Pubs, hairdressers and cinemas may have been allowed to open last Saturday (4 July)- but tattoo studios, among other indoor businesses, are still shut.

The UK government has said they can open up from Monday (13 July) but some artists think it should have been sooner.  

Three East Lancashire tattoo studio owners have spoke to The Lancashire Telegraph about their experience in lockdown- this is what they had to say.

'The government can’t treat the public like idiots'

Chris Walker, owner of Grafix Tattoo Studio in Blackburn, has been very outspoken about tattoo studios reopening- he even decided to open up the studio.

In a Facebook post last week, he wrote: “Obviously after six pints in the pub you are going to stick to strict social distancing of 1 metre (yeah ok!)

Lancashire Telegraph: Chris opened up his tattoo shop early (Photo: Chris Walker)Chris opened up his tattoo shop early (Photo: Chris Walker)

“But in the gym or the tattoo shop where you are totally sober your going to start cuddling people! most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my life.

He added: “They cannot say [anything] about us having one person at a time in the tattoo studio so we are now OFFICIALLY OPEN”.

The Lancashire Telegraph approached Mr Walker about his Facebook posts. He believes that tattoo studios should be allowed to open and people can decide for themselves if they want to go.

Since deciding to reopen, he said people have travelled from far and wide to get a tattoo done- he even remarked how one person travelled 70 miles to get a tattoo.

He said: “I stand by my decision to open up early.

“You can’t treat the public like idiots- and we’re not forcing any one to come and get a tattoo.

Lancashire Telegraph: A tattoo from Grafix Tattoo Studio A tattoo from Grafix Tattoo Studio

Mr Walker also owns a bar and insists a tattoo studio is a much more sanitary environment in comparison.

He added: “It was packed on opening day and people just weren’t social distancing- even though every measure was in place.

“In the studio, we perform deep cleans and use hospital grade PPE and it’s easy to have one person in one person out.”

Chris isn’t the only person with strong opinions about lockdown openings.

'There is a stigma and stereotype that needs to be addressed'

Simon Dewar owns Black Stone Tattoo in Burnley. Unlike Chris, he said he would never open his tattoo studio up early. 

He said lockdown has been difficult saying it is “devastating” to see his business, which he has grown for four years, come to a stop.

He said: “You spend all these years building your business- and all of a sudden it just stopped.

“This is more than just a job- it’s my passion and lifestyle.”
Lancashire Telegraph: Simon at work in the Black Stone Tattoo studio (Photo: Black Stone Tattoo)Simon at work in the Black Stone Tattoo studio (Photo: Black Stone Tattoo)

The 49-year-old thinks the government have a stigma about certain misconceptions about the industry.

He said: “There is a stigma and stereotype that needs to be addressed.

“People as a whole need to know that [tattoo artistry] has evolved so much over the last years.

“Things have moved on and tattoo studios are much cleaner than they were years ago.”

Mr Dewar also adds that getting a tattoo could be just the mental relief people need in this anxious time.

He added: “People need something else to focus on. Not only that, tattooing is a very social thing and a chance for people to interact.

'If they can open a pub, they can open a tattoo studio'

James Monnery, of Tattoo Heaven in Blackburn, said he’s “disappointed” that tattoo studios have been left until one of the last to open.

He added: “If they can open a pub they can open a tattoo studio.

“We’ve been contacted 10-15 times a day about opening- and we just don’t have the answers.

However, Mr Monnery considers himself lucky as he hasn’t been made to pay rent on the studio. He has also been using his time in lockdown productively by being creative.

He has even had time to write a children’s book called 'The Bluepys'.



Unlike Chris, James said he wouldn’t risk opening up the studio early.

He said: “It’s just not worth the risk- if the council fined us we would be worse off than we were before.

He added: “If the council fined us we would be worse off than we were before”.

Luckily for James and the other artists, the government has announced that tattoo studios can open up from Monday.