The Barbershop is a small, experienced barbershop on the ground floor of Pencarrow House at the corner of Jervois Quay and Willeston St, in the heart of Wellington's CBD. Running since 2011, it is the working shop of Jon and Chris — two barbers who between them bring many years of city-centre hair cutting to every appointment.
The shop's approach is deliberately unhurried. This is not a ten-minute bargain-basement operation or a TikTok fad establishment. Jon and Chris want to know you and what you want for your hair, and they spend the appointment doing exactly that — giving you the look you want with no fuss, at a price you can afford. Every 'Barbershop' cut is done by a professional with years of experience.
Booking ahead is easy through the shop's simple online system, where you can pick a time in advance or on the day itself — and choose Jon's or Chris's calendar if you have a preference. Walk-ins are welcome too: drop in and ask if a barber is free, or ring ahead to check availability. Appointments run in 30-minute slots, beard-only trims should be checked in person first, and the shop asks for at least two hours' notice for cancellations. Closed on weekends and all public holidays, the shop holds a 4.9-star rating on Google reviews.
Step into the ground floor of Pencarrow House at the corner of Jervois Quay and Willeston St and you'll find The Barbershop, a fixture of the Wellington CBD since 2011. It's a simple proposition, run the way a city barbershop should be: two experienced barbers, a chair, and the time to get your hair right.
The two names on the door are Jon and Chris. Between them they have spent many years cutting hair in Wellington's city centre, and that experience is the heart of the shop. Whichever barber takes the chair, the promise is the same — a proper barbershop cut from a professional with years behind the scissors.
The Barbershop is upfront about what it isn't. It is not a ten-minute bargain-basement operation, and it isn't chasing whatever style is trending on TikTok this week. Instead, Jon and Chris want to know you and what you want for your hair, and they spend the appointment doing exactly that. The result, in their words, is the look you want with no fuss and at a price you can afford.
That philosophy shows in how the diary works. Every booking is a 30-minute slot rather than a squeezed-in quick trim, and the shop asks that beard-only visits be checked in person before booking — a reflection of how appointments are structured around unhurried work rather than a production line.
Booking is deliberately simple. The online booking system lets you find a time that suits, whether in advance or on the day itself, and if you'd particularly like Jon or Chris you simply choose the correct barber's calendar. Prefer to play it by ear? Drop in and ask if the barbers are free, or ring ahead to check current availability. If anything goes wrong with booking online, the shop invites you to phone or text instead.
One practical note: if you want a beard trim only, check in person before booking, as all bookings run to 30 minutes with a minimum booking fee.
The shop operates on weekdays with opening hours of 9am to 5pm — though early birds can catch Jon from 8.30am if they want a head start on the day. The shop closes on Saturdays, Sundays and all public holidays, so plan around those.
A few house rules keep things running smoothly. Give at least two hours' notice if you need to cancel, as no-shows will be charged. And if you're feeling unwell or recovering from a contagious illness, the shop asks that you stay away for the time being; wearing a mask during your visit is an option if you'd prefer one while still recovering.
Customers have responded warmly to the approach — the shop holds a 4.9-star rating on its Google reviews. Prices were increased from the new year to keep pace with ongoing rises in running costs since 2024, and current rates are listed on the shop's prices page.
More than a decade in, The Barbershop remains what it set out to be: a small, experienced, no-nonsense barbershop in the middle of the city. Whether you book ahead with your preferred barber or duck in on the off-chance, you'll be asked what you want — and given the time to get it.