Exploring Irthlingborough: 5 Stops to Love Local
- Business & IP Centre Northamptonshire
- 17 hours ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 21 minutes ago
Irthlingborough might be one of the smaller towns in North Northamptonshire, but it’s packed with character, community spirit, and some truly brilliant local businesses. Its High Street is home to a wonderful mix of independents including family-run shops and places to grab a bite or treat yourself. On our latest blog adventure, we discovered five brilliant stops in the town - a cosy local café, a stylish hair salon, a dog grooming parlour, a creative tattoo studio, and even a welcoming Pilates studio. This town is full of amazing people tucked behind its shopfronts, each with a great story to tell. With free parking and a warm welcome wherever you go, there’s never been a better time to love local in Irthlingborough!
Discover more about Hi Street North Northamptonshire! This fantastic campaign, delivered by North Northamptonshire Council in collaboration with a variety of independent businesses from local high streets and surrounding areas, aims to shine a spotlight on these local businesses. The initiative encourages everyone to shop local, eat local and support local.
Stop 1: Food, art, and heart at G&P Coffee House
You can’t miss G&P Coffee House with its bold red frontage and the warm welcome that greets you as soon as you step inside. Run by the friendly duo Peter and Gina, this independent café has proudly stood on Irthlingborough’s High Street for the past four years, and it’s clear they’ve poured their hearts into every detail.
Local is at the heart of what they do, right down to the delicious coffee, which is sourced from Bella Barista in neighbouring Wellingborough. Everything on the menu is freshly prepared on site with love and care, from breakfast and lunch to sweet treats and snacks. You’ll find vegan and gluten-free options, healthy cooking methods (no deep frying here!), and customer favourites like their best-selling pancakes.
Peter is the culinary creative in the kitchen, passionate about food and always thinking of tasty new dishes for the menu. His secret salad dressing is a firm favourite, and in the past, he’s even created a haddock and prawn lasagne! Gina, meanwhile, is the queen of drinks. Whether it’s a beautifully layered café melange, or the famous “Shrek” milkshake (mint and lemon and, of course, bright green), she loves experimenting and serving up creations that look almost too good to drink. With 18 flavours of milkshake to choose from (biscoff and banana is a hit!), customers can even mix and match.
G&P Coffee House has a great community vibe, with regulars, a knit and natter group, and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Gina’s creativity doesn’t stop at the drinks she creates, she also hand-painted the beautiful Italian-inspired murals on the café’s walls, designed to help visitors relax and escape - don’t miss the surprise waiting in the toilet!
Peter and Gina love running their own business their way, and it shows in everything they do, from taking time to get to know their customers to delivering orders to neighbouring shops with a smile. Word of mouth is everything to them, and with their passion, personality, and dedication to service, it’s no wonder they are a cherished part of Irthlingborough’s High Street.
Stop by this wonderful café Tuesday to Friday 8am to 5pm, and on Saturday 9am to 5pm.
Stop 2: Crowning confidence at Esme Abbott Hair Design
At just age 23, Esme has already made her dream a reality with her very own High Street salon in the town she grew up in. Esme Abbott Hair Design has been in the town for 18 months now and it is a bright, welcoming space, with a signature pink interior where clients of all ages come to feel relaxed, pampered, and confident in the hands of Esme and her talented team of four.
Esme’s love for styling hair started young, and she has worked hard to gain her qualifications and build her brilliant small business. Esme says your hair is “the crown you never take off” and she’s built a loyal community around her business. From balayage to bold hair colour changes, to flawless hair extensions and classic cuts, the team creates transformations that boost confidence, and that’s where their passion lies, and their favourite part of the job! With hair stylists of different ages, the salon appeals to a wide mix of clients, including men, women, and children too, everyone is welcome.
Esme’s approach is all about warmth, creativity, and connection. She loves getting to know her clients and celebrating life’s milestones with them - whether it’s prom hair, wedding styles, a fresh start, or just a well-earned treat. She’s seen her clients blossom over time and enjoys chatting to them, giving advice and being a friendly listening ear, all whilst helping them to look and feel their best. The salon uses top-quality products like Olaplex and keeps pricing accessible for people, offering something for every budget.
Esme’s about to welcome her first baby but says she’ll still be around at the salon, because when you love what you do, it’s hard to stay away!
You’ll find Esme’s salon open Monday to Saturday, discover her opening times:
Stop 3: Come for the ink and stay for the vibe at East Side Custom Tattoo Studio
East Side Custom Tattoo Studio has been a proud part of Irthlingborough’s High Street for 17 years, and it’s a brilliant place full of creativity, community, and true craftsmanship. Founded by Lee who now lives in Northern Thailand but regularly returns to tattoo and see the team, the studio is a vibrant and welcoming space, filled with art, history, and personality.
Lee’s passion for traditional tattooing is visible everywhere, with original paintings, global postcards, and tributes to iconic tattoo artists lining the walls.
The dream team includes Dan who keeps everything running smoothly, Matt, and apprentice Rhay who was once an intrigued teen popping in to show his drawings, and now works full-time as an apprentice. Together, they form a close-knit group who are just as focused on building relationships as they are on creating incredible tattoos. From fine line and matching tattoos for friends and family, to bold, statement pieces, every design is original and meaningful, and they love what they do!
