From an incredible 700 entries hailing from around the globe, Captain Fawcett’s ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder has been nominated as 1 of just 3 finalists in the ‘Men's Grooming Products & Accessories’ category for Cosmoprof Bologna's famed ‘Oscars of Beauty’ awards.
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What ho chums! We have most excellent news as Captain Fawcett springs into March, or, indeed, marches into Spring!
From an incredible 700 entries hailing from around the globe, Captain Fawcett’s ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder has been nominated as 1 of just 3 finalists in the ‘Men's Grooming Products & Accessories’ category for Cosmoprof Bologna's famed ‘Oscars of Beauty’ awards.
Wowsers! And it’s available to order now!
As Fawcett followers may well know, the Captain’s new ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder is but the latest addition to his highly acclaimed 'Hair Couture' collection, created for both professional barbershops and salons, and also just the ticket for luxury styling in the privacy of one’s home.
The Cosmoprof & Cosmopack Awards in partnership with BEAUTYSTREAMS celebrate excellence in the global cosmetics industry. With over 700 high quality entries, the contest is ambitious and extremely competitive, with just 3 finalists per category.
Products are independently judged on category criteria including Innovation, Creativity, Packaging & Design, Product Benefits, Ethics and User Experience. Huzzah!
With Valentino Bergamini, CEO and Founder of Captain Fawcett’s highly esteemed Italian distributor Bottega della Barba Srl, company founder Richie Finney is hugely looking forward to attending The Grande Soirée Cosmoprof & Cosmopack Awards Ceremony on Friday 22 March at which the winners will be announced. Fingers crossed chums!
Captain Fawcett thanks all distributors, colleagues and friends for each playing their hugely appreciated parts as we continue to forge ahead in 2024!
It is a true honour to be recognised as being amongst world leaders in the beauty and grooming industry.
Nothing Else Comes Close.™
Captain Fawcett’s ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder
Subtly infused with elegant ‘Expedition Reserve’ fragrance, Captain Fawcett’s new Hair Powder adds texture, root lift and weightless volume with an invisible finish suitable for all hair types. Easy to wash out, it’s ideal for refreshing hair on no-shampoo days.
A single application can be reworked many times a day, perfect for sprucing locks dishevelled by hot air ballooning, whitewater rafting or removing one’s motorcycle helmet for tea.
Key Features:
Think those handsomely dishevelled chaps really ‘just woke up like this’?Don’t be ridiculous! There’s a secret to their artfully casual style. And Captain Fawcett is here to spill the tea. Or, indeed, the powder. Introducing Captain Fawcett’s ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder...
]]>Don’t be ridiculous! There’s a secret to their artfully casual style. And Captain Fawcett is here to spill the tea. Or, indeed, the powder…
Introducing Captain Fawcett’s ‘Expedition Reserve’ Matt Styling and Volumising Hair Powder!
Delectably fragranced with the beloved ‘Expedition Reserve’ scent, this latest addition to Captain Fawcett’s acclaimed ‘Hair Couture’ collection provides root lift, texture, and weightless volume for all hair types. Easy to wash out, it’s the one stop solution for refreshing hair on no-shampoo days and sprucing up your style on the go. A single application can be reworked many times a day, perfect reviving limp or hat-flattened locks and providing grip to pesky, slippery, just-washed hair.
Fragranced with exotic Patchouli, fresh Cedar & precious Wood notes, Captain Fawcett’s Hair Powder complements companion products in the best-selling ‘Expedition Reserve’ range making it ideal for scent layering. A simply outstanding sensory experience for the contemporary gentleman and, indeed, any lucky chums he may encounter! Designed for those who wish to make a long lasting impression. I say!
What’s more, Captain Fawcett’s ‘Expedition Reserve’ Hair Powder provides multi-dimensional hair styling for both professional and home use. Easy to integrate into your daily grooming routine or offer as part of your tip top barbershop customer service, Captain Fawcett is your top secret accomplice for carefree cool!
Just the ticket for Professional Stylists, Hair Salons and Barbershops, Dapper Gentlemen, frequent Travellers, sporty Chaps and energetic Adventurers!
How do you use Hair Powder?
Check out this magnificent YouTube tutorial with Wahl British Barber of the Year 2022 Charlie Baker of Studio Ninety3 in East Grinstead!
]]>Forgot Valentine’s Day? Fallen in love overnight? Been dumped and need to treat yourself?!
Quick - Captain Fawcett’s Gift Cards start at £5, the perfect match if you need last minute Valentine’s gifts for men!
Meanwhile…
Could this be the first confirmed sighting of the trickster Jack Valentine?
Surely not, for the Right Hand Man travels far and wide yet Jack Valentine seems never to have ventured beyond Norfolk. Or, indeed, far from Norwich. A local hero indeed!
For here on the eastern edge of England, on Valentine’s Eve, the mysterious Jack Valentine whispers through the streets, elusive as the flicker of a gas lamp on a foggy Victorian night. Stealthily he bestows his gifts, not only to children, like his jolly Christmas cousin, but to all ages! The very spirit of generosity!
So is this enigmatic figure a capricious spirit summoned from fancy and folklore?
Or, one cannot help but ponder, could Jack be an ingenious scheme conjured up by shrewd Victorian shopkeepers, weaving their commercial webs to spin romance into gold?
The tradition of giving gifts on Valentine’s Eve was big business in 19th and 20th century Norwich, with contemporary accounts noting thousands of pounds being spent to lavish loved ones. Indeed, it is reported shops in the Fine City hired extra staff to cope with the surge in demand. Conveniently, Jack Valentine not only promised treats for dreamy lovers, but for all the family.
And it just so happens Jack Valentine first emerged around 200 years ago. Yet he remains unique to Norfolk.
Perchance Jack Valentine’s top secret HQ is not in Norwich at all! Could it be he conducts operations from a certain Emporium in King’s Lynn, Norfolk and good?
For the truth, as they say, is stranger than fiction.
Of course, this must remain all off the record, on the QT and very hush hush…
Happy Valentine’s Day lovers!
]]>Captain Fawcett has created just 1000 of these fabulous Ricki Hall Limited Edition enamel badges to celebrate the swanky new gold cap adorning Ricki’s award-winning Booze & Baccy Eau De Parfum Signature Series. Styled in classy gold and black, each highly collectible pin is presented on a dapper little card signed and numbered by the man himself. Bosh!
Only the first 1000 bottles of new-look Booze & Baccy Eau De Parfum will be despatched with one of these nifty pins.
What number will you be?!
World-renowned Dandy Ricki Hall collaborated with Captain Fawcett to create the magnificent Booze & Baccy Signature Series in tribute to his Dad and for all rough diamonds with hearts of gold.
Ricki says:
“Booze & Baccy is about big time masculinity when I was a kid. The scent of being an adult in the 70s & 80s. Booze, cigarettes, leather, aftershave, pub. A Ford Capri, moustache, leather jacket, gold chain. Pint in his hand, heart on his sleeve, glint in his eye, a charmer everyone wants to be around. Considerate, honourable but you wouldn’t cross him. It’s a proper intense male scent. Honestly? It’s a tribute to my Dad. A real class act.”
The best-selling Booze & Baccy men’s fragrance flaunts top notes of Bay Rum poured over Orange and Bergamot. Cut with sensual Galbanum, White Thyme and cool Coriander it dries down to warm Maple and Vanilla Bean with a lingering impression of Frankincense and honeyed Tobacco Leaf, tracing the moments men pass into legend.
A perennial favourite, Booze & Baccy is permanently on the gift lists of discerning gentlemen across the globe.
Got yours yet?
Pin it & post it! @captainfawcett #captainfawcett #rickisamhall
]]>Captain Fawcett is proud to present his new 'Expedition Reserve Hair' Conditioner, the latest augmentation of his acclaimed ‘Hair Couture’ range.
This nourishing keratin-based formula is subtly fragranced with rich patchouli & invigorating cedar, infused with precious Wood notes, inspired by the rare aromatic oils Captain Fawcett collected upon his voyages around the globe. Ideal for layering long-lasting scent, it is a magnificent complement to his 'Expedition Reserve' Shampoo and Body Wash, essential for holistic rituals of sensory self-care.
An abundance of restorative organic compounds help restore & strengthen the hair whilst adding smoothness & shine to one’s crowning glory. Just the ticket to make thick, curly or wayward locks more resilient, supple & easier to style.
Freshen up by indulging in a jolly good cleanse with Captain Fawcett’s 'Expedition Reserve' Body Wash. Then massage unkempt locks with his corresponding Shampoo and finish with nourishing Conditioner for a comprehensive hygiene and hair care routine.
By Jove, you scrub up well sir!
Also available as part of handsome 'Expedition Reserve' Shampoo & Conditioner Gift Set.
Two Captain Fawcett ‘Hair Couture’ essentials neatly paired for the contemporary gentleman’s complete hair care routine.
Nothing Else Comes CloseTM
]]>This year discipline danced with defiance in an eloquent expression of individuality, and every decision left an indelible mark upon the vast canvas of time. The Right Hand Man embarked upon an epic two-wheel road trip, a renegade cowboy etched against the setting sun.
]]>Keeping A Stiff Upper Lip RegardlessTM.
Right Hand Man - 1
Wheels - 2
Countries - 31
Great Expedition - 71 Days
Ambassadors - 13
Distributors - 16
Barbershops - 118
Miles by Motorcycle - 13,267 & Counting
Total Mileage - Over 60,000
Litres of Fuel – 1,275
Kilos Gained - 5, Mostly Sausages
Bears in the Woods - 3, Do they? Obviously!
Ice-Creams - 6 million
Cable Car Rides - 2
Cases of Mistaken Identity - 6
Nose and Ear Waxes - Too Painful to Remember
Beard Trims - 45
Cups of Tea - 1,489
Slices of Cake - Undisclosed
Moments of Confusion - What?
Wasp Stings - 2
Misadventures on Public Roads - Multifarious
Impersonations of Local Wildlife - Numerous
Tilting at Windmills - Lifelong Habit
Arrests - Confidential
Showdowns with Hotel Receptionists - 3
Impromptu Folk Dancing - 7
Technology Mishaps - Countless
Twisties - Never Enough
Grip on Reality - Increasingly Tenuous
Breakfasts - 425
Moments of Cosmic Synchronicity - Infinite
Detected any peculiarities in this data? Feel free to alert the Captain’s mother who is currently on a top-secret botanical exploration with a Zen master of Serene Unconcern.
GREAT EXPEDITION STATS
Right Hand Man - 1
Wheels - 2
Days - 71
Countries - 27
Ambassadors - 7
Distributors - 14
Barbershops - 118
Miles - 13,267
LEG 1
Right Hand Man - 1
Wheels - 2
Days - 14
Countries - 3
Ambassadors - 0
Distributors - 1
Barbershops - 12
Miles - 2436
LEG 2
Right Hand Man - 1
Wheels - 2
Days - 26
Countries - 13
Ambassadors - 4
Distributors - 5
Barbershops - 36
Miles - 5280
LEG 3
Right Hand Man - 1
Wheels - 2
Days - 31
Countries - 17
Ambassadors - 3
Distributors - 8
Barbershops - 70
Miles - 5551
]]>What exceptional gift might encapsulate the journey from one’s wide-eyed boyish dreams to the rugged quests of manhood?
Captain Fawcett’s Limited Edition Monogrammed Leather Luggage Tag is beautifully handcrafted by the wallet and luggage maker to King Charles III.
Only 40 have been made.
Embossed with the legend ‘Beaten Paths Are For Beaten Men’, each tag is embellished by the gold symbol which adorned Captain Fawcett’s own travelling cases. Just the ticket for keeping track of your suitcase, knapsack or steamer trunks! This essential expedition accessory is crafted in deep tan leather with a secure brass buckle on the strap, and a window flap for your address card. Unless, of course one is travelling incognito.
Recalling the restless yearning of youth, when hope was as boundless as the open road, this keepsake is born from the timeless spirit of exploration.
Over time, genuine leather develops a rich patina, becoming a cherished memento, every mark a tangible reminder of roads less travelled and wonders seen. Made to stand the test of time, each scratch, each scuff becomes a chapter in the story that shapes the man.
For a lifetime of wandering uncharted ways and seeking the roads less travelled. Made for a lifetime of noble exploration.
Fit for the king.
SHOW NOW
]]>The delightfully helpful, madcap crew at Fawcett HQ have paused for just a moment to share a festive roundup of all they’re loving on the Emporium shelves.
