Male grooming is the fastest growing industry in the country at the moment, and a new barbers is hoping to be just the place for the modern gentleman.

Offering a traditional wash, cut and finish, a hot-towel shave or beard trim, Gershwin’s Barbers in Chatham, provides men’s hairdressing with a retro-chic twist. The shop is fitted with customised 1950s Belmont barbers chairs and customers can even enjoy a complimentary beer.

Owner James Payne from Walderslade said: “We want to raise the standards of gents barbering. We believe in raising the standards in customer service, spending more time with our clients. We are incorporating modern hairdressing styles into traditional barbering styles.”

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His team have spent the last four months training each other as they all come from different backgrounds.

Mr Payne, 33, is a qualified hairdresser and trained at the London School of Barbering, before opening The Church Hair Salon on Church Street, Chatham, three years ago with his partner Alicia Wheatley, 29.

The former Rainham Mark Grammar School pupil said: “We put everything we had into this business, it’s just gone from strength to strength.”

Video: Gershwin's Barbers offers men a traditional grooming experience

After seeing similar barbers popping up in London the couple believed there was a gap in the market in the Towns. They decided to go ahead with their dream, opening the barbers above The Church salon.

Mike Taylor, director of the British Barbers Association, said: “Men are looking after themselves a lot more and have finally realised that the barber is the best person to cut their hair, not a hairdresser.

“In the last couple of years there has been a revival in more traditional cuts such as the short back and sides, the Ivy League and the 1950s quiff.”

Kent Online’s reporter Gareth Arnold went along to Gershwin’s to test out their services. He had a haircut and a hot-towel shave using a cut-throat razor.

He said: “It was amazing, I didn’t expect to be so relaxed with a blade that close to my face.”

Gershwin’s opened just before Father’s Day and its appointments are already filling up, with beard models coming down from London.

Mr Payne hopes to build on the success of the Chatham store with others across the county.

A basic hair cut costs £18 and a hot towel shave is £20. For more information visit www.gershwinsbarbers.co.uk