Astley Bridge Old bank building transformed into salon

Dionne Leece took over an old bank in Astley Bridge back in June last year and brought it back into use as The Dressing Up Box.

The building dates back to 1890 and the 37-years-old retained its original features.

Dionne said: “Ever since I opened the salon everyone has just really complimented the building and the interior and how it has been brought to life and how it is just so nice that they now know it exists.

“When people come in for treatments, they ask what the building was before, many people never knew it as a bank, so now it just really stands out as we turned it from a brown building that blended into the background to a really nice modern black and white.

“This building is a really unique space to work in.

“We have had really lovely compliments about the aesthetic of the building, but we have also had compliments about our treatments too.

“I have welcomed so many people through the door and I think the popularity we have seen has been through word of mouth and recommendations which is amazing.

“It has been really lovely since I opened, and I am just enjoying my new space.”

Inside The Dressing Up Box (Image: Dionne Leece)Dionne grew up in the Astley Bridge, Smithills and Halliwell areas and had never seen the old bank building being used.

And after consideration she decided to combine her two passions to breathe new life into the building.

For as well as being a qualified beauty therapist, Dionne studied interior design at university.

Dionne has been a beauty therapist for more than 20 years.

And now after seeing a growth in her business, Dionne is set to open an academy to train people across the borough how to do PMU – permanent makeup.

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Dionne said: “Now, because I have spent so many years in the permanent makeup side of things, I have decided to move into my long-awaited training.

“And I say long awaited because I have spent 20 years being a beautician in Bolton and people have said over the years are you not starting to train other people.

“And I have put a lot of thought into how I want to teach and how I want to deliver my courses and now I just want to deliver a really good course.

"My courses are in the process of being accredited and they will be ready in the next month or so.

“When I bring my courses out, I want students to have the theory, the knowledge and I want them to put it into practice as well."

The old bank building before transformation (Image: Dionne Leece)She added “The courses will be led in the salon in the training academy, so the salon will move from a treatment space salon into a Teaching Academy for permanent makeup.”

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.