When we visited, Lee was busy tattooing Dan’s back with an intricate piece in progress, done with the ease and precision of a true pro. It was amazing to see the process in action, and Dan joked that us chatting to them all helped take his mind off the pain!
Clients travel from near and far thanks to the amazing reviews and recommendations, and many return time and time again. Some even give the artists full creative freedom, knowing they’re in trustworthy and expert hands.
The team know it can be daunting having a tattoo or even popping into a tattoo studio when it’s unfamiliar territory, but they pride themselves on being approachable, inclusive, and a bit quirky – a perfect mix! There’s laughter, great banter, and a strong sense of belonging at East Side Custom Tattoo where stories are told and memories made one tattoo at a time!
Stop by this fabulous tattoo studio Tuesday to Friday 11am to 6pm, and Saturday 10am to 6pm.
Stop 4: The Paw-fect place for a pup pamper at The Dog House Grooming Salon
The Dog House Grooming Salon is a firm favourite on Irthlingborough High Street, and has been for an impressive 24 years. With another salon in Wellingborough too, it’s clear that this is a trusted and much-loved local business. The Irthlingborough branch is a brilliant salon run by a passionate, professional team who each bring something special to the table. Above all, they love dogs, and that shows in every aspect of what they do.
Whether it’s a bath and brush, a full groom, nail clipping, teeth cleaning, de-shedding, or puppy’s very first pamper, the team provide expert care tailored to every pooch. They even offer grooming for cats! When we popped in, Nat told us about her journey from student to groomer and how she started with a work experience placement at The Dog House as part of her animal management course and has never looked back. Now, she brings her dog Oakey in every day with her and says she’s living the dream. Max was hard at work too, giving adorable Cinnamon a bath, brush and tidy-up.
The salon is owned by Aoife, who is hugely supportive of the team and ensures they have regular training and professional development. Nat, who competes in grooming competitions and keeps up with new techniques through online courses, told us how rewarding it is to see transformations, especially when very smelly or scruffy dogs leave looking, feeling and smelling fantastic!
The team see around 12 dogs a day and build strong relationships with their furry clients and their owners too. They offer gentle support to nervous dogs, adapting where needed to make the experience calm and positive. They also spot health issues like skin irritations and ear infections, which can be a big help to owners.
You can’t miss the salon with its purple branding and giant paw print. Inside, it’s bursting with personality thanks to colourful street art by a Corby-based artist. While we were there, a puppy arrived for its very first groom and Bert the Shih Tzu left looking fabulous with blue-bobbled pigtails. From pups to golden oldies, the team welcome them all, and it’s clear they absolutely love what they do!
You can find out more and book an appointment at www.thedoghousegroomingsalon.co.uk
Stop 5: Award winning Pilates on the High Street
When we first met Chloe Goodman last year, she had just opened her beautiful Pilates and wellness studio in Irthlingborough. Fast forward and she’s now an award-winning business owner, proudly taking home the title of Best Pilates Studio in the recent Muddy Stilettos Awards!
Located on the top floor of the Old Chapel Business Centre, Chloe’s calming studio is a place where people can take a breath, move their bodies with purpose, and focus on their wellbeing. With high ceilings and stained-glass windows, it’s a beautiful space.
Chloe’s background in massage therapy and her passion for holistic health means she brings something unique to her teaching. Her classes support people with everything from general fitness to injury rehabilitation, pain management, and mobility — and she sees real results.
There’s something for everyone, with a wide range of classes on offer including mat Pilates, pregnancy Pilates, reformer Pilates, chair-based sessions, ballet-inspired classes, and more. Class sizes are small to ensure a supportive, personal approach, and Chloe also offers one-to-one or duo sessions.
Chloe has built strong links in the local community, running taster sessions at the library and connecting with other small businesses on the High Street. Her clients love the warm, welcoming atmosphere, and many have seen huge improvements to their physical and mental health.
Chloe is passionate about sharing the benefits of Pilates, and loves seeing the transformation in her clients. She says: “It’s about more than movement. It’s about reconnecting with yourself, healing, and finding strength in your body and mind.”
This inspiring studio is a brilliant addition to Irthlingborough’s High Street, and it’s a place where health, strength, and self-care take centre stage.
Get in touch with Chloe to book a class and find out more at www.chloegoodman.co.uk
Starting a business in Irthlingborough?
If you’re looking to start, grow or run your own business, visit the BIPC Information point at Irthlingborough Library:
Library staff are on hand to help you access COBRA reference library. This resource includes:
Start-up guides and ideas
Business support in your area
Market and sector guides
Business rules and regulations
COBRA can be accessed anywhere with a Northamptonshire Library card: Access COBRA. If you do not have a library card you can join while in the library or alternatively join for virtual membership.
Speak to a BIPC Champion at Irthlingborough Library who can signpost you to our regional support services
Or get in touch with the BIPC Northamptonshire team at: bipc@westnorthants.gov.uk
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