Just the ticket to help you find the very best gifts for men this side of Christmas!
Ho, ho, huzzah!
Picks from the Right Hand Man
Tea, travel and simply terrific topiary. Chin chin chums!
Moustache Mug, Beard Oils, travel bags.
Picks from Left Hand Man
He loves Rock & Roll, put another dime in the jukebox baby!
Nebula range, Baseball Cap
Picks from the packing room elves
Busy, busy, busy, gentlemen’s essentials to keep things neat and tidy…
Brushes, combs, scissors, razors
The Ambassadors’ Selection
Simply the best for Fawcett VIPs.
Eau De Parfum, Faux Badger Brush, Shaving Soaps
The Barbershop Edit
Leave it to the professionals. As recommended by tonsorial artists across the globe…
Hair Tonic, Sea Salt Spray, Waxed Tool Roll, Pomades
The Captain’s Choice
The OG. Keeping A Stiff Upper Lip Regardless since 1905. Or thereabouts…
Expedition Reserve range, Moustache Wax, Eau De Parfum Original
]]>At last the Right Hand Man is homeward bound, hurling defiance to the wind as he swings by barbershops across the magnificence of Europe. Fuelled by the rhythm of rebellion he rides, the road beneath his wheels singing the song of freedom. So strap in tight and hold on for dear life, we’re riding shotgun on the Last Leg of Captain Fawcett’s Great Expedition 2023. Blighty here he comes - tally ho!
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DAY 16
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
To Bosnia, so tired I could sleep on the side of the road. Stop at the Dominion Barber Shop in Bijeljina. Saša is a Captain Fawcett stockist with lovely crew including Jelena, his wife, and Uros, their adorable toddler. We go onto a local restaurant for a light lunch. Light… are you kidding? Blimey this country knows how to eat good food. In truth Serbian cuisine is the best I have encountered to date on the trip! Just delicious. Jelena, CF's Bosnian distributor, is doing a stellar job in tough conditions. Kudos and thanks!
DAY 17
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Split, Croatia
On the way to Alen’s Barbershop in Sarajevo, I accidentally drop into the wrong shop. Say hi anyway, and it transpires that Peljto Barbershop is next door but one to Alen’s. Splendid! I speed on to Croatia. Frapporti Vintage Barbers (FVB) is hard to find, but so worth it - beautiful old school Barbershop est 1938 by Flavia’s Grandfather. Onwards to hip Mankaze, chatted to Klara who knew about my expedition via a post from Karlo in Belgrade. News travels fast! End the day dining by the Adriatic, under a full moon. Fabulous.
DAY 18
Grad Opatija, Croatia
Squeeze in visit to Barba Frane, recommended by Klara who said to ask for Bald Guy. I open the door and ask for Bald Guy. A bald guy responds in the affirmative. Seems I’ve got the right chap. After a chat, I leg onto that fabled road, the great Adriatic Highway. 150 miles and over four hours of unadulterated twisty bliss. The road hugs the coast as it winds its way north. Concentration is paramount! Impressed by my welcome at the Hotel in Opatija where Zina the warrior Princess is on reception. So pleased to have a sea view and a bath. One calming for the soul, the other for aching limbs. A handwritten welcome note and small box of delicious chocolates I later discover are made in the hotel’s very own chocolate factory. A veritable golden ticket!
DAY 19
Zagreb, Croatia
Programmed twisties to Zagreb, rode through Rijeka, lovely old buildings down by the port. I climbed higher and higher and into cooler Alpine temperatures, when you looked back you could see the coastline far below. Just stunning. Stumble up a mushroom festival, where fellow bikers Davor & Eka share a pumpkin dessert. Pass romantic but melancholy derelict castle in the village of Bosiljevo, crumbling dream with a hint of nightmare. Or were the shrooms repeating on me?
DAY 20
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Kristina & Mark at Feš & Nobl CENTAR, holding the fort for owner Joe. Great store with local regulars and cool barbering antiques. Then ARTÙ Barbershop. Meet another Kristina heading up a team of 6 predominantly female barbers. Light, bright shop above a bar. Superb. On to meet Željka at Fulir Barbershop, named after a famous Croatian movie about a hapless smooth operator who thinks every woman loves him. Funky vibes! Pleased to meet Lovro who’s followed the Captain’s adventures for years! And further excitement to visit Marco, aka Polyboy, at his way cool Polyboy Barbershop in a Biker Bar with workshop, motorcycle clothing outlet and Brutal Ink Tattoo parlour. Cool shop crew, Maja & Sasha. Their motto is ‘No School like the Old School’. This place rocks!
At Cookie Professional Barbershop, meet Sandra, kind shop manager who initially thinks I’m some kind of nutter (she’s not wrong). Lovely relaxing space to be pampered by one of five female hairdressers. Just wish I’d had more time to sample the delight. Kerfuffle at border. Am I becoming Mr Bean? Exhausted. Extract an ancient ham sandwich from my trousers for dinner.
DAY 21
Venice, Italy
Benji, manager of Brivec Barbershop comes in especially. Brilliant. Ask a customer in the chair being looked after by Nejc if he minds my taking some photos? He prefers not. Is he a wanted man? I too am wanted in some countries (mostly for driving offences). In others, I’m definitely not wanted at all. Hey ho! I’m in Venice. Captain Fawcett Ambassador Extraordinaire Fabrizio Bottos appears, who incidentally happens to be the reigning World Beard Champion. AHTH. We’re met by totally loveable, irreverent Barber Mattia Palazzi who takes us through labyrinthine passages, down dark alleys and across bridges (blimey, should have left a trail of beans!) to his brilliant ole skool Ca’ Bubi Barbershop. Then on to exquisite Barbería Amato, reportedly Venice’s oldest Barbershop, est. 1924. Met Alberto & Lucy the Dachshund. Also delightful is Pitzalis Barbershop, owned by the same family for four generations since 1957 (year I was born), now run by charming, yet formidable Irene. Simply superb. I love it all, especially the fish tank with the Barber’s Chair.
DAY 22
Modena, Italy
With Valentino from Bottega Della Barba, Captain Fawcett’s esteemed Italian distributor I visit the Ferrari Museum. Enzo was ‘a ferocious advocate of the religion of work and an insatiable pursuer of new goals’. Familiar? Back to Bottega Della Barba’s flagship shop La Barbieria di Milano, met by Captain Fawcett ‘Signature Series’ Collaborator and Ambassador Extraordinaire Alessandro Manfredini for a double date beard trim!
Later, there is an ‘Aperitivo con Barbuti’ party, brilliantly planned by Valentino's crew at stunning El Milagro venue. Owner Paolo is restoring a rare '51 Ferrari 225s with parts from all over the world - a ‘Boys’ Own’ dream! I tell Captain Fawcett's tale. ‘Vaffanculo’, means encouragement, no? Alessandro dives into 'Beard Season’, so we call Allie Astell, who sparked our collaboration way back when. Marco from Modena, who I met at Scapicchio’s Shaving Academy in Puglia, spills secrets of our world renowned Fig & Olive Shaving soap, linked to Al Capone. Leaving the crew to Barbara’s fabulous birthday bash, I catch a ride with Alessandro back to my castle. What a day!
DAY 23
Milan, Italy
Covered in insect repellent to fend off attack and smelling like a lemon I have breakfast. Valentino & Matteo arrive with creams and antihistamines. Set off on little itty bitty lovely motorcycling roads that only a local would know, past beautiful derelict farm houses and vineyards. Medieval Castles, lost to long forgotten causes, heading to Lake Garda via Mantova. Met by Andrea at KAIROS LA BARBERIA, CF stockist, with his friends Nicola & Alessandro, the chap behind Guilty Beard. Super! Fantastic lunch on the banks of Lake Garda courtesy of Andrea where i committed the cardinal sin of adding tomato ketchup to my Lasagne. Eek! Then to Romano da Brida’s Bullfrog, a sleek flagship amid gleaming skyscrapers. Attempt to keep pace with Romano’s Harley, navigating Milano's madness to Deus ex Machina, once an Aussie brand, now Italian. This is where Romano placed his very first Captain Fawcett order back in 2013. Romano's empire now encompasses 14 global shops. Incredibly cool.
DAY 24
Milan, Italy
My bike is burgled! Devastated! Meanwhile, my dear friend Francesco, the perfume maestro, is racing overnight from Sicily for a rendezvous. He drives like an ‘Italian Job’ stuntman, phone teetering on one knee, taking me traditional perfumery Scarazzini di Bagarotti A. & C.S.N.C, where Andrea hails Fawcett Shower Gels as being the best on the market! Bike theft blues lifted! Now to Romano’s private Man Cave, a wonderland of metal magic. At dinner with his wife, Anna Maria, and son Leonardo, we share 80s London nightlife tales. Turns out, we may have grooved in the same clubs, maybe even on the same nights. We bond not only over our grooming brands, but petrol and shared lust for life. Epic evening!
DAY 25
Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Navigating stress, still upset by theft I need to ride and get the wind back in my face. Feel better having left the city. I’m not a city person. Up through the Mountain passes bike running like a Swiss watch. It loves the cooler air. As do I!
I arrive in Lichtenstein a country of only 62 sq miles smaller than Washington DC and with a population of just 39,000 it’s the 6th smallest country in the world with the highest GDP per capita. At Pako’s Barbershop, BDA Bantam in the window, Nicholas makes coffee. He’s off to a party in Milan. Freedom of Barber life equivalent to Bikers. Back over the bridge to Switzerland and BARBERSHOP BUCHS to see Fabian and pals. Lovely old school shop, like a Gentleman’s club. All the best for his planned 2024 expansion!
Saw woman cycling with a horse. Have the mushrooms kicked in again?
Rush to Schaan and Musti’s Barbershop. Mustafa’s pal Sammy is in the chair, translating from Turkish whilst having the full treatment, hair wash, cut, shave and eyebrow pluck along with an ear & nose wax. Wow! Mustafa’s dexterity is magnificent!
DAY 26
Mindelheim, Germany
I meet the Steam Punk Ladies of Liechtenstein (who I know from Lincoln) for a mountain tour. Anna, her daughter Angela and little son Nico arrive with Tetley’s English Tea and real fresh milk, unbelievably kind! We take a chairlift to the top. Stunning views over the high passes once used by smugglers trading with Austrians in WW2 trading fabrics & cigarettes for butter, bread & vegetables. After a splendid lunch, I leave, crossing into Austria and over the Rhine into Switzerland, riding through four countries in just 4 hours. My hotel, is a lovely old water mill with river flowing under the floor. Bliss.
DAY 27
Munich, Germany
Meeting dear friend Andreas today, who heads Hair Pomades in Ottobrun and is Captain Fawcett’s esteemed German Distributor. At The Pomade Shop flagship store my old chum Stan Soldan, founder and company owner is unable to join me (damn Covid!) So Alex, shop manager, shows me their brilliant showroom where antique pomades are displayed alongside huge range of Captain Fawcett products. Next door is The Goat Barbershop where I say hello to Yasir and Husam, from Odessa in Ukraine, originally from Iraq. Barber nomads all. American Ted is in the chair, his dad a WW2 USAF pilot based in Germany. We are all migrants, one way or another. Andy suggests Captain Fawcett should make an oil based Pomade, medium hold. Noted!
Film an interview at The Pomade Shop. Chew the fat and a packet of chocolate biscuits. At Andy’s home, meet Karo his lovely wife. Back in town, riot police everywhere, tension in the streets due to world events. In a bar, I ring a bell hanging innocuously on the wall and discover this means I must now buy beer for all and sundry! Blimey they weren’t taking any prisoners! 35 euros down, but in truth a simply super day.
DAY 28
Zurich, Switzerland
Wake to church bells at ungodly hour. Realise my wedding ring is missing! Panic stations! Sediq, the night porter, and I turn the room upside down. Ring found. Inside my shower hat. Ooops! Marriage saved, but room like a war zone. Exit, stage right, to peaceful Switzerland.
A 200-mile ride at nutter pace to meet old mate Andre, a Portuguese barber who once worked at Savills in Sheffield. Following Barber Angel Tina's tip, I venture into Finest Barbers, ruled by Engels Rodriguez, a suave character from the Dominican Republic and Turkey. The shop, a superb relic from the 1950s, reputedly Zurich’s first barbershop, is a hive of activity. Luigi, the maestro, miraculously squeezes me in for a facial transformation - cheek shave, face massage, and beard tidy. They have another Barbershop at the Ace Cafe in Lucerne - do visit!
