This month we chatted to Larry Meyler, owner of Tommy Boy Social, the barber shop with Brighton’s most welcoming chair.
Tell us about your journey into barbering? I had the idea for a barbershop years ago before I had even trained as a barber. I’ve travelled loads, and I’d go get my hair cut every week wherever I was, so I’ve seen it all. The good, the bad and the totally bizarre. At some point, I thought, I could do this. I wanted to create a unique and welcoming barbershop that can change the perception of what a barbershop should be, while honouring the barbering traditions. That idea sat on the back burner for a while. Life happened, a move back to London, and then an unexpected left turn into authorship. Three books later (two solo, one collaboration), I moved to Brighton with a new sense of purpose and finally trained as a barber. Then, seven-plus years later, Tommy Boy Social was born.
What inspired the interior design? I wanted it to be a true reflection of what I like, so I went for a 1980s Miami Beach house vibe. The space is a pastel-toned, neon-drenched. An ode to nostalgia. A world away from the stereotypical barbershop vibe, which a lot of people find intimidating. Some people really dread going into barbershops, especially if they don’t feel
like they fit in, so I wanted to remove that and create a space where people can relax and
talk freely.
You’re a also an author? Yes, my first book, Being Brave, has resonated widely across the world. It’s a memoir wrapped in a travelogue, it traces the journey of an Irish childhood through family relationships, mental health struggles and life on the road. I wrote it while I was backpacking. The places I visited would trigger memories – and that’s how the book’s structured, it flows between the present and the past. It was terrifying to put out there, especially with some really personal stuff about my dad, who passed away. But it felt honest. Necessary. The book took off, supported by celebrities and mental health advocates alike. People like Vicky Pattison,
Geri Halliwell and others got behind it. It was wild. I self-published, so I never expected that kind of response.
Tell us three things you love about Brighton? Easy. The eclectic mix of people. The sea – I grew up by the water in Wexford, so it feels like coming home. And the social side – there’s always something happening. Maybe too much sometimes!
www.tommyboysocial.com
