A HEALTH and beauty therapist who has been serving the Andover community for the past 22 years has been forced to shut her clinic due to the rising cost of living.

She and two other therapists working from the clinic have decided to part ways and work from their own homes from next month.

Isabella Brzozowski-Man, who has been running The Alternatives in Union Street, announced that she is closing the doors to her salon on September 30 because of “spiralling costs” and Covid that made running an affordable business from a commercial location “impossible”.

Isabella and two other therapists – Kirsten Amos and Imogen Rolfe – will now operate at different locations. 

“Kirsten will continue independently to offer massage and beauty therapies from her home. Imogen is moving to a spa in Winchester. I plan to continue practising acupuncture, Auricular Therapies, nutrition and aromatherapy from my cabin at home in Andover and welcome old friends and new,” Isabella said.

She later told the Advertiser that it will be one chapter closing and another one opening.

“I think the economy is such that it is impossible to run an affordable salon, which is what we've served the community as for years.

“Unfortunately, the economy is such that rising utility costs have just spiralled crazily. It doesn't make it possible to run affordable salon from a commercial property. Together with the continuous Covid interruptions for a small close-contact business, we have made that decision.

“But it’s all a chapter closing and another one opening. So hopefully we continue serving the community.”

Isabella came into therapy business from the front room of her home 30 years ago. She spent her first eight years of career in Basingstoke and Newbury and then moved to Andover 22 years ago. She then drew in like-minded therapists as she opened the business in a commercial location in Andover.

“I wanted to offer a variety of treatments at affordable rates. And that's how we grew and then slowly moved locations to suit the business. Finally, we came into the town centre 10 years ago. We've seen a lot of changes in the town.

“Now, we're just happy to still be able to provide a service from different locations at affordable prices for people so that hopefully they can benefit from good treatments in the future.”