As darkness descends, I traverse the city to meet Eddine, pal of Sid Sottung, at The Barber. He has three Zurich shops including an Aveda Salon, all with a timeless sophistication - scotch on the rocks, discussions about global stock markets, and chat about classic cars. I love it! Bid adieu, dine on ramen and chocolate & caramel ice cream. Superb!
DAY 29
Langres, France
As I leave the city, am intrigued by a Triumph Motorcycle Shop, Ernes Euromotors Zurich, with Barber pole outside. I nip in. Dealer Tobias takes me downstairs to cool Café Razor Barbershop by Der Haarmetzger with images of Vlad the Impaler & Johnny BaBa, suggesting the owner is Romanian & possibly trained in Manchester? Alas, I never find out, he’s not here and with no time to lose I must press on. It’s a goddamn tight routine, only possible if journeying alone.
Arriving in Bern (one pretty city!) I head to the Pompadour Barbershop in a delightful ‘Jugendstil’ building next to the River Are. Greeted by Ermina & Guen who have prepared a perfect cup of tea (second one of the trip!) with fresh milk accompanied by Bärnerbär, bear shaped cakes. Lovely! It’s their head Barber’s birthday. Michel hails from Valencia and we have friends in common, not least Ivan from Galicia who used to work at the New York Barber Shop in yes you’ve guessed it…ruddy Rotterdam! The light and ambience in the Pompadour Barbershop ranks it among the very best I’ve ever visited.
To Besançon and Alois at Barber & Blake. Great drawings on wall created by artist Billy Blake, hence the shop’s name. The sun sets, as I thunder down picturesque country roads, mocked by a winking fuel light. Coast to a gas station in nick of time, bike and I running only on fumes. Tomorrow, Paris.
DAY 30
Paris, France
Sat Nav rebellion turns early departure into an 85-mile loop. Balls! Eventually I hit Paris. The Eiffel Tower greets me against a leaden sky. Meet Camille and Ludo from CF’s French distributors, O Barbershop.
We visit Gentlemen 1919, a vintage oasis exuding fantastic 'Goodwood' sophistication. Possible future Captain Fawcett stockists, fits like a glove! At the back, a 1920s 'Speakeasy' and ‘private’ cigar bar await. Cocktails flow before a cab to Le Bon Marche, the world's tip top, oldest department store. Rodolphe, owner of in-store Barbologie, a Captain Fawcett stockist, tends to me in his bustling 7-chair setup. After a stellar beard treatment, meet his wife Swanny & son Ezechiel - cool names for cool folks.
Cab ride to Le Bistro d’Henri, a must-book gem, and the Sunday tradition of Camille's 90-year-old Grandmère for two decades. Joined by marketing maestro Nelson from OBHQ. Delightful food, great company. Exhausted yet exhilarated. Tomorrow I set course for home.
DAY 31
Paris, France to Blighty
It’s been a ride on the veritable edge of insanity. A massive shoutout to Jenna for orchestrating this wild journey, and to all Ambassadors, Customers, and Distributors who added such flavour. Pure magic. I have had the journey of a lifetime, and this weary old cowboy feels complete. Simply magnificent. Thank you.
SPONSORS:
]]>DAY 1
Brussels, Belgium
Stunning autumnal floral window display at L’Atelier de la Barbiere showcased a host of Captain Fawcett’s ‘Gentleman’s Grooming Products’. Beautiful! Thankyou Llona and Boogie (King Charles Spaniel).
DAY 2
Brussels, Belgium and Mönchengladbach, Germany
Meet Morgan at Les Hommes, Scandi teak 50s style with working Belmont electric Barber Chairs. Fantastic! Accidentally feature in Chinese airline commercial being shot in Brussels’ famed Grote Markt. Go figure. Over the border to Germany. Welcomed by dear old friend and CF Ambassador Extraordinaire at his Herr Feldmann Barbershop. Cherry cake, good coffee, brilliant beard trim. Huge pleasure finally to visit Feldy-baby’s eclectic shop. A destination for Barbersride 2024? Check into my hotel, once a Catholic girls' school. I felt strangely at home. The shower graffiti is intriguing, although I suspect physically impossible.
DAY 3
Frankfurt, Germany
Visit Emrah’s sleek Men’s Room Barbershop. Wowser! Supercars outside, Frankfurt’s fast & furious footballers inside. Next stop Julie’s Barbershop, off the radar in an Edwardian ballet school. Lovely old oak panelled rooms host private celebrity clientele. If you know, you’re known. Then to Alex at Torreto Barbershop. Old school, buzzy, with signed photo of Mohammed Ali on wall. And he was the greatest.
DAY 4
Lauf an der Pegnitz, Germany
On the outskirts of Frankfurt, long queues are testament to Tamer’s legendary hospitality at The Man’s World 5 chair Barbershop. Brilliant. Onwards to Benny’s Haircut in medieval marketplace of Lauf an der Pegnitz. Hidden labyrinth of cellars underneath the town. Dates chiselled in the walls from 1600 and 1680. Benny has his own dungeon! Amazing. Vintage Vespa, homage to 60s & 70s counter culture. Coolio!
DAY 5
Prague, Czech Republic
Travelling! The highway’s my melody. Take the long way round, carving my destiny into the Sat Nav. My offbeat track involves a surprise ferry crossing. Who knew? Mercury flirting 30 degrees and 7 hrs in the saddle. Ditch the twisties and leg it the hotel in for a long soak. No bathroom. Not happy. Good news, I make it to a Czech restaurant just in time for a plate of Tradicni Svickova na Smetane ze spickovaneho hoveziho chuck tenderu, karlovarske knedliky, brusinky. Rolls off the tongue. What a day!
DAY 6
Prague, Czech Republic
With Jan, Captain Fawcett’s Czech Distributor, heading to Gentleman Store. Cool man stuff, luggage and grooming kit (including CF). Meet sales guru Daniel and photographer Peter. Then to U Britvy, original CF stockist in CZ, where Tomas is ably standing in for proprietor Patrick. Excellent Barbershop with first class display of Captain Fawcett products and early CF photos - nostalgia hit! On to Rebell Barbers owned by biker George. Custom Sportster outside - a work of art. Next Jan shows me the amazing new flagship ‘Gentleman’s Store’, in Karlin, uber hip part of Prague. Bound to be a huge success! At PenShop I meet Miss Dita Von Penz who sells, you guessed it, pens! She’s a delightful purveyor of writing implements and gentleman’s grooming supplies, including Captain Fawcett. Jan & team have curated a fantastic CF brand presence in Prague! Thankyou! Back at Gentleman Store for photo shoot and pod cast, to be translated into Czech. Hodně štěstí!
DAY 7
Vienna, Austria
At Royal Hair Update, esteemed Captain Fawcett stockist. Ralph, a regular Royal Ascot attendee owns a lovely shop with a Triumph Triple outside. Hit Angelo’s Borbone Barber Club, tipped off by my pal Jerome Kantner. Salon, Training Academy, Barbershop, Retail Space - beyond excellent! At Wipp Concept I’m met by Krys, (Polish) Danylo, (Italian) Umit & Musti (Turkish) who know the Captain (British) well. Brilliant set up combining Barber and Coffeeshop with Gentlemen’s VIP Concept Wellness Spa Experience. Very cool.
DAY 8
Budapest, Hungary
See dear friend Feri & daughter Franciska at Harley-Davidson. Met Feri back in 2007 working on my last Movie, though no idea it would be the last at the time. No-one knows when it’s their last movie. We should live with this in mind. At Black Sheep Barbershop greeted by manager Dora. Photos by Tim Collins on walls, brilliant captures of Fawcett Ambassadors, Ricki, Erik Pascal et al in Amsterdam way back when. Then meet Captain Fawcett’s excellent new Hungarian distributor. Swing over to Selected Barbershop by Klippers. killer space, killer crew. Back at the hotel, chilling with Melinda, chocolate mogul. Successful? I should coco!
DAY 9
Cluj-Napoca, Romania
300 miles to ride. Aching shoulder, wrist. Jeez. Need to pace myself. Torrential rain. Lovely welcome from Raluca at Bandit Barbers, super busy, magnificent salon. Another great welcome from Rares and Denys at Barber Society. Talk motorbikes, drink coffee. Jeez, when did I start drinking coffee again? Top-notch barbershop. Too tired for proper meal, grab ice cream and peanuts. Stumble to bed. Tomorrow, I ride the Transfagarasan.
DAY 10
Transfagarasan, Romania
At Mr. Friz Parlour (in Cluj-Napoca) have second breakfast with Sebastian and Tania. Mr Friz himself, splendidly moustachioed, rocks up like a Marvel Super Hero, in metal motocross gear and gold crash helmet. Way cool! Quick tour of the antique-filled shop; already behind schedule. Who planned this relentless schedule? Fire the fucker! Oh wait, that's me!
Onto Goodfellas Barbershop. Lost. A helpful chap leads the way, navigating back streets. Am I assisting in my own kidnap? Finally reach Goodfellas, closed tight. Bananas. Leave Cluj, bound for the Transfagarasan. Zoom through the Transylvanian Basin, sun on my face, visor up. Smack! Insect's parting shot is venomous. Fuck it’s painful! Famed route, 60 miles of pure bliss. Stunning, challenging ride. Wowser! One of the most stunning motorcycle roads in the world. Bears on the roadside, doing that thing they do in the woods. Cautiously snap photos hoping they don’t catch wind of my peanut stash. Hotel. Dinner with three Bulgarian chaps, talking bikes and the state of the world. Fucking brilliant day!
DAY 11
Bucharest, Romania
Meet Victor & Andrei from Smart Barber Solutions, Captain Fawcett’s esteemed Romanian distributor. Go to Cutlassic Barbershop, owned by Mihail. Delighted to meet his wife Irina and Tudor, their motorcycle-mad toddler! Did I mention they stock Captain Fawcett?! On to House of Barbers where award-winning hair stylist Christian runs a renowned Barber training academy. Brilliant design-led interior. Next stop Creative Barber. Valentin has three Barber Shops, one decorated with military memorabilia, others in very different style. Spoke with Daniel and Razvan the friendly Razor Man. Popped into Smart Barber Solutions HQ. Impressive! Left to the sound of a baritone echoing through the streets from the open air opera. Unreal!
DAY 12
Lovech, Bulgaria
Face swollen, inordinately stressed, I enter Bulgaria, furthest destination from home on this Leg. Medication and extreme heat making me dangerously drowsy, a soporific dream-like state I once paid a fortune to enjoy. Hotel overlooking the river is an absolute beaut. Grab a most welcome bath before walking down to the town square. Eat. Bed. Sparko.
DAY 13
Sofia, Bulgaria
Meet Reuben of Elephant Book Store, Captain Fawcett’s esteemed Bulgarian distributor and Georgi & Zara Ilian from Bulgarian TV. To Balkan Barber, run by Jordan and his brothers. Very Zen. Ate delicious Buffalo Tomatoes grown by his grandmother, perfect accompaniment for Reuben’s Banitsa. Then to see Kotoy at Rock’n’Roll Barbershop, 60’s vibes, Skate and Surf Boards, Vintage Playboys. Ace! Onwards to talk with my old chum Kiril about getting Sid Sottung over for education event at his first class Head Hunters Levski Barbershop training academy. Meet Master Barber Artyom, cool bearded, tatted body builder. Forwards to Mihail’s beautifully decorated Brasnarnicata. Coffee and biscuits. As I left, his pal Alexander muttered ‘He’s come in like Father Christmas, eaten all the cookies and fucked off.’ Lock up your food chaps, the RH Man is coming! Now I’m Prison Bound: superb haircuts, ink, and Jameson-fuelled madness. Bulgarian TV cameras rolling as I judge the Barber Competition. Reuben has totally nailed this whirlwind tour. What a blast!
DAY 14
Belgrade, Serbia
Stop on the deserted motorway hardshoulder and write up my notes. See column of migrants from Afghanistan. In truth we are all nomads, seeking a better world. Arrive in Belgrade. Break every road rule riding across a city park and along cycle lanes. No room to swing a cat in the hotel. Just as well, as I didn’t bring one. Meet Nemanja of Grooming Masters, Captain Fawcett’s esteemed Serbian distributor. Immediately calming. Eat well at a riverside restaurant whilst planning next day.
