Sisters are doing it for themselves

Imagine, if you can, what might cause you to move back to these shores in the middle of a wet and windy winter after many years of happily living and working in Spain. How about the chance to work round the clock running a launderette on the corner of a back street of Weston-super-Mare?

Well, that was more than enough for Lauri Cooper Beckett, who even told her sister Ashlea on the phone: “If we don’t get the launderette, I’m not coming home!”

The two women, both hard-working entrepreneurs who’ll muck in on anything, were on a mission. Many years before they’d shared something of an obsession about running a launderette together – the sort of thing that becomes a longstanding family joke about the girls wanting ‘to turn into Dot Cotton’.

But for the sisters it never really went away, even when success with other businesses took them in different career directions. For 20 years or so that’s how it stayed until Ashlea, an estate agent by profession, was looking on a property website and by chance came across details of a long-established launderette including two flats above that was being put up for sale by auction.

She sent a link to Lauri in Spain, and a drama worthy of an EastEnders plot took off. It wasn’t just that they wanted to run a launderette but were aware that properties like this one in Baker Street, Weston-super-Mare, were often snapped up by developers with little, if any, interest in local heritage or community facilities.

Baker Street Launderette had operated there since the 1960s, run by three generations of the local Baynton family. It’s a landmark in streets packed with small businesses, homes and sights from the Victorian era, including many designed by noted architect Hans Price, who was responsible for much of the town’s development.

An added complication was that neither sister had previously bought anything at auction so they rapidly genned up on everything that might give them the best chance of making a successful bid.

And then, just days before the auction, came a bombshell. The launderette had been removed from the sales list, and it appeared would be sold to someone else prior to that. Ashlea and Lauri were not giving up. They tracked down the owners and, with their commitment to keep the launderette open, were able to seal a deal. “It wasn’t just about us anymore – by this time we knew plenty of past customers and people who wanted this special local community service to survive,” says Ashlea.

In February the sisters opened for business and now run a launderette operating from 7.30am to 7pm seven days a week, with service washes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Most of the time it’s supposedly self-service but Lauri in particular can be found there a lot of the time.

She’s something of a social media champion and when the business relaunched was straight on to Facebook to announce ‘Baker Street Launderette has been part of this community since 1963. Built, run and cared for by one family for decades.

That kind of history is rare. It’s not just a business… it’s routine, reliability, and memories for generations. ‘We are incredibly proud (and grateful) to take over and keep it open. Passing from one family to another. And to keep it serving the community for many more years to come. Same heart. Same location. A new family, ready to carry it forward. Thank you to everyone who has supported it over the years. We’re honoured to continue the story – Ashlea and Lauri’.

The social media response from previous customers and those now heading in that direction has been huge – no doubt boosted by great offers on service washes and sports team kits – lured by Lauri’s regular videos, competitions, and now even the launch of a podcast. The launderette has even been visited by students from the local university who used it as a setting for a fashion photoshoot, fascinating the regular customers using the washers.

Has the reality turned out as they expected? “We’re loving it,” says Ashlea. “But come back in another 20 years to see if we’re still obsessed by launderettes!”

Meanwhile, more than 300 miles away in Paisley, west of Glasgow, the sisters would recognise the entrepreneurial drive which has resulted in Brooke Mcvey, at just 20, opening Laundry Lab in her home town.

Brooke was heading for a career in construction but was running a little sideline laundry service from her mum Ann’s utility room! The excellent service was so successful it grew to the stage where she took the leap to having her own premises, renting a unit shop which had previously been a laundry and ironing service. New equipment was purchased and Brooke’s family helped to renovate the premises with a stylish, fresh look. Laundry Lab handles clothing, blankets, bedding and sports kits, alongside ironing services.

She described the first week in March as ‘crazy’ and has been up to her eyes in graduation gowns and service washing and ironing for regular customers ever since. “We’re all delighted, but I think my mum is probably the most pleased,” Brooke told Laundry & Cleaning Today. “I suspect she was desperate to get her utility room back and do her own washing!”

Lauri and Ashlea outside a dream finally come true: their own launderette