Glasgow barber shop which cut Jim Kerr's hair closing

Glasgow Times

16 hours ago

Keith Morrison opened Merchant City Barbers after moving from Brighton to Glasgow with his wife and daughter in 1991.
(Image: Keith Morrison, owner of Merchant City Barbers, pictured by Colin Mearns) Originally from Dundee, Keith and his shop proved to be revolutionary for the city's hair-cutting scene.
Keith told the Glasgow Times: 'The whole scene of 90s barbershops in Glasgow was men in white coats who only knew one haircut. It was horrible and clinical.
'We decided to open a barbershop where barbers wore waistcoats and aprons, and men were offered free beer and coffee, and the football was on the TV. We wanted to create a men's club atmosphere.
'We prided ourselves on the fact that no matter who walks through the door we've got staff members to do their hair. The other day, a girl came in with long hair and said she wanted a baseline cut. When I said to come in, she was surprised because we were a barber and I said, 'What does that matter?''
The 64-year-old added: 'If you look at barbershops now, there are a lot of Turkish places offering the shave and it's all about being trendy. But we started the trend.
'We've even had Jim Kerr in the shop and loads of other famous faces over the years. It's been an incredible 34 years.'
(Image: Keith Morrison, owner of Merchant City Barbers, pictured by Colin Mearns) Keith's decision to shut up shop comes after being diagnosed with two different cancers – one of which is both rare and terminal.
Following doctors' orders, the soon-to-be-grandfather will be giving his time and energy to his loved ones.
Keith said: 'I have a wee grandson coming in August and my plan is to meet him, that's the priority. And who knows, maybe we will then get to Christmas.'
(Image: Keith Morrison, owner of Merchant City Barbers, pictured by Colin Mearns) Keith and his wife also plan to visit their second home in Kassiopi, Greece, after the barber closes its doors for the final time.
Kassiopi is where Keith and his wife were married, and he even claims they were the first-ever Brits to get married there in 1986.
He said: 'We had to change the law because Greece required a Certificate of no known impediment, and they require one from each person getting married.
'At the time, the British authorities assumed that you were marrying a local, so they only issued one. So, we had to go to court and change the law, so the British authorities were allowed to issue two certificates.'
(Image: Keith Morrison, owner of Merchant City Barbers, pictured by Colin Mearns) The pair hope to get over to the 'tiny town' towards the end of this year, so Keith can say one last farewell to their friends.
He said: 'It'll be a sad time, but nothing gets me down. You can't let it get you down because that is just a defeatist attitude.
'It's just about taking it day by day, but there is not a sad thought there at all. I've lived a fantastic life. Not a minute of my life do I regret.'
(Image: Keith Morrison, owner of Merchant City Barbers, pictured by Colin Mearns) Keith was diagnosed with the first cancer after the primary lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic.
As he was well on his way to completing treatment, he was then diagnosed with the second.
'I guess I must just be lucky,' he jokes, before revealing that he has been given around a year left to live.
However, as he said himself, nothing gets him down and he plans to close his shop in style.
The barbers will host a farewell do on Saturday, July 5.
There will be 'loads' of prosecco and beer and Keith is hopeful that a lot of old staff will come along.
He added: 'We're still open that day and will be cutting hair, but people have the option to come in, have a bit of a giggle, share stories of old times and at the end of the day, that's what it is all about.'