DAY 15
Belgrade, Serbia
Incredible day! Nemanja pulls out all the stops. Hugely enjoyable! First to Bricko Barbershop. Vlada is in top hat and tails whilst his chum Stefan plays traditional Serbian folksongs on his trumpet! The shop resembles a Fin de Siècle Parisian Music Hall. Amazing! Head to meet Dusan at Berbernica Legat. Back wall is decorated with a huge mural by Dusan’s brother, reproducing Picasso’s famed anti-war painting Guernica. We speak of heritage, children and the future. Next to Dino Barbershop where Dino offers superb Russian sweets and fabulous hospitality. And on to great old school Tanko where Dusan and Ilija, CF stockists, give me a bottle of Slivovich, safely transported back to Blighty! After swift bowl of tomato soup, I meet Bojan and his lovely dog Joca at Monkey Kings. Incredible back bar, made from vintage aeroplane fuselage! Next to The Barbers. Karlo, Milan and Bata have 3 shops with a fast and furious vibe! Buzzing! And so to Grooming Masters, Nemanja’s flagship - so impressed by the presentation of CF’s products! Head to Ivan Barbershop. Ivan is a keen biker, we’re met by his mates on Harleys. Cool. Last, but by no means least, Barber Academy, training school run by Scumbassador Karlo. We tarry awhile, speaking of mutual friends and adventures yet to come.
9 shops visited on this excellent, totally bananas day! More tomato soup and I’m out for the count. 15 days done, 15 to go. Have to pace myself better if I am to complete this challenge in one piece. But I’m on the flip side, Blighty bound.
]]>I am absolutely delighted to present the Limited Edition ‘Nebula’ Guitar Flow Pick #03. Third in a stellar lineup, these highly collectible guitar picks are designed and created by the splendiferously hirsute, multiple award-winning rockstar guitarist John Petrucci, in collaboration with Jim Dunlop USA, a veritable legend in the history of modern music.
]]>Greetings chums...
I am absolutely delighted to present the Limited Edition ‘Nebula’ Guitar Flow Pick #03
Third in a stellar lineup, these highly collectible guitar picks are designed and created by the splendiferously hirsute, multiple award-winning rockstar guitarist John Petrucci, in collaboration with Jim Dunlop USA, a veritable legend in the history of modern music.
#03 is cosmic purple with galactic silver stars. By Jingo, whatever next?
ONLY 1,000 available!
The First and Second Limited Editions of the ‘Nebula’ Guitar Flow Pick sold out super fast!
Grab Pick #03 while you can! Deep, celestial violet infused with glittering constellations…it's simply out of this world.
These special Limited Edition, easy to use guitar plectrums will be despatched with each 50ml ‘Nebula’ Beard Oil
Be aware - this offer is available only while stocks last.
When they’re gone...they’re gone!
]]>
Buy One, get 50% Off Another, on Captain Fawcett’s very own Congo Single Origin Coffee! Mix and match, if you will, choosing from medium ground or whole beans for one’s personal grinder. I say!
Captain Fawcett’s Coffee of Choice is rich and earthy with a crisp citrus tang, echoing the volcanic minerals and verdant hills of East Congo, whence it is sustainably sourced. Cutting through the early morning mist, it is the distinctive aroma of high altitudes and long histories, grounded in the here and now, for this most most excellent coffee enables the growers - the Kawa Kabuya Cooperative - to provide schooling for their children.
A mug of freshly brewed coffee, hot, steaming and robust, is a moment of pure satisfaction to be savoured throughout the day.
Time to gather one’s thoughts before the world awakens, declaring a chap’s readiness for whatever the morning may bring. Or, perchance, an afternoon interlude, a balanced pause in the hustle and bustle, recharging focus for the final stretch. And then, there are those urbane fellows who favour a refined indulgence as the day begins to quiet. The twilight coffee is reserved for sipping slowly, cherishing the complex aromas of a well-brewed cup. Just the ticket for unwinding after dinner or enjoying a tête-à-tête with a friend, an evening coffee is a ritual of sophistication. A mellowing warmth allowing conversation to linger just a little longer, wrapping up one’s day with a touch of class.
Imported and roasted by Tropic Coffee, King’s Lynn, England on behalf of Captain Fawcett Ltd.
Tasting notes:
A word from The Captain:
“Upon an expedition to observe and record the behaviour of the most magnificent Mountain Gorillas in this, their natural habitat, I lost my bearings in the mist and stumbled wearily from the rain forest to the shores of shining Lake Edward. Delirious and overcome by thirst, it was in truth a thing of wonder to be welcomed by local farmers who swiftly revived my flagging spirits with some of the finest coffee I’d ever tasted. Within no time at all I was full of beans and raring to press on regardless."
Carry on.
]]>Celebrating three phenomenal years since 'Nebula' launched into the stratosphere, Captain Fawcett’s Signature Series collaboration with Rock Star John Petrucci is a truly stellar composition, nothing less than a tribute to the grand symphony of the universe. Order between 29.9.23 - 2.10.23 for a majestic 30% discount on Nebula’s entire Rock ’n’ Roll line-up.
]]>
Celebrating three phenomenal years since 'Nebula' launched into the stratosphere, Captain Fawcett’s Signature Series collaboration with Rock Star John Petrucci is a truly stellar composition, nothing less than a tribute to the grand symphony of the universe.
This cosmic fusion of olfactory brilliance opens with exhilarating top notes of bergamot & aromatic myrtle, riffing with the bittersweet tang of grapefruit, soaring above an intense earthy heart of violet orris, dark coffee & deep woody cedar. Seductive musk pulses a smoky backbeat, laced with smouldering vetiver & luxurious leather.
Rock Royalty meets Gentleman Explorer. Quite simply out of this world.
In the words of Mr Petrucci:
“I love everything about Nebula. I’m so impressed by how well the products work and how incredible they smell. But also the great storytelling, the lore and voice of the mysterious Captain Fawcett. This company is awesome. I love everything about it. I hope my 'Nebula' collaboration with Captain Fawcett keeps evolving.”
Quite so, sir. Play on.
]]>As the last heat of summer gives ground to wild autumn winds, the maverick road warrior that is the Right Hand Man is back in the saddle again. PART THREE of the GREAT EXPEDITION 2023 sees our high plains drifter set course for the ancient heart of Europe.
All in all, the Great Expedition will cover over 16,000km across 27 countries.
Tune in for emotional reunions, beard trims and ice creams galore as the Right Hand Man shares Captain Fawcett’s award winning Gentleman’s Grooming products with a cavalcade of chums old and new! By Jove, the European barbershop community is a wonder to be seen!
As the RHM says again, louder for those at the back: “To cement good relationships it’s vital to meet people where they are. My maxim in life is to make people smile wherever possible, it opens hearts & doors alike. Just as a traditional barbershop is hands-on by nature, it means the world when you show people the respect of visiting them on their own territory. ”
In Part Three Captain Fawcett and his barber chums will be hosting magnificent barbershop events the like of which may never again be seen in this lifetime. Join him on the road for the Grand Finale! Tally ho!
Tune into Fawcett’s Diary for regular updates from the road and use the Live Tracker to keep up with the Right Hand Man in real time! Host barbershops are marked on a specially designed map highlighting the route.
To celebrate the Great Expedition, all purchases of two items or more from Captain Fawcett’s Expedition Reserve Signature Series will be despatched with a free souvenir Great Expedition Sticker and Badge. Simply splendid!
#thegreatexpedition
]]>DAY 15 - TALLIN, ESTONIA
The boat for Tallinn! Impending chaos looms thanks to the Youth Song and Dance Celebration. At last! An opportunity to show off my Morris Dancing skills, gleaned from a short-lived membership of the Terrington St Clement Folk Society!
Battling through biblical storms, finally made it to meet Peter & Noa, whom I’d met at several Barber Connects, at their Nope Barbershop. Great guys! Alas, our attempt to visit the Dance Festival was in vain, for with the streets were rammed with cavorting crowds we were unable to get anywhere close. What a pity. I now felt rather silly wearing my brightly coloured ribbons and anklet bells. Hey Ho.
Consoled by top grub at a splendid traditional Estonian restaurant. And then it hammered down. Later, I remarked on the dreadful weather to the von Stackelberg Hotel receptionist. “It’s always like this here,” she retorted. Balls, thought I, for despite wishing to drop a few kilos, I’m loathe to shrink in the rain.
Half way round the trip. 213 kilometres from the Russian Border. Tally ho!
DAY 16 - TARTU, ESTONIA
Before leaving Tallinn I met Maiga & Mihke, owners of Kuninghabe (Kings Beard) and the Captain’s esteemed Estonian & Latvian distributors. Lovely, cheerful couple! And so to the prestigious I.L.U shop in Ülemiste Shopping Centre and Kaubamajailumaailm Beauty World in the Viru Shopping Centre. Hugely pleased to see Captain Fawcett’s products beautifully displayed and in good company. A great job, well done!
We then visited the UNESCO 14th century Heritage Old Town. As a member of the Hanseatic League, over six centuries ago Tallinn had prosperous mercantile links with King’s Lynn. Trade helps the World go round, what ho?!
At a huge ‘King’s Feast’ at the Old Hanse restaurant I was presented with a delightful medieval style leather flask embossed with the CF logo. How lovely!
LATER THAT DAY…
As I left Tallinn it was once again bucketing down. When the rain stopped, the wind whipped up, every gust a side swiper. Exhausted by fighting the gale to keep the bike upright I could have easily pulled over and slept on the verge, for this was really dangerous. Bone-chilling rain set in. I eventually arrived in Tartu in need of coffee (I don’t drink coffee) and electrodes to my frozen nether parts. If only I knew where I’d stashed the Ball Wax…
Dried off at the delightful Heritage Antonius Hotel and jumped back on my bike to meet friends at the Khaled Barbershop in the Kvartall Shopping Centre. Egad! Their great shop is situated on the second floor! Negotiated the lift with Khaled’s help and rode through the Mall. Law abiding citizens watched open-mouthed! Unhealthy interest from security. Blagging it, we promised not to start the engine again ;}> and made it to the Barbershop riding through Lego & Crocs stores.
Greeted by Terje, shop manager & Khaled’s delightful wife, I settled down to cheese, grapes and biscuits. Lord, can I eat anymore?! ‘Beard Meets Food’ springs to mind! Khaled most generously tidies up my beard.
I talk with hairdresser Iryna, who shared a story of true horror, having recently escaped to Estonia fleeing the Russia/Ukraine war. My very best to her and her family.
Too full for dinner. Yet strangely found space for more ice cream at La Dolce Vita.
Then it started to rain. Thank You & Good Night.
DAY 17 - RIGA, LATVIA
Great breakfast at the Antonius Hotel, shared with fellow Bentley Driver Club member Rodney Twiss & his charming wife Regina. True eccentrics after my own heart. Hope to catch up at Goodwood!
The road calls and I’m bound for Riga. Another first for me. Let’s Ride!
In Riga it belted down. Pulled into burger bar to find my bearings. Joined by Wolfgang a KTM rider from southern Germany who’d kept pace with me on the road. We talked the TET (the Trans Euro Trail) a hazardous challenge best ridden in pairs. Not for me - these days I favour a hot bath and comfy bed, 200psi Egyptian cotton sheets are but a bonus.
Lovely Vita stood in the street to wave me into Kowarows Barber Shop where I was impressed by the black and gold decor, a beautiful luxurious interior! Recalled Dubai or similar oil rich state.
In treacherous Riga rush hour traffic, I headed to the old town, arriving unannounced at the Wood Religion Barber Shop. Edgar, the Harley riding owner, showed me round. Delighted to see a couple of Captain Fawcett Booze & Baccy products on the shelves. Huzzah! Wood Religion is the oldest Barbershop in Riga, fitted out like a Gentleman’s Club, as once found in St James. Edgar now has 7 Barbershops in Latvia including ‘Knockour’, catering for hip skateboard sports bar dudes. Popped down to take a look and I was made most welcome. Thank You!
By the time I’d checked in to the Hotel Kristofs, all the restaurants were closed. Balls! Having not eaten a sausage for some hours, I was famished. Resorted to Maccy D’s. May God help me for I ate of the mighty Cheeseburger & Fries swilled down with Fanta and it was good!
Off to bed for tomorrow I ride to Lithuania.
DAY 18 - VILNIUS, LITHUANIA
Truly excited about visiting the birthplace of so many of my work colleagues. It’s a 200 hundred mile ride so time is of the essence.
Arriving in Vilnius, I went straight to ‘Beardland Barbershop’. Politely declined a beard trim having had six such procedures in a matter of days. Opted for the Nose & Ear waxing instead. Good Lord! Truly painful! You know when you’ve been plucked! Great crew, great Barbershop.
