Murdock London Reviews 27

I had another wonderful experience at Murdock today. The haircuts are always fab (full credit to Katherine in the Soho branch who is always exceptional) but today I had a wet shave as well. It was so relaxing! I felt really well taken care of and I'll make my next booking soon.

My experience was similar to some of the low score reviews here. Had my first haircut recently at Shoreditch branch which was very good, with barber showing good skills. Then the follow up cut at CG branch last week which was average. Same high price, different results.

£62 for a 45 min appointment. At CG branch the barber was very young, so I question the experience and ability and this played out with a cut I'm not that happy with (poor shaping and not much taken off). Worst of all he'd finished after 30 mins and was trying to rush me out the seat. At which point I had to ask him to fix a couple of bits I wasn't happy with but still was rushed out after 35 mins gone. I left the shop to find the barber sitting out front chatting with his colleagues for what should have been the remainder of my slot.

I feel a little cheated tbh and won't be going back.

I ordered a discovery set from this brand murdock barbers of london 3 weeks ago and have yet to receive any shipping info. I've sent them 3 separate emails regarding my order. I would suggest you do not order from this company.

I had an amazing cut with Jack at the Covent Garden store. He listened to my request and helped support me with finding the best cut that would suit me. I will definitely be coming back next time and I heavily recommend Murdock and shout out to Jack!!

I find the Murdock staff to be welcoming and offer a good service. I use a lot of their products, hair, beard and cologne and they are by far the best and this is from 30+ years of trialling various brands.

Thank you so much Murdock. Extremely pleased with my recent purchase. Although a gift, I'm sure the recipient will be delighted. Such an excellent product, packaged really well inside as well as outside and pleasantly surprised with how big the items were. Wouldn't hesitate to buy from you again and I highly recommend your products and quick, efficient service. Delivery was on time too.

Great products, husband's favourites. Please though Murdock, sort out your packaging policy! It's like pass the parcel getting a delivery, way too much and not very ethical. Once inside the cardboard transit box, there is a first cardboard box, then a carboard sleeve, then a plastic wrapper, then another box, moulded cardboard inserts and extra bits of things on two loose cards!

I got a trim at the Soho store, I loved it, great products and an absolutely masterful trim. Smells damn good in there too.

Great experience, great barbers and amazing products.

I had a really great experience at Murdock London with Annie at their Soho branch. I was made to feel very welcome and enjoyed a complimentary G&T. Very professional service and I left feeling happy with the result. I will be going back.

Always loved the service in store and can't leave without taking a few products with me. Decent service as always!

I’ve not used their barbers but I’ve bought some of their products and they are good. I like the beard moisturiser, feels nice but I have to use quite a big dollop of it. The beard shampoo is good. The beard balm is nice but not something I will stick with since I prefer a short beard. They’re not overly fragranced either. Their cologne is a bit strong and traditional, but I only got a small sprayer of it in a gift set once so haven’t bought the full size. They delivered fast too, even using Royal Mail - no idea how they managed that. I’ll try more of their products as I get round to it but for now I’m sticking with the beard moisturiser.

Overpriced average haircut. The barber was a cool chap so I don’t blame him and if the cost was 50% less than I’d be happy - just the corporation that now owns the business and clearly hikes the prices and just siphons of the profits. The Covent Garden salon is an absolute disgrace - filthy, dated, hair not swept up and just very tired and dirty looking. I went to use the toilet downstairs and it’s all very run down. When you pay that much for an haircut - you want the experience. My local 20quid joint puts Murdock to shame experience-wise. They do supply Camden Pale Ale so there’s one good thing. I’d find an independent barbers next time, a place that takes pride in their business, and put my money there instead. Sad. Used to be good.

Bought 50g tub of sea salt paste to find it only half full. Total weight, inc tin, was only 70g. E-mailed Murdock with pics but they said they could find no fault and offered me a 20% discount on my next order. I won’t need it as I won’t be buying from them again.

I've been to Murdock in Covent Garden twice and had a terrific experience both times (Myles was my barber there).

Due to availability, I booked a session at Murdock Soho with head barber Katherine, as I needed to use a gift voucher that was about to expire.

Things didn't start well at reception. My BuyAGift voucher stated there would be a £20 supplement to pay for a hot towel shave, which I had also booked. The receptionist first told me it would be £26, then changed her mind and said £25, as I "had a bit of a beard". I had four days of stubble, nothing remotely like a beard. I challenged this and offered to show her the BuyAGift page which clearly stated the £20 supplement and it didn't depend on how much stubble or beard one had. She said she'd check and came back and agreed it was £20.

I'm sure they get plenty of people with gift vouchers (they sell them on their website) so it should never be in doubt what they cover and what the extra costs are. So why was I quoted two different higher prices to begin with? If I hadn't challenged (and I'm sure plenty of people don't) then where would that extra £6 have gone?

I was kept waiting nearly 10 minutes later than my appointment was due to start. Fair enough, Katherine was still attending to another customer, who seemed to be a friend given the bubbly farewell she gave him. When she greeted me however, it was a different story. No smile, no "hi, how are you?", just a sullen "can you come through". Her whole demeanour was one of not wanting to be there (she even picked up her phone to answer a text at the beginning, although she did apologise, but nevertheless, unprofessional). I did not feel welcome.

She asked what I wanted in terms of a haircut. I said I was looking for some ideas but she just asked what did I usually have and went with that. She was quite ferocious and far too fast with the clippers on the back of my head - I felt that she could easily have taken a chunk out the way she was going. It felt like she was trying to get it over with as soon as possible. The final haircut was good though but nothing spectacular to justify the price.

The hot towel shave was good and she was very careful with the open razor and reasonably thorough, although I noticed later there was a bit on my neck that she missed.

What struck me though was the distinct lack of engagement from her. She asked a couple of going-through-the-motions perfunctory questions but nothing that constituted a conversation, in contrast to all of her colleagues who were talking to their clients in a way that didn't leave an uncomfortable silence.

I had booked a full service treatment which was supposed to last 105 minutes and costs £105, according to their website. I was out in just over 80 minutes and feel that she could have spent much longer discussing my haircut and possible styles that would suit me - but she didn't.

Poor customer service. Overpriced.

Always a good haircut and friendly service. Ordered some of their products online and they came quickly. Free drink is always a nice touch too...

Very good haircut with Gwen in the shoreditch branch - understood what I wanted and carried out it as desired. Plus great chat!

I’ve had my haircut here a couple of times. One of the comments below said it’s like a lottery and I think this is true. You can get someone who knows what they are doing or someone who doesn’t. For the blanket prices they charge I would expect a high minimum standard.

My first experience in the Soho branch was ok - my haircut was actually good but the guy was rushed and disinterested - maybe he was having a bad day.

I went back, but to the shoreditch branch and my experience was not good at all. I thought at the time it was fine - when I paid it did feel like £50 was a lot for what I got. When I got home I was checking it out in the mirror and there were many problems.

My haircut wasn’t symmetrical; where my hair was shaved short around the edges there were tufts of long uncut hair that I had to trim myself. The outline and edges of my hair were uneven and in some parts there were chunks missing thanks makes it look a little like choreographed alopecia - really quite bad. The hairline around my ears and down my neck is much higher than natural, so now I look like someone has tried to lift my hair off my head - it doesn’t look right.

Overall I feel like the minimum standard you expect for paying £50 for a haircut is definitely not there. I would usually pay £15-£20 in a regular barbers and it was more consistent and better than the way my hair currently is.

Murdock is a branding exercise of style over substance really. Unfortunately I won’t be returning.

Following this review I wrote to Murdock with a link to the review - I thought it only fair that they are aware of it.

After sending Murdock photos of my haircut - they replied with a bit of a “thanks for letting us know but we don’t really care” email. I’ll put it down to them being busy.

Eventually they did refund me, which, disappointingly I had to ask for - not the end of the world.

Part of me respects the management at Murdock for defending their product and staff but it wasn’t a pleasant experience.

Im hoping it was just a very unlucky one off experience - but I won’t be returning. I wish them well.

The best haircut I've had, by a long stretch.

For the last 9 years I have visited the same hairdresser and have come to expect a good, consistent salon haircut. My visit to Murdock Soho was intended to be an interim haircut to tide me over until July when she can next fit me in. I was a little apprehensive going to someone else, and going to a men's barber. However, nothing about my experience fell short of a five star rating.

When I arrived, I was offered a variety of beers and shown to the waiting area. Everything was clean, tidy and in keeping with the social distancing requirements that must be very difficult to maintain for this type of business.

I was assigned Dylan, a very friendly, chatty stylist who paid close attention, not just to what I said I wanted, but what he heard me ask for from a haircut and beard trim. Throughout the cut and conversation he pepperd in little choices and advice about style from "do you want a parting" to "do you want your beard shorter than normal - I think it will blend better with the sides". He even explained why he was doing things a certain way, which I appreciated. The cut was finished with a choice of products and aftershaves, augmented by the same expert advice received during the cut.

If you're reading this because you're unsure about the higher price than a normal men's cut. You're already open to the idea of spending the extra, and should give them a try. And ask for Dylan, he's great.

The only negative point I have, is I now need to have a difficult conversation with my regular hairdresser as I think I've found a new one. Sorry!