Roseanne Browning Opens Boho Rose Collective in Porthtowan

Dream by the Sea Becomes Reality with £25,000 Boost

A therapist who once holidayed in Cornwall as a child has turned her dream into reality after opening a new salon in Porthtowan with the help of a £25,000 Start Up Loan.

Experienced hair stylist and Reiki trained energy practitioner Roseanne Browning is now the owner of Boho Rose Collective, based just a stone’s throw from the beach on the north coast.

The funding was delivered by SWIG Finance on behalf of Start Up Loans, which is part of the British Business Bank. The scheme offers personal loans of up to £25,000 per director at a fixed rate of interest, along with free mentoring to support those starting or growing a new or early-stage business. SWIG Finance acts as the Business Support Partner for the government-backed programme in the South West.

A Move Inspired by Childhood Memories

Roseanne Browning moved to Cornwall from Yorkshire in March last year. She and her partner Kyle Ashley now live in Porthtowan with their three children, aged between five and 21 months.

“I used to come to Cornwall for childhood holidays, and it was my dream to move here,” she says. “Kyle came back from