Raced across town to the superb Shakespeare Boutique Hotel. Picked up by Gintaras & Simone who recently moved back to Lithuania after 14 years in King’s Lynn. Simone, now an MP’s aide, took me on a private tour of the Lithuanian Houses of Parliament. What a treat! After being presented with some lovely gifts, Gintaras and I went to a traditional restaurant, Berneliu Uzeiga, in the old town. Fantastic mushroom soup in a bowl made from bread!
Nearly 6pm and I still had two more appointments. Man, this was gonna be real tight!Arrived somewhat breathless at ‘The Lady Barber’. Refused the most generous offer of yet another Beard Trim (Jeez I’ll have none left) but had a great laugh with the gals. Pop by and say hello if you’re in Vilnius!
Last stop, my dear chum Elidijus at Elizaro Artele Barbershop. Met his delightful wife Zivile and Paulius his extraordinarily tall (or maybe I’m extraordinarily short) biker/barber brother. And Vadim, his chief Barber with a beard to die for! Lovely third generation shop run by a chap in the know! The heritage shines through. Took my leave via one little naughty ice cream. I slept. For tomorrow I invade Poland.
DAY 19 - OLSZTYN, POLAND
After a superb breakfast I ride to meet Captain Fawcett’s esteemed Lithuanian distributors Liutauras & Aiste at their ‘In Beauty’ HQ. Delighted to meet Professor Eugenijus Skertstonas, an author of no little repute! Eugenijus presents me with a signed copy of his book ‘Vyras ir Veidrodis’ (The Man & the Mirror), a treatise on Gentleman’s Style. Unbelievably it features Captain Fawcett products. Truly humbled! Also, a great interview with Urte from the prestigious Stilius (Style) magazine!
After a second breakfast of Tea & Pastries I head south west to Poland. Emerging from a thunderstorm into sunshine, I set course for the twisties to Olsztyn. Check into the Krzyne lake-side Hotel Przystan with its own private beach. Blimey! The restaurant is first class. I order a virgin Mojito, Pad Thai & Ice Cream. Knackered after riding nigh on 300 miles. In bed by 9.30. For tomorrow looms large.
DAY 20 - POZNAN, POLAND
Lovely lakeside breakfast! I ride out of town by the scenic route via Ostroda where I’m advised there is a famed patisserie. Unable to locate the Holy Cake I settled on a garage sausage and rode hard and fast over 220 miles to reach my dear friend Adam Szulc’s Barbershop by 5pm. Wowzer what a welcome!
Greeted by Adam’s whole family, all his Barbershop crew and more than 40 of his esteemed clientele including a number on motorcycles! Amazing! Union Jacks in abundance, a delightful home-made Polish pastries and pots of superbly brewed English Teas including Earl Grey. Simply splendid! Marcellina, the daughter and a girl in the know, had even taken the trouble to source ‘real’ non UHT milk. Thank you so much! First cup of tea in three weeks. Bliss!
Spoke with a huge number of interesting people including the owners of a cosmetic manufacturing company Pan Drwal who had travelled down from Gdańsk to say hello and had a strange conversation where I confused Warsaw with Walsall. Thank God I don’t drink anymore.
Signed a few tins of Captain Fawcett’s world renowned Hair Pomade and was presented with H-D goodies from the local HOG Chapter. Respect to all Brothers in the Wind.
Luckily just next door to my hotel was a restaurant - Dmuchawce. I settled for KLUCHY RECZNIE ROBIONE ZAPIEKANE Z BOCZKIEM, SZPINAKIEM W SMIETANIE which loosely translates as casserole-potato dumplings with bacon, cream and spinach. Huge! And most tasty!
Truly fantastic day! Huge thank you to everybody who contributed so much to it.
DAY 21 - BERLIN, GERMANY
After waffles at the Solei Boutique Hotel, back at Adam Szulc Barbers I discover, Adam’s dear wife Paulina has taken my washing home and returned it cleaned and pressed! The Szulc family rock! Make sure you grab a copy of Adam’s latest book (in English) ‘Barbering. A Complete Guide to Men's Haircuts’, currently a US Top Ten best-seller.
Quick beard line tidy up thanks to Nikodem. Then met renegade Chemical Engineer turned Barber, Tom at the Greaser Barbershop, inspired by 1950s US greaser culture, exemplified by Coppola’s movie ‘The Outsiders’. Stay Gold.
Berlin or Bust. Arrived hot and bothered and headed to ‘Beardy Boys’ Barbershop, recommended by Jaap the Captain’s Dutch distributor. No meeting had been planned, in truth, and the shop was closed so left some judiciously placed stickers and a business card. Chanced upon ‘Hokey Pokey’ the famed ice cream parlour reputed to be the best in Berlin. Treated myself to a triple Vanilla, Chocolate & Caramel tub, devoured still in my bike kit in the sweltering heat. Magnificent.
Arrived at the Honigmond Boutique Hotel looking like an unkempt Vagabond (which I suppose I am). No matter! For tomorrow is another day!
DAY 22 - EISENACH, GERMANY
Up early at 4.30am. No appointments and 2 days to reach Luxembourg. I program the twisties. Today should be fun.
I ride through the deserted Sunday morning streets of Berlin. I now get up at the time I would have once fallen into my pit. Having drunk & snorted enough for two lifetimes, I’ve been sober for the last seven years. I have no regrets and don’t miss the hangovers or wondering what the hell I said last night. My last drink was a glass of Malbec in the Malmaison in Manchester, November 5th 2016. Huzzah!
Famished and with cafés closed, I sat on a park bench and made a cheese sandwich with warm freshly baked bread. Met a fox cub in dire need of water. We shared a one way conversation. He/she viewed me cautiously but ran off when I reached for my camera. A truly wonderful encounter.
After a hair-raising ride, arrived at the delightful hill top Berg Hotel with stunning panoramic views over the Eisenach countryside. Calmed by a bowl of delicious cold Cucumber soup and Roast Duck, which my pal the Fox would love to have shared. Head to my pit knackered but with a broad smile. Today has been good!
DAY 23 - HELPERKNAPP, LUXEMBOURG
Shared breakfast (different plates ;}>) with Bruno the delightful Labradoodle who was masquerading as Wolfhound. Took a short walk up the hill to look at a huge tower called Burschenschaftsdenkmal. Try saying that with a mouthful of Wiener Schnitzel.
Rain threatened. I legged it to Luxembourg on the insanely fast moving auto route.
I was due to meet Natalie, daughter of my dear departed friend Angelica who had lived with my close friend Frank, who has also travelled on. We shared a delightful lunch. I was reintroduced to Milos, Natalie’s young son whose life still stretches before him.
I left and made for The Old School Barbers in Lintgen 3 miles away. Closed, as is usual on a Monday, so left Great Expedition Stickers & badges next door and I headed to the Temp d’or Hotel Vieux Chateau, my accommodation for the night. Wowzer! It’s a 12th century castle set in 500 acres of private forest! Just stunning! Superb, beautifully decorated rooms. I will be back. Joined briefly by my dear chum, Ashleen, whom I worked with many moons ago on a disaster movie called ‘Save Angel Hope’. I should say it wasn’t intended to be a disaster movie and some of the crew are yet to be paid! Meanwhile, the hotel conjured up a salad going to the trouble of creating a carrot Moustache. Marvellous!
DAY 24 - ANTWERP, BELGIUM
Wow, this must have been one of the quietest and most tranquil places I have ever laid my head. Surrounded by forest and deep valleys I could have stayed forever.
Headed North to Wemperhardt on the Luxembourg/Belgian border and I dropped into see Tom and the crew at the Old School Barbers in the Massen Shopping Center. Pushed my bike into the centre and right up to the shop where it was great to chat with Tom, himself a keen biker. We spoke of Bikes, Captain Fawcett, Bikes & Captain Fawcett & Bikes. A truly lovely, hugely popular store. Great decor and loyal clientele who travel miles for a great hair cut.
I took my leave and headed North. Country number 12. I’m on the home stretch now! No time for twisties, I ride fast through ever increasing amounts of traffic.
On the outskirts of Antwerp, tailed 4 orange clad police motorcyclists who cleared a path through the mad rush hour. A blast! Cars were pulling over both left and right to let this cavalcade of authority pass unhindered with yours truly tagging behind!
Eventually, riding in the wrong direction down one way streets and wildly off road through actual city parks - I arrived hot and bothered at the brilliant Baberazzi Barbershop. Phew was I glad to be here! After a couple of bottles of coke (once it would have been a couple of lines) I had regained my composure and had a great time catching up with Beng and his stylish barbers.
To cut a long story short, after absolute traffic hell, I arrived at Hotel Franq to find there was no parking. Rescued by a delightful cove who turned out to be none other than the resident Michelin starred Executive Chef Tim Meuleneire who on my behalf orchestrated a room upgrade! Just brilliant.
After washing and changing I went to thank Tim for his generous assistance, whereupon he suggested as the restaurant was quiet, would I care to eat there? Fantastic. My meal of Langoustine Soup followed by Lamb Cutlets was preceded and supplemented by an array of beautiful gourmand treasures. The Thai style Salad on a base of meringue was to die for! Went to bed delighted & replete. Thank you Tim.
DAY 25 - ZOOTBOMMEL, NETHERLANDS
Before leaving, met with Sandra, who used to work at Captain Fawcett before moving to Antwerp some years ago. A delight to meet her again after such a long time!
Headed to the lovely Chaplin’s Barbershop. After a lovely chinwag with Rinni, I left Antwerp and aimed for Hoogstraten, 25 miles north.
Excited to visit the totally bonkers biker & barber chick Karolina Uzaite aka Lady Barber Q. Dear Karolina had made a scrumptious Cheesecake and between us and a client we polished off half of it. A delight to be in Lady Barber Q’s hugely energetic and animated company, a Free Spirit! Long may she reign!
Other 25 miles on, I arrived at the picture postcard town of Zaltbommel. Stopping to take a photograph of a castle I was accosted by a young cove, who turned out to be Daniel, from MacLaine’s Barber Shop. Making use of his military career, he’d been sent out to find me in case I was lost in the field.
Bert. MacLaine’s proprietor, who was wearing a tartan kilt, greeted me with a host of bearded ne’er do wells including esteemed Captain Fawcett Ambassador Erik de Winter. A truly brilliant reception! The beers were flowing and Daniel went off in search of Herring!
Raw herring with onions & gherkin in a bread roll, known locally as a Broodge Haring, is a love/hate local delicacy. I love it. Spent a few hours in the delightfully Scottish themed shop. Bert is an honorary member of the Clan MacLaine and regularly visits his Edinburgh kinfolk to add to his kilt collection. What a man, what a Barbershop! Och Aye!
Saying ‘beannachd leat’ I left for a Bed and Breakfast, welcomed by Marjolein to an old thatched ferryman’s cottage in the nearby village of Alem. Went to Bert’s for dinner, his home is on the banks of the huge River Waal, a major shipping channel. You could idle the day away watching ships pass peacefully by. Bert’s delightful wife Elise had prepared a most excellent barbecue - two Barber Q’s in one day! We ate homemade pizza followed by Beef Steak & Lamb & Apricot kebabs. Superb. Did I mention the local Ice Cream?! What a splendid evening. Having been driven back to my B&B by Guus, another kilt wearing barber, I fell into sleep. What a truly fantastic day. Thankyou to everyone!
DAY 26 NETHERLANDS TO NORFOLK
I awoke early, said goodbye to mine B&B host and packed up the bike for the last time on Leg 2. Headed to Utrecht to meet my old pal Pascal Bannink aka Monsieur Moustache.
Pascal’s Barber Shop is one of the most delightful and quirkiest spaces I have ever visited and I’ve been to a few! Housed in a pillar of a decommissioned lifting bridge, the main shop has a 240 degree view which, once upon a time, would have afforded the Bridge Keeper uninterrupted views up and down the canal.
It’s a veritable man cave of period delights! Just stunning and well worth the detour from Amsterdam & Rotterdam. Be sure to tell the Monsieur the Captain sent you.
I had an hour to reach the ferry. Just time for one last Broodge Haring, then rode like a madman in pouring rain to the boat.
I first arrived in Holland with my pal Jerry, as a penniless bum way back in 77. The adventures we’ve shared would fill a book. Names changed to protect the guilty & innocent alike.
