Empress Hair and Beauty is proud to announce the opening of a brand new salon in Barking Riverside, bringing its signature blend of luxury, inclusivity and community spirit to one of London’s fastest growing neighbourhoods.
The story of Empress began in 2020 with Empress Juicery, founded by local entrepreneur Erica Brobbey. Her first venture focused on health and wellbeing through fresh-
ly made juices and smoothies. Building on that success and inspired by her passion for beauty, Erica opened Empress Hair and Beauty in Barking in the summer of 2024, which has since achieved a five-star Google rating and a loyal client base.
The new Barking Riverside branch will offer an expanded range of services designed to cater for the whole community. Treatments will include massages, facials, waxing, eyebrow services, braids, nails, spray tanning, haircuts and colouring, and barbering. The salon will also feature a private space for hijab wearers who prefer privacy during their treatments, ensuring inclusivity and comfort for all clients. In addition, a dedicated hair and cosmetics supply shop will provide professional-quality products for customers to enjoy at home.
To elevate the luxury experience even further, the salon includes an in-house bar, where clients can enjoy a complimentary glass of prosecco/nosecco during their visit.
Erica’s commitment to the community has also been central to her success. Earlier this year, her over-60s project, “Golden Touch”, funded by Barking & Dagenham’s Community Chest Fund, which offered free beauty services to elderly residents, went viral on TikTok, attracting widespread attention and praise. “Community is at the heart of what we do,” Erica explains. “I wanted Empress to be more than just a salon – it’s about confidence, self-care and celebrating people from every walk of life. Barking Riverside is such a diverse and exciting area, and I’m thrilled to bring Empress here.”
The new Empress Hair and Beauty salon will open this autumn at Unit 5, Leslie Hitchcock House, 21 Minter Road, IG11 0TH, opposite George Carey School, welcoming both new and returning clients to relax, refresh and feel empowered.
Opening offers:
- Complimentary glass of prosecco from our in-house bar during opening week.
- 10% off all services for the first two weeks of opening.
Just bring the cut out of the ad with you to get the offers!
By Erica Brobbey, local resident
