Durham County Council has approved a tattoo studio in Sacriston, allowing A & J Tattoos to operate in the village.
Durham: So, guess what? A new tattoo studio just got the green light in Sacriston! It’s called A & J Tattoos, run by Alex Jewers, and it’s set up in a spot that used to be a newsagent.
The council gave the thumbs up on January 10 after Alex applied to change the use of the building. They even approved some signage to go with it.
Interestingly, the studio started welcoming clients back on November 8, 2024, even before the official nod from the council. They’re open weekdays from 10 am to 3:30 pm and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm, but they take Sundays and bank holidays off.
When the council approved the application, they laid down some rules, like sticking to the plans and keeping the hours from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays and Saturdays.
Even though Alex jumped the gun a bit by starting work before getting the go-ahead, the council didn’t hit him with any penalties. Just a little warning!
Before all this, the council had given some pre-application advice back in November, and there were no objections at that time. Plus, Alex got the property owner’s blessing for the changes.
The new shopfront looks pretty sharp with a modern blue shutter and glass panels, and it doesn’t clash with the neighborhood vibe at all.
Interestingly, the local Parish Council, Environmental Health, and Highways folks didn’t raise any issues with the change. They even consulted five neighbors, and guess what? No one had anything to say!
This whole project fits nicely with the County Durham Plan, which encourages reusing buildings in local centers. And since the studio is indoors, it doesn’t mess with any local wildlife either.