Slept through the 6 hour crossing for I was pooped immaculate. Docking at 19.45 this weary Road Warrior rode the 3 hours home through heavy rain. Still haven’t shrunk.
What a ride!
2 wheels . 26 Days . 13 Countries .4 Ambassadors . 5 Distributors . 3750 Miles . + 5 Kilos
“Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!”
Attrib to Hunter S Thompson, Bill McKenna and more
]]>Hands off your razors chums, Saturday is World Beard Day! For this day ONLY Captain Fawcett will be giving you a mighty 30% discount on all Captain Fawcett Beard Care products. Do tell all your splendidly bearded chums! Just head to Captain Fawcett's online Emporium between midnight tonight and midnight on 2 September [UK time].
]]>For this one majestic day ONLY Captain Fawcett is giving you a mighty 30% discount on all Captain Fawcett Beard Care products. Just make your Beard Care order before midnight UK time on Saturday 2nd September!
Tell all your splendidly bewhiskered chums the good news! Fancy bagging a hirsute haul of simply superb Gentlemen’s Grooming bargains, bound to boost healthy beard growth for the new season? I should coco!
Nourish and condition facial fabulousness with the Captain’s exclusive range of bespoke Beard Balms and Beard Oils, each with its own delectable fragrance. With nifty travel sizes included, how about giving something new a try?
Including precision Grooming Scissors, Beard Combs and Beard Brushes, this 24 hour Gentleman’s Grooming discount is just the ticket to shape cheeky chin straps and whip your whiskers into line.
Or, dare I say it, get ahead of the holiday rush and treat your bearded friends and family to the perfect gift this Christmas! Don’t wait until the last minute…again! With splendid gift sets for bearded gents, savvy shoppers can have everything wrapped up by the end of September. There’s nothing like getting things done early to earn yourself a head start on merrymaking!
All Hail The Hirsute™
Discount will be automatically applied at checkout
]]>DAY 1 - KING’S LYNN AND BEYOND
Somewhat bemused by HQ’s palpable glee as I kicked my mechanical beast to life and vanished in a blaze of glory, or so I like to think. One must hold fast to one’s dream! I can’t help but wonder, are they tossing their hats in the air, glad to see the back of me? No matter. For a lifelong nomad chasing the horizon there is naught but the endless highway. Colour me gone.
DAY 2 - ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Pit stop to see the legends at Schorem, ‘The Holy Ashtray’, where tales are spun from whisky and smoke. Crossed trails with a Tasmanian traveller, chasing razors and dreams. Mane manager Mikey trimmed my beard. Absolutely superb skills! And thus I made ready to travel on! To the New York Barbershop, where beauty blossoms from the bygone docks. Met a Spanish blade whisperer from Galicia who came to NYBS for but a month yet 4 years passed in a moment. What a place, and for all its troubles, what a truly wonderful world!
DAY 3 - AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
From one Dam place to another! At Barbershop Van de Hare, Marc and Miranda pinned the Silver Barber Pole brooch to my lapel, a nod to my service to the international barbering industry. What an honour! Thankyou so very much! Look out for their Barber Society Magazine and book into Amsterdam’s annual event Barber Society Live! Hightailed it to the Red Light zone and Shab’s District Barbers, a tonsorial beacon right up the Captain’s strasse! Joined by Jaap of Hair Pomades, Captain Fawcett’s first ever commercial distributor! A marvel and delight! After a cracking evening with Captain Fawcett Ambassador Extraordinaire Mr Snorrie Morrie adding his moustachioed flair to the mix, I finally hit the hay.
DAY 4 - HAMBURG, GERMANY
Now to Friseursalon Rieckhoff, a veritable hallowed haven of Pomade, established in 1952 by owner Jens’ illustrious father. A bonafide time machine of fragrance and boundless delight!
DAY 5 - SVENDBORG & NÆSTVAD, DENMARK
Crossing the Danish border I met with Ben, of Mr Higgins Barber, a true Colorado spirit whose shop is a two-wheeler’s dream, in the window a custom Royal Enfield bobber stole the spotlight! Next it was off to The Gentleman's Barbershop. A symphony of yesteryear, decked out with Mantiques and rather tantalising art of a somewhat risqué nature, with a wine bar tucked alongside. Supper on the terrace was nothing short of magnificent! A heartfelt ‘Tak!’ to George, Captain Fawcett’s Danish distributor, for the most generous gift of delectably mouthwatering chocolate-coated liquorice.
DAY 6 - COPENHAGEN, DENMARK & LANDSKRONA, SWEDEN
Rode into the ever lovin’ arms of Mermaid City! Ahoy there Kristine at Aurbakken Hairdressers! And whom should I find in the barber’s chair? None other than Lars Elbaæk, the national TV sensation known for his magnificent upper lip tamed with Captain Fawcett’s very own Moustache Wax! Huzzah! Then lo and behold, as fate would have it, Rob from Dashing Blades, strolled right through the door, on a charming weekend break! Gadzooks! Talk about a small world! Without wasting a moment, I raced on, across 5 miles of the Oresund Bridge (linking Denmark and Sweden) to Landskrona and HK Barbers. On this Midsummer festival day, the crew should have been gadding about on a well earned day off, however they came together in a true gathering of blades, as owner Hussein opened especially for my visit and the whole gang from both barbershops (another being in Malmo) came to salute this wandering soul’s quite deranged journey. Incredibly cool indeed! Cheers to the whole crew!
DAY 7 - BORAS, SWEDEN
Next stop Johnssonn’s Herrfrisering. A third generation delight of minimalistic charm carried into the future by Oliwer, son of my dear friend Kenneth Johnsson. Several ‘Bearded Villains’ assembled to extend the warmest of welcomes. This international brotherhood raise phenomenal amounts of money for charities. Kudos to you, gentlemen, for your outstanding efforts!
DAY 8 - HVALER, SWEDEN
A day veiled in solemnity. I travelled to salute a fallen friend, Per Simble, and mourn the hour of his passing. Our remarkable adventures will remain forever alive in my memory. I ride on, a kindred spirit riding shotgun, his noble epitaph etched on the restless wind.
DAY 9 - OSLO, NORWAY
Arriving into Oslo, my grieving heart was warmed by Marius’s beard grooming mastery at Pels Pels Barbershop. There I had the great pleasure of meeting the renowned Scandinavian Beard Club, Skjeggmann, and their President Morton Braathen, famed for the Father Christmas Run, delivering presents to Children’s Hospitals! The evening rolled on to a rendezvous at a local watering hole, with Lars, Captain Fawcett’s highly esteemed Norwegian distributor.
DAY 10 - OREBRO, SWEDEN
Before my onward odyssey, I nipped to Pels Pels Schuzler, a splendidly old school Barbershop. Swing by and tell ’em the Captain sent you! Meanwhile, back across the frontier to Sweden. Today is Jessie’s Barbershop, where all-female barbers wield razors and wild rebellion! Each resembles a Vargas 50’s Pin-Up, a superb homage to biker belle tattooed culture! Yet this lonesome drifter must journey on. To Chia's Barber Shop, for pastries, coffee and a few frames of pool. In truth I had not played for years, but believe I acquitted myself well enough. Pot black chums! Such generosity, as the crew was due to depart for Alicante at 2am! I was thrilled to encounter Rajan who’s just been working in a Barbershop in Long Sutton, only 6 miles from my Norfolk home. What are the chances? Unreal!
DAY 11 - SPÅNGA & BROMMA, SWEDEN
A boisterous red carpet reception awaited me at Georges Klipp & Barbershop where bearded brethren gathered for a marvellous banquet. The Swedish Bearded Villains made a grand entrance, with none other than my dear chum Kim Johansen in tow, a most highly esteemed Captain Fawcett Ambassador! Then it was off to The House of Barbers in Bromma, Swedish epicentre of gentleman’s grooming dreams! What an extraordinary showroom it was! Truly magnificent! Thankyou! It was a delight to be met by more barbers, bikers and beards, including Fawcett Ambassador Extraordinaire Carl-Johan Kellgren of Herr Svartskaegg Tattoo. Kindred spirits all! Huzzah!
DAY 12 - STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
Pulled up at Mannerstals Herrfrisering, a charmingly old school Barbershop, passed down through three generations. With roots reaching back over 70 years, it is currently under the stewardship of Peter and his son Alan a previous Swedish Barber of the Year winner. The symphony of time continues to serenade us all!
DAY 13 - HELSINKI, FINLAND
Leevi, proprietor of Greasy Fingers and Captain Fawcett’s esteemed distributor in Finland rode in all the way from Tampere. We headed to Dick Johnson, a truly great Barber shop, ‘approved by Satan’ and adorned with, ahem, somewhat playful curiosities. I say! Did I mention his best-selling ‘Ball Wax’? Cover your eyes Mother! Superb beard trim by Irish wandering barber Dara who hails, once upon a time, from Belfast.
DAY 14 - HELSINKI, FINLAND
After a hearty breakfast (is there any other kind?!) I made a pause at Por Vida Barbering for a chinwag with infamous Reuzel Scumbassador Uncle Ronnie. In his notorious ‘safe space for dangerous people’, strangely, I felt quite at ease. Yet the road whispered its silent summons. Onward.
Thankyou Finland.
‘Faster, faster, faster until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death…’
Hunter S Thompson
Stay tuned for more of Richie’s barbering adventures as he leaves the Nordics behind and sets sail for the heartland of the Baltic. Next stop Estonia.
TO BE CONTINUED… VIEW VIDEOS HERE
]]>Make summer holiday packing simple and take only what you need. Whether you’re planning the adventure of a lifetime, a smart city break or a buckets and spades weekend at the good old British seaside, Captain Fawcett has it covered! So take the stress out of travel preparations with this handy check list of gentleman’s vacation essentials.
]]>Fear not, dear sir, for indeed you do! Captain Fawcett at your service.
Make summer holiday packing simple and take only what you need. Whether you’re planning the adventure of a lifetime, a smart city break or a buckets and spades weekend at the good old British seaside, Captain Fawcett has it covered! All you need to add is an enormous ice-cream. Chocolate sauce and extra sprinkles? I should coco!
So take the stress out of travel preparations with this handy check list of gentleman’s vacation essentials. No need to lift a finger, unless, that is, it’s to beckon the waiter.
The Captain's Travel Essentials:
Now that’s what I call an upgrade! Simply first class!
Safe travels gentlemen.
]]>As June unfolds to high summer, that intrepid explorer the Right Hand Man is on the road again. PART TWO of the GREAT EXPEDITION 2023 sees the mad fool and his motorcycle take to the majestic highways of northern Europe. Expect old friends, emotional reunions, new faces, hair cuts, beard trims, moustache waxing, barbershop banter...
]]>As June unfolds to high summer, that intrepid explorer the Right Hand Man is on the road again. PART TWO of the GREAT EXPEDITION 2023 sees the mad fool and his motorcycle take to the majestic highways of northern Europe.
All in all, the Great Expedition will cover 16,000km across 24 countries. Expect old friends, emotional reunions, new faces, hair cuts, beard trims, moustache waxing, barbershop banter and the Right Hand Man showing off Captain Fawcett’s award winning Gentleman’s Grooming products to all and sundry! Good man! Above all, the idea is to connect with the European barbershop community and share good times on their home turf.
As the Right Hand Man says, in a moment of unusual clarity: ‘In my experience it’s vital to cement relationships in real life and make the effort to meet people on their own patch. I always prefer a handshake over a Zoom call! Just as the traditional barbershop experience is hands-on by nature, tangible moments of connection are the heart and soul of good, honest trade.’
Hear Hear!
In Part Two Captain Fawcett and his barber chums will be hosting magnificent barbershop events in some of the world’s great northerly cities. First to the Netherlands and Germany! Then forward to Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, the mighty Nordic nations whence courageous seafarers once set sail! Next, the Right Hand Man will carve a path through the ancient Baltic landscapes of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. And ride ever onwards to Poland and the heart of Europe! Lastly he’ll be heading back into Germany, to Luxembourg, Belgium and at last to the Hook of Holland, where we trust the wind will stand fair for Harwich and grant our wild wanderer a safe voyage home.
INTERESTED IN HOSTING A BARBERSHOP EVENT FOR PART THREE?
Do contact the Captain to find out more about being part of the adventure! He would be thrilled to put you on his map…
Keep track of the Great Expedition…
Tune into Fawcett’s Diary for regular updates from the road and use the Live Tracker to keep up with the Right Hand Man in real time! Host barbershops are marked on a specially designed map highlighting the route.
