A SALON virtually gutted by a major fire in Pinehurst is making a comeback under new management.

Open since 2014 Good Company 2, on The Circle, was caught up in what was initially thought to be a deliberate fire last July.

The blaze tore its way through neighbouring Pinehurst Fisheries and caused the roof of the One Stop Shop to collapse.

Now owners of Oxfordshire-based Serena Grant & Co have swung open the doors of the salon again.

And after opening their first salon two years ago it has big ambitions.

Owner Josh Bardsley told the Advertiser that the fire presented them with an opportunity to create something original after repairs costing hundreds of thousands of pounds were finished. It enabled them to start afresh with a £25,000 renovation.

“We have invested heavily into it, it’s basically a brand new salon,” he said.

“The fire offered a blank canvas opportunity, we were able to re-kit the salon, and it was in a location we thought was really good.

“We’ve got sponsorship from companies like Goldwell and Paul Mitchell who really want to bring some spark and colour to Swindon.

“We want to be a recognised brand in the next 10 years,” he added.

After opening this month Josh hopes the salon can attract its old customers back in.

“The fire did mean that clients didn’t know what was going on," he said. “So I think we lost a big part of the client base, which is frustrating, but our job now is to bring back those people.”

More than 40 firefighters tackled the blaze on July 17. All three premises were badly destroyed and only started re-opening in January, including Pinehurst Fisheries which had been serving fish and chips since 1988.

Wiltshire Fire Service initially treated it as arson and police arrested a suspect who was questioned under caution but subsequently released.

Police have confirmed they are not looking for anymore suspects and the fire was not believed to be started maliciously.