Essential Beauty is one of the longest-standing beauty businesses in Ryedale.

Established in 1988 by Nicola Atkinson, her then self-titled mobile business ran for 15 years until Essential Beauty – as it’s now known – opened in Kirkbymoorside in 2003.

The salon offers a range of treatments from advanced anti-ageing to relaxing and therapeutic holistic therapies, which are available to ladies, gents and teenagers.

“Having spent some time working at Ragdale Hall, I decided as there was nothing offering beauty therapy in the Ryedale area to set up my own business,” says Nikki.

“I embarked on a mobile beauty service offering a wide range of treatments to clients in the comfort of their own home. This was meant to be a temporary starting point which carried on for seven years!”

Nikki continued to advance her knowledge and skills in beauty by attending training courses in London and teaching beauty therapy at a college in Middlesbrough – all while running her own business.

She said: “Back then, I was always working a seven-day week and long days. By 1995, I was so busy and permanently had a full diary so eventually I moved into a small salon in Kirkbymoorside, which instantly was fully booked a year in advance.”

Nikki’s team has since grown to seven members including two receptionists and five therapists to manage the demand.

In 2002, Nikki then embarked on a major renovation at 3 Market Place in Kirkbymoorside and opened Essential Beauty in February 2003 with six treatment rooms and a nail spa.

Nikki said: “When people visit us at Essential Beauty, they say it’s like walking into a top London salon! But we love the fact that we are a local business, bringing the expertise and experience to our area. We get to know and care about all our clients and offer a warm and friendly service.”

During the pandemic, Nikki completely refurbished her salon and said she was extremely lucky to have received financial support from government schemes and council grants.

She said: “Since reopening, we have been busier than ever with our diary booked up months in advance.”

Nikki is passionate about her business and is always growing and looking for new treatments – she just loves what she does.

“I love everything about owning my own business – clients, staff, being creative, being forward thinking. I just love what I do.”