NAB A VERY SPECIAL FREE GIFT!
To celebrate the Great Expedition, all purchases of two items or more from Captain Fawcett’s Expedition Reserve Signature Series will be despatched with a free souvenir Great Expedition Sticker and Badge. How marvellous!
#thegreatexpedition
]]>Announcing Captain Fawcett’s scorching Midsummer sale - for 1 week only! 19-25 June 30% CODE: SONOFABEACH. Calling the boys of summer! Yes chaps, you heard it right! Captain Fawcett is giving you a cool 30% off everything in his ENTIRE COLLECTION! But items are available only while stocks last, so make sure you dive in now to secure your favourites!
]]>Feeling the heat?
Announcing Captain Fawcett’s scorching Midsummer sale - for 1 week only!
19-25 June
Calling the boys of summer! Yes chaps, you heard it right! Captain Fawcett is giving you a cool 30% off everything in his ENTIRE COLLECTION!
But items are available only while stocks last, so make sure you dive in now to secure your favourites!
Sun lover or shady character, as the season ascends to its zenith, upgrade your Gentleman’s Grooming game and embrace the art of effortless summer style.
Explore Captain Fawcett’s online sanctuary, an oasis of elegance in these blazing hot days. Discover revitalising rituals to quench thirsty skin, haircare inspired by laid back beach life, precision grooming tools shaving the edge off city heat and sensual men’s fragrances for long summer evenings. Captain Fawcett’s meticulously crafted self-care essentials combine the very finest ingredients with expert formulations in a veritable revelry of refined summer grooming.
Like your first holiday romance, this sizzling sale is fleeting, so visit Captain Fawcett’s online Emporium before midnight BST on 25th June.
“Summertime is always the best of what might be”
- Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine]]>
Captain Fawcett is extremely chuffed to win ‘Men’s Grooming Products of the Year’ at the Central England Prestige Awards. The Awards celebrate small and medium-sized enterprises who have proven their success by thriving in their own highly competitive community. I say! The Central England Prestige Awards 2022/23 Guide Is Now Out.
]]>Captain Fawcett is extremely chuffed to win ‘Men’s Grooming Products of the Year’ at the Central England Prestige Awards. The Awards celebrate small and medium-sized enterprises who have proven their success by thriving in their own highly competitive community. I say!
Over 3,712 nominations were received, coming from highly esteemed industry experts, readers and satisfied customers. If you were one of those - a hearty thanks from the Captain and crew!
Awards Judge, Andrew White, commented: ‘All winners in the Central England Prestige awards guide have shown an exemplary commitment towards their business, overcoming local and global challenges to succeed in our awards.’
The Captain noted: ‘It is a huge honour to be recognised amongst fellow local businesses and sole traders. There’s no room to hide in a smaller business such as Captain Fawcett. To punch above your weight, as every one of us strives to do, we rely on the whole bally crew! Suffice to say, the Captain his jolly gang may be found at HQ, celebrating with a slice, or perchance two, of Victoria Sponge. Here’s wishing a hearty congratulations to all other winners & nominees alike. Huzzah!’
The Central England Prestige Awards 2022/23 Guide Is Now Out. For more info or to vote in upcoming awards poise your clicking fingers here!
]]>The Right Hand Man has set off on an epic motorcycle road trip, covering 16,000km across 24 countries. The journey will be in 3 stages, and began with 10 days in Spain. Various events were planned with host barbershops. The idea is to enjoy reunions with old friends, meet new people and present the brand's products, but above all, to share great moments on Spanish soil! Let's catch up...
]]>Let’s catch up with the blighter…
What’s the Great Expedition all about?
I’m calling in at barbershops across Europe to deepen friendships and make new acquaintances - barbers, customers and distributors alike. Why Europe? Well, as the poet John Donne said ‘No man is an island…Each is a piece of the continent/ A part of the main’.
And of course after Brexit our own little island is no longer dealing with a single state (the EU) but 27 individual countries, each with their own nuances and customs requirements. Some 78% of our orders go overseas and, furthermore, Captain Fawcett is hugely proud to be named a Department for Business and Trade Export Champion for 4 years running.
So in my experience it’s vital to cement relationships in real life and make the effort to meet people on their own patch. I always prefer a handshake over a Zoom call! Just as the traditional barbershop experience is hands-on by nature, tangible moments of connection are at the heart of good, honest trade.
Why did you choose to start in Spain?
In truth, it’s because of the writer, Cervantes! In Madrid I was delighted to see superb statues of my hero Don Quixote and his long suffering side kick Sancho Panza. It’s remarkable that the name of the character has become an adjective, understood in so many languages. People who’ve never read the book know what it means to be Quixotic. Across cultures, it defines being true to one’s dreams, however madcap they may appear! Perhaps the older we are, the more we yearn to revisit the dreams we had in youth. Travel is one such dream. I am eternally delighted by the world’s infinite capacity to enchant and surprise.
And there are few places as wonderful as a barbershop. I seek out barbers the world over! Wherever you roam, the barbershops are safe, welcoming spaces for people from all walks of life. A stranger is invited to make himself comfortable, be looked after and leave feeling like a new man. To me, that’s what Don Quixote reminds us of. We do what we do to fulfil our sense of who we are. And for friendship. There is nothing more precious.
Where was your first stop?
I’m travelling solo, but in Spain had the invaluable assistance of Captain Fawcett’s highly esteemed Spanish distributor Juan from El Mirall Distribuciones. Juan met me on a rainy morning in Bilbao and proved my Sancho Panza throughout!
First I was whisked off to see Dany of La Barbería del Norte, who hosted the first night of the Great Expedition with cocktails and an array of bikes. I was made to feel very welcome - fabulous shop and lovely people! It was a brilliant start!
Did the trip go according to plan?
They never do! Challenges are all part of the adventure! I was in all sorts of trouble when my bike lost power on a sleepy Saturday afternoon 4.5 hours from Valencia. Tian of Tian Stil Home in Vinaròs, who is a previous Barbersride participant, was an absolute hero. Not only did he lend me a bike, I was also the guest of honour at his splendid Bikers, Beers & Beards seafront gathering in Alcossebre. I couldn’t have wished for a more uplifting welcome following a very trying day. It is, after all, the particularly difficult times that tend to reveal the best of humanity and indeed, the very best of the Bike/Barber Brotherhood. Thanks to Tian, the show could go on! What a guy!
Were there any stand-out barbershops?
The truth is that every single barbershop has been an absolute joy. From Tian’s invaluable assistance on the road to the magnificent Brothers Barber Shop and Brothers Tattoo who hosted a great party on the last night after a last minute change of plan! I’m hugely looking forward to meeting more of Europe’s magnificent barbering community as the journey continues.
Is there a personal element to this quest?
Yes, there really is. I love the open road. The horizon has called me all my life. There is a fantastic Spanish phrase ‘El momento para viajar es ahora’, simply meaning ‘The time to travel is now’. As JRR Tolkein, wrote, ‘the road goes forever on’, only my time spent on it is finite. So this is, too, an inward journey. Why am I doing this? The simple answer is simply that at present I can…but tomorrow? Well, that’s another day…
Where are you going next?
The Great Expedition Part Two is in June/July and Part Three in September/October.
For Part Two, all being well, I plan to visit Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Malmo, Gothenburg, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Gdańsk, Poznan, Berlin, Luxembourg and Antwerp.
Then in Part Three you’ll find me somewhere in Germany (Munich), Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and France (Paris). However, we all know what happens to the best laid plans of mice and Right Hand Men...so keep a keen eye on Captain Fawcett's website and social channels for all the latest details!
Hope to see you along the road!
Where is the Right Hand Man now?!
Tune into Fawcett’s Diary for regular updates from the road and use the Live Tracker to keep up with the Right Hand Man in real time! Host barbershops are marked on a specially designed map highlighting the route.
A SPECIAL FREE GIFT
To celebrate what might just be the greatest road trip of all time, all purchases of two items or more from Captain Fawcett’s Expedition Reserve Signature Series will be despatched with a free souvenir Great Expedition Sticker and Badge. Huzzah!
THANKS TO THE MAGNIFICENT HOSTS
Juan, Lorena and Allie from El Mirall Distribuciones
La Barbería del Norte - Bilbao
Chamberí 5 Barber Shop - Madrid
Amarcord Store - Madrid
Barbería El Mentidero - Madrid
Urban BarberShop - Granada
Barbería Capri - Alcossebre
Tian Stil Home - Vinarós
Luis Villa Barbería - Zaragoza
Brothers Barber Shop and Brothers Tattoo - Bilbao
And thanks also to:
El Barbero (Great Gentlemen & Great Greasers) - Bilbao
Iroco Barber Club - Madrid
Alvaro The Barber - Logroño
and Nick Sanders for his help and inspiration
Thoughts from some of Spain’s finest barbers…
‘In our barbershop we use a careful selection of quality brands. We chose Captain Fawcett because the products offer exceptional performance and use high quality ingredients for both hair and beard care, guaranteed to contribute to the well-being of clients’ hair and beards. We're proud to contribute to our local community, participating in local events and supporting charitable initiatives and we care about getting to know our customers, hearing their stories, and building lasting relationships, so it was really fantastic to host Captain Fawcett’s Great Expedition here in Madrid.’
Daniel Perales from Chamberí 5 (Madrid)
‘Tian's Barbershop is a landmark for almost all the town’s bearded men and those from many kilometres around. Every year we hold a fantastic event specially for bearded men so it was incredible to welcome The Right Hand Man as our 2023 guest of honour! My barbershop is a meeting place, where you can fix your beard, then have a beer or a Barber’s gin while listening to a live music session. It’s a vibe! Captain Fawcett totally gets that. It’s about friendship. Brotherhood. Captain Fawcett rocks.’
Tian of Tian Stil Home (Vinaròs)
‘We’re all about the atmosphere from the moment you enter, the beautiful aromas, the care with which we deliver classic barbershop services such as traditional shaves and the quiet soul, rock or hip hop music in the background. Our barbershop advice is good vibes and of course a good beer!
It’s important to help our clients treat and manage their hair and beard at home so that they always look good. We love working on beards and use the full range of Oils and Balms from the prestigious Captain Fawcett brand. The Great Expedition is a brilliant idea for bringing us all together!’
Daniel Ortega of Urban BarberShop (Granada)
‘We want clients to relax and feel at home when they’re in the barbershop. Our customers deserve the best. That is why we always use top quality, leading brands that inspire us with confidence - such as Captain Fawcett!’
Dany of La Barbería del Norte (Bilbao)
]]>Need help finding the perfect present for discerning Dads? No problem dear chum! From groovy gifts for first time Dads to traditional style for beloved grandpas, Captain Fawcett’s Emporium is your one-stop shop for absolutely everything a fantastic father could want.
]]>Beard Oils, Moustache Waxes, a delightful men’s Fragrance collection, luxe Hair and Body Care for the Home Spa, Shaving kit essentials, stylish men’s accessories and all manner of sustainable gifts for vegan Dads, Jack the Lads and splendid Old School Gents. Dapper dude, country squire, intrepid adventurer or sensitive soul…Gentleman’s Grooming gifts never fail to delight father figures everywhere!
For every Dad has his Day.
Carry on that man.
PS
Is your pater is an absolute stinker? If the sorry blighter is total shower, then treat yourself instead, by Jove! You’ve earned it dear chum. Keeping A Stiff Upper Lip Regardless.™
]]>One Man. Two Wheels. Over 10,000 miles across 24 countries…
To celebrate what might just be the greatest road trip of all time, all purchases of two items or more from Captain Fawcett’s 'Expedition Reserve' Signature Series will be despatched with a free souvenir Great Expedition Sticker and Badge. Huzzah!
Just add the code FREEGIFT at checkout and your parcel will soon be on the way.
Captain Fawcett’s 'Expedition Reserve' range includes Gentleman’s Soap, Body Wash, Shampoo, Shaving Cream, Post-Shave Balm, Hand Cream and the Gold Award-winning Moisturiser (Best New Male Skin Care Product - Pure Beauty Awards 2021) All products shared the same subtle fragrance, enabling gentlemen to layer the delectable aromatics of musky patchouli and warm cedar infused with precious wood notes - and smell magnificent all day long!
Starting in Spain on 7th May Captain Fawcett’s trusty Right Hand Man set off on an extraordinary solo motorcycle road trip across Europe, visiting chums old and new. The Great Expedition will see host barbershops inviting customers to local events where The Right Hand Man will showcase the best of British Gentleman’s Grooming expertise and share inspirational personal stories about how a humble kitchen experiment became an iconic global brand. Simply splendid!
