A BEAUTY salon has made a great start to 2018, after its team picked up two coveted titles at a star studded industry event.

The team form Belle Beauty travelled to London for the bi-yearly Guinot Awards Ceremony, hosted by fashionista Gok Wan, and were delighted to be presented with the title of Crown Salon for the third year running.

But the celebrations didn’t stop there as Belle Beauty, based in Worcester Road, Link Top, also won the regional title for National Salon of Excellence.

Only Guinot’s elite salons are awarded Crown Salon status and to achieve the award , he salon had to go through rigorous testing, which included hosting secret shoppers, being analysed by business experts and finally being interviewed on camera to discuss the salon's charity work for Malvern Special Families, the new Belle Beauty app and the plans for the future.

Lucy Watkins, aged 29, is the founder and owner of Belle Beauty, and one of the youngest salon owners to ever receive the Crown Salon title.

She said: “We are so thrilled to say we have achieved the Crown Salon award for the third year running. This title means Belle Beauty is in the top 10 per cent of Guinot skincare salons across the UK and Ireland. These awards are only given out to the best and I am so proud of everyone at Belle Beauty for the achievement, it is a real testament to my staff’s hard work.

“We were also over the moon with the regional title as we really do love skincare at Belle Beauty and are now officially the best at what we do in the area.”

She was also presented with a special gift, a trip to Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons, to enjoy a cookery lesson, champagne reception and a meal with the celebrity chef himself.