INTRODUCTION INTO THE FOUNDER STORY BEHIND PALL MALL BARBERS – FROM THE BACK OF THE CLASSROOM TO INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS

To invite you to this Journey

It started with a struggle. It became a craft. Now it’s becoming a legacy.

As a kid growing up, I stood at the back of the classroom, too afraid to read out loud. By 15, I was expelled from school with no qualifications, just a growing fear that I’d never find my path.

Everything changed when I walked into a barbershop. That’s where I found confidence. My craft. My purpose.

At the age of 12, on Saturdays, I started by sweeping floors, making tea, and watching closely. I learned through action, repetition, and grit. I went on to win student awards, compete at the national level, and work in Mayfair—just off Savile Row—cutting hair for high-level clientele.

Eventually, I bought a humble barbershop near Pall Mall. When I was doing DIY when the store shut for the day, I found an old business card dating the shop back to 1896 with the words Pall Mall Toilet Salon, which on research made it one of the oldest barbershops in the world.

That moment sparked a vision.

From that single store, I renamed it Pall Mall Barbers, then built the brand by bootstrap, and then expanded across London in iconic locations, hosted pop-ups in Las Vegas, Milan, and Madrid, worked events like the Champions League Final and Queen’s Club Tennis, and was honoured with a Rising Star Award in Hollywood and multiple awards, also our mutiple award winning men’s grooming range, which is sold internationally.

Some years later, we opened our flagship store at the world-famous Rockefeller Center, 5th Avenue, New York City. We had the Future King of England in barber chairs, and met prime ministers to A-list celebrities, and loyal everyday legends.

We’ve been featured across BBC, ITV, Sky, CNN, and over 500 media appearances. But the truth?

I couldn’t read or write properly until I was past 40, and for the first 10 years of running Pall Mall Barbers, I battled that daily.
It’s still not easy, but I show up. I stay sharp. I keep growing.

Because for me, grooming isn’t about vanity—it’s about identity, confidence, and control.
It’s about how you show up in the world.

Every haircut, beard trim, and hot towel shave is your chance to reset for the month ahead
Each day, you can refocus and use our products to groom yourself and show up sharp and smell great, as we know first impressions count.

I still book my haircut every month in advance —it’s in my calendar like an important meeting.

Looking sharp isn’t random; it’s routine and needs maintenance daily.

If you’ve visited us before, thank you. You’re part of this story. I built Pall Mall Barbers for people like you, and this is only the beginning.

– Richard Marshall, Founder & CEO of Pall Mall Barbers

“The very first business that I visited on my appointment was the excellent Pall Mall Barbers, founded by the remarkable Richard Marshall; he could not read or write when he started in the industry, and he now runs some eight store in Central London and New York” – Business Minister Gareth Thomas MP at Parliament – Westminster Hall (April 23, 2025)

Why Regular Visits Matter:

•Monthly haircuts and beard trims keep you looking sharp and your style fresh all month long.

•Hot towel shaves are a real man’s treat in the barbershop, and our quality products bring that same experience home for daily use.

Build it into your lifestyle—monthly visits and grooming plans keep you sharp, investing in your self-esteem and first impression. Our products give you that daily treat and help maintain your look all month long.