Stylist cuts his hotel ties

A hotel in Bahrain has hit back at a well-known hair-stylist who claims he was driven out of his salon by a rent increase and its plans to extend a popular Manama nightspot.

The Delmon International Hotel, close to Gold City and the city's bustling suq area, has dismissed suggestions that it is planning to extend the Diggers bar into the area which once housed Stephen Grant's hair studio and expressed surprise at his allegations.

In an email to regular clients and members of the press, Mr Grant blamed a 'considerable' increase in his rent for the reason for shutting up shop and will be relocating to his home in Mahooz.

In it he claimed: "It is very sad that I have to close as we have built up a great reputation over the last 15 years but unfortunately this is the way things operate in Bahrain."

He added that the hotel had 'refused to renew' his contract and it was all part of a plan to extend the Diggers bar next door and 'increase alcohol consumption' in the area, alongside other allegations.

The high-profile hairdresser is a former GulfWeekly columnist and has regularly been featured as a stylist for local magazine fashion shoots. Born in Zimbabwe, he worked in London and was trained with Vidal Sassoon Salons.

Hotel general manager Mohan Pillai was stunned by the accusations, and said the problem arose over their tenant's inability to pay his rent.

"We have not given him any notice to leave," he said. "We would love to have him continue here as we have had no problems in the eight years he has been with us. But he has to understand that he has to pay his monthly rent. We have no plans to extend Diggers."

He added that the hotel was hoping another hairdresser would move into the vacant space paying the same monthly rent of BD1,360.

Mr Grant said that he had sent his emotional email out in a 'moment of distress'. He admitted that he had fallen behind on his monthly rent after it had been increased from BD1,000 and that he would be getting a bank loan to cover any outstanding debt.

"There is no animosity between us and I want to make a clean break," he said.