carey's Hairdressers used to be, near Joyce's Yard in the town centre.

Careys was acquired by Area 51, which is based next door around six years ago, who ran the hairdressers before its closure in early 2023.

The new Studio 51 is now exclusively a tattoo studio, with Area 51, which used to be both a piercing and tattoo studio, now specializing just in piercings. Studio 51 opened on Saturday, October 7.

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Studio 51 manager, Duncan Stone, 56, said: "It had been our intention to carry on as Carey's, but unfortunately due to poor business we couldn't carry on running the hairdressers, so when it closed we decided to refit the building and make it into a separate tattoo studio."

Studio 51 now has an open-plan tattoo studio built, with five chairs and three artists currently working there. 

Duncan said that they had toyed with the idea of having closed tattoo bays, but decided on an open-plan layout, which customers have been very keen and complimentary on so far. He added that the studio had hoped to open for the summer, but that didn't quite materialise in time due to the work being carried out.

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The studio is hoping to hold themed days and promotions, where people can walk in for little seasonal tattoos to be done. Studio 51 held its Halloween flash day on Saturday, October 28.

Duncan said: “We’re happy to be open and ready to serve the Basingstoke community in our new studio.

"It’s more of an experience to come to Studio 51, it’s more enjoyable for customers and we’ve had some great feedback since opening, which is fantastic.

"We’re also looking to do more themed days and promotions throughout the year and walk-in tattoo days, which is really exciting. We’re looking forward to seeing you."