Our Perfect Christmas: Gary Hooker & Michael Young

Interview by Claire Muffett-Reece

Christmas is set to be very different this year… what are your plans?

G: We both love Christmas – in particular, the lead up to Christmas Day itself. The biggest difference for us is not having friends over for drinks and dinner throughout December – it’s a very social time for us so that’s definitely missed. It will just be the two of us on Christmas Day… with the dogs of course – all 16 of them! Before you ask, no we don’t buy Christmas presents for the dogs. I think when you have 16 dogs it becomes a lot of gifts to buy!

What are your most treasured Christmas memories?

M: Christmas was always a really special time for me and my siblings. We’d come downstairs incredibly early to see what was under the tree. One year my parents got me an inflatable Santa Claus, but I remember spotting him in the living room and panicking that he was still there! Once I realised it wasn’t the man himself I spent most of Christmas Day hugging and sitting with him. It was probably the least expensive present I got that year, but when you’re that age you’re easily pleased.

The awards were held virtually – what was that like compared to previous years?

M: There was certainly a lot of anticipation this year as to what the awards would look like being a virtual event. Of course, it’s never going to compare to being at London’s Grosvenor House, but we didn’t let that stop us dressing up in black tie and drinking Champagne to celebrate the night’s winners.

You’ve four salons in the North East. How has COVID impacted your business?

G: It’s definitely been a tough year -–the first lockdown took us all by surprise. We have a strong business and very loyal clientele who have been incredibly supportive – they were all waiting to come straight back into the salon for us to make them gorgeous again. The second lockdown felt a lot harder for some – I think that had a lot to do with the cold weather and the dark nights. Of course, the period of closure has a financial impact on any business, but we have a strong team who are all 100% behind us. Together we will bounce back to where we were at the beginning of 2020.

Let’s imagine COVID hasn’t happened. Where do you both go in the North East for Christmas dinner and drinks?

M: We both love cafe 21 in Newcastle – it’s a real treat to go there any time of the year. We always make sure we visit at Christmas, as I don’t think there’s anywhere better for food, service and atmosphere. It’s pretty amazing.

What about a festive day out?

G: We like nothing more than spending a day in town, most of which is spent in Fenwick, I might add! I just think Newcastle does Christmas so well. The markets around the monument always have a great atmosphere and it’s nice to get wrapped up and have a wander around, stopping off for a glass of Champagne.

What gifts are you hoping for under the tree?

M: At the risk of sounding a bit bah humbug some years we don’t actually exchange presents with each other, instead spoiling ourselves with lots of nights out in beautiful restaurants. Gary wants a new computer which I was fully expecting him to buy himself, but he hasn’t yet – so maybe he will be getting a Christmas gift after all.

G: We both struggle these days with what to get each other, which is why some years we don’t exchange gifts. I do love it when I have a lightbulb moment and think of something fantastic that I know he’ll love – but that doesn’t happen very often! A gorgeous holiday somewhere hot is something we both love, and I’d much rather have that than socks and slippers.

Let’s fast-forward to December 2021. How are you hoping to spend Christmas next year?

M: Gary has a big birthday coming up at the end of March which we were planning to celebrate abroad, but as March draws closer it seems unlikely that we’ll be able to have the holiday we wanted. We are currently talking about postponing it and planning to do it over Christmas next year instead.

G: It was going to be a double celebration as it’s also our 30th anniversary, so we’ve lots to celebrate. Who knows where we will be? We’re hoping Christmas 2021 will be spent far away, hopefully on a beach somewhere amazing.