Just a short distance from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, Taylor Taylor Barbershop has been trading since 1907 – twenty years older than the World Snooker Championship itself. With one branch on Surrey Street, a minute's stroll from the venue, and another on Division Street, the barbershop has become a fixture for players, pundits and fans during the tournament.
Luke Linacre, who has worked at Taylor Taylor for 16 years, has cut the hair of snooker greats including Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy and Judd Trump. 'Ronnie is my idol. When he came in it was surreal,' Luke told the Daily Star. 'People often say Ronnie doesn't come across as wanting to talk to you, but it couldn't have been further from the truth. I couldn't stop him talking. We spoke about Chinese hot pots and running.'
The barbershop's snooker connections run deep: Neal Foulds was one of Luke's first haircuts there, and Jimmy White, referees and commentators have all visited. However, not every colleague is a fan. Luke joked that one barber cuts Steve Davis's hair but doesn't know who he is, asking if he's off to work afterwards. 'She always sees the funny side of it,' Luke said. Similarly, when Shaun Murphy came in with his cue, a staff member tried to tell him the real snooker was around the corner – to which Murphy replied: 'I know, I've just played!'
John Parrott, the 1991 world champion, is a frequent visitor and good friend of the shop, having presented a signed picture from his victory. With the World Championship confirmed to stay at the Crucible until 2045, Luke and the team are thrilled. 'It's just a brilliant time to be around. It means a lot, and I think all of the players and fans enjoy coming to Sheffield, too,' he said.