The Right Hand Man Says…
"Whilst AI may well be fiendishly clever, it cannot replicate the sheer spontaneous joy of simply being human. By its very nature, the traditional barbershop experience is hands-on. As well as sprucing up one’s appearance, having a delightfully relaxing shave or hair cut, the barbershop environment is all about having a chat, a laugh, a drink, a hug, a handshake. It’s about the sensual things - scent of perfume, a head massage, a luxurious close shave. These tangible moments of connection combat isolation and celebrate togetherness. They are the stuff of life!”
Use the Live Tracker to keep up with the Right Hand Man in real time!
Tune into Fawcett’s Diary for regular updates from the road…photos, stories and up to the minute mayhem guaranteed!
Host barbershops are marked on a specially designed map highlighting the route.
From Here to There & Back Again…
The Destinations
Part One - 7-21 May 2023
With special thanks to El Mirall Distribuciones for Expedition logistics and support.
Part Two - June/July 2023
Amsterdam - Hamburg - Copenhagen - Oslo - Stockholm - Helsinki - Estonia - Latvia - Lithuania - Gdańsk - Berlin - Luxembourg - Antwerp.
Part Three - September/October 2023
South Germany - Czech - Hungary - Romania - Bulgaria - Serbia - Croatia - Slovenia - Italy - Switzerland - Paris.
]]>Captain Fawcett’s award-winning ‘Hair Couture’collection provides a full range of men’s hair care and hair styling products. And there are more to come later in 2023! Hairzzah! To celebrate the long awaited completion of the Captain’s extraordinarily handsome quartet of Patent Pomades, every order from the ‘Hair Couture’ collection will include a highly collectible ‘Hair Couture’ card.
]]>To celebrate the long awaited completion of the Captain’s extraordinarily handsome quartet of Patent Pomades, every order from the ‘Hair Couture’ collection will include a highly collectible ‘Hair Couture’ card, featuring one of ten Exceptional Gentlemen. Showcasing ten distinctive hair trends, each card includes suggestions for styling the iconic looks at home. Simply Splendid! Collect the whole set!
Add a dash of history...
Inspired by a boyhood love of trading cards, Captain Fawcett’s ‘Hair Couture’ League of Exceptional Gentlemen series is an homage to the fashion for Victorian Cabinet Cards.
It is believed the fashion for calling cards began in 15th century China, gaining popularity in 17th century England during Regency times. In Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, the Dashwood sisters know Edward Ferrars is in town when he leaves his card: “Edward assured them himself of his being in town, within a very short time, by twice calling in Berkeley Street. Twice was his card found on the table, when they returned from their morning’s engagements. Elinor was pleased that he had called; and still more pleased that she had missed him.” The equivalent of two WhatsApp ticks remaining disappointingly grey.
By the reign of cheery old Queen Victoria, long before smartphones and selfie sticks, one had to visit professional photographer to sit for a portrait. These little images were incorporated into small rectangular calling cards, also called visiting tickets, compliments cards or cartes des visites by our esteemed European chums. The Victorians were a somewhat flamboyant bunch, favouring cards with extravagant embellishments and gold accents. The usage of these involved mind-bending convolutions of complex etiquette designed to catch out social climbers in a web of eternal shame. I say!
In 1863, a London studio - Windsor & Bridge - innovated a process creating photographic prints large enough to mount on stiff card with the photographer’s details embossed below the image. Too big - and expensive - for merely leaving as calling cards, people proudly displayed them in their parlour cabinets.
They were hugely popular, until Kodak introduced the Box Brownie camera in 1900 and amateur snapshots became part of everyday life.
One might say Cabinet Cards were the precursor of today’s selfie. Contrary to the reputation of Victorians being rather stuffy, Cabinet Cards often showed people fooling around with silly props and outrageous outfits, full of visual jokes. Hence the mugshot of Ricki Hall, notorious ringleader of Captain Fawcett’s League of Exceptional Gentleman - caught red handed using the Captain’s range of hair products!
Captain Fawcett’s ‘Hair Couture’ collection. Proudly made in the UK.
'Nothing Else Comes Close.'™
]]>At long last Captain Fawcett’s Hair Pomade collection is complete! Captain Fawcett’s ‘Strong Hold Patent Pomade’ offers sculpted definition for medium/thick hair with a brilliant high gloss finish. Perfect for creating a range of super gleaming styles from majestic straight-up pompadour to bad boy quiff, and polished contemporary crops to vintage pin-up kiss curls.
]]>Captain Fawcett’s ‘Strong Hold Patent Pomade’ offers sculpted definition for medium/thick hair with a brilliant high gloss finish. Perfect for creating a range of super gleaming styles from majestic straight-up pompadour to bad boy quiff, and polished contemporary crops to vintage pin-up kiss curls.
Subtly fragranced with delectable spiced wood notes, this Strong Hold Patent Pomade locks rebellious strands in place with long-lasting, immaculate shine. Presented in an environmentally friendly reusable container, the handsome tin complements others in the range, creating a highly collectible complete set.
Created due to phenomenal popular demand, Captain Fawcett is delighted to augment his award-winning male hair styling essentials with this brand new Strong Hold Pomade.
‘The packaging is bloody brilliant. The container is easy to grip and incredibly friendly to use. It’s also very large so you really get your money’s worth. Fantastic both for barbers and anyone styling their hair at home.’
- Sid Sottung
'Keeping A Stiff Upper Quiff Regardless'.
Captain Fawcett’s versatile and effective Patent Pomades are part of the Captain’s ‘Hair Couture’ collection, his superb full hair care range, providing everything you need…and more!
Proudly made in the UK
]]>Splendid news! Captain Fawcett’s Putty Pomade has been announced as a Finalist in the Pure Beauty Global Awards 2023. Huzzah! The Pure Beauty Global Awards independent judging panel is constituted of experts and industry insiders with a global influence. Recognition from such highly esteemed judges as being amongst the very best in the global industry is truly wonderful.
]]>Splendid news! Captain Fawcett’s Putty Pomade has been announced as a Finalist in the Pure Beauty Global Awards 2023. Huzzah!
The Pure Beauty Global Awards independent judging panel is constituted of experts and industry insiders with a global influence. Recognition from such highly esteemed judges as being amongst the very best in the global industry is truly wonderful.
Launched in July 2022, Captain Fawcett’s Putty Pomade is one of a new range comprising four delectable Hair Styling Pomades created in response to popular demand from both professional barbers and home customers. The Strong Pomade launches soon - watch this space!
The Pure Beauty announcement comes as Captain Fawcett launches a handsome new promotional campaign. ‘Hair Couture’ showcases the Captain’s full range of Hair Care and Styling products, with more to follow later in 2023. Nothing Else Comes Close.
Meanwhile, the Pure Beauty Global Awards Finalists will be assessed by the expert panel of judges themselves, as they test, comment upon and select the final winners, who will be announced on 25th May during a virtual ceremony.
We look forward to the next level of judging! In the interim, jolly good luck to all in the running. Onwards!
]]>Last month the Right Hand Man was seen horsing around in majestic India…Travelling with videographer extraordinaire, Bryony Grainger, the irrepressible adventurers met my dear chum Viraj Singh of the Jodhpur Company to do a spot of secret filming. Intrigued? Watch this space!
]]>Travelling with videographer extraordinaire, Bryony Grainger, the irrepressible adventurers met my dear chum Viraj Singh of the Jodhpur Company to do a spot of secret filming. Intrigued? Watch this space!
Viraj is the most highly esteemed chum with whom Captain Fawcett co-created the Award-Winning Maharajah Signature Series. From driving through England in a hand built 1910 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost to speeding motorcycles and galloping steeds in India’s desert regions, together these intrepid gentlemen have no limits!
Futhermore, traditionally a pen and ink sort of fellow, to document his journey, Captain Fawcett ventured into the 21st century and road tested the wondrous Polarsteps travel app. Polarsteps enables contemporary explorers to record their extraordinary adventures as they wander the world. Born ‘not at a desk, but on a catamaran half-way across the Atlantic’, this thoroughly modern iteration of the old school travel journal is a most fitting evolution for a dauntless chap like the Captain.
Indeed, when The Right Hand Man sets forth upon his magnificently madcap Great Expedition, he will be utilising Polarsteps to share his adventures across 22 European countries.
You’ll be able to keep in step by following LIVE updates on the Emporium’s dedicated page. Or, indeed, join him for a real life rendezvous!
Captain Fawcett’s Great Expedition begins in Spain. May 2023.
From here to there and back again.
Howzat?!!
]]>You may have noticed, recently Captain Fawcett has introduced an array of splendid new gentleman’s grooming products. And I am hugely excited to say there is more to come! As such…we must make room, so a few favourites are about to disappear from the shelves and be archived for good. This is your chance to snap up some of the UK’s best grooming gifts for men!
]]>You may have noticed, recently Captain Fawcett has introduced an array of splendid new gentleman’s grooming products. And I am hugely excited to say there is more to come!
As such…we must make room, so a few favourites are about to disappear from the shelves and be archived for good. This is your chance to snap up some of the UK’s best grooming gifts for men! Included are such items as gentleman’s grooming gift sets, beard care accessories, traditional shaving brush, tattoo salve, handsome gift books and the iconic, eco-friendly reusable Rockwell razor - perchance it’s time to shop early for Father’s Day! Remember chums, our inventory of these products is limited and once they’re gone, they’re gone forever!
Naturally, it's nostalgic to see old friends go, but rest assured, the elves of Fawcett HQ are busy spring cleaning to make room for spectacular new male grooming products already in the pipeline. Huzzah!
Your highly esteemed custom is, and will always be, my greatest honour and delight. Carry on.
]]>Captain Fawcett is celebrating the new season with a spiffing 20% off the whole Triumphant Signature Series until midnight on 31st March 2023. Captain Fawcett’s Triumphant collaboration with actor and comedian Rufus Hound is a most magnificent Signature Series comprising a Beard Balm, Beard Oil, Moustache Wax Eau De Parfum and even a Triumphant T-Shirt. Splendid!
]]>Captain Fawcett’s 'Triumphant' collaboration with actor and comedian Rufus Hound is a most magnificent Signature Series comprising a Beard Balm, Beard Oil, Moustache Wax, Eau De Parfum and even a Triumphant T-Shirt. Splendid!
Triumphant is an exuberant, heady fragrance, nothing less than the racy days of early English Springtime dancing in a bottle, or, indeed, a tin!
Inspired by the brio of Mr Rufus Hound, rejoicing in the balmy air whilst taking his beloved motorcycle for a spin through England’s green and pleasant land, the very essence of the awakening countryside has been spun into a beguiling perfume. Jubilant top notes of Bergamot, Lime & Ylang ride rhapsodically through dappled glades of Blackcurrant, Clove & Galbanum grounded by a sunlit base of earthy Sandalwood, Ambergris & Musk.
In truth this is simply a delightful alchemic concoction and as such I wager this to be one of the best male fragrances for spring, surely one of Fawcett’s finest!
Treat yourself to a splendid gift for the new season, or, perchance, shop early for Easter, Fathers’ Day or any other joyous festival you might fancy! Not sure? Try a tester! Spring is Sprung! Huzzah!
And now for a few words from Mr Rufus Hound…
‘It was whilst I was sporting a particularly lush ‘English handlebar’ that I first encountered the Captain and his melange of magical moustache managers. The array of oils, waxes and parfums were never far from my washbag or my whiskers. When the Captain asked, what my favourite smell was, my answer was immediate.
I ride a Triumph motorcycle in an open face helmet. On those glorious, rare days of our national summer, to be on a British bike, whizzing through little villages is heavenly. The combination of sunshine, flowers and williwaw arrives olfactorily but manifests spiritually. If there was one smell, I wish there more of in the world, that's it.
‘How delightful!’ said The Captain, ‘You know, I think we should be able to capture that.’ And so we did.
Triumphant was first offered in a Moustache Wax, and proved so popular we made an Eau De Parfum. Never have I been surrounded by so many admiring sniffers - male and female! - desperate to know of what I smelt and where they too could purchase it.
Truth be told, in a world where Justin Bieber and Nikki Minaj launch ‘Celebrity Fragrances’, this feels as insane to me as it does to you; but look around. The world is going mad. If we’re all going to go mad with it, we can at least do so smelling incredible. Smelling indefatigable. Smelling Triumphant.’
Rufus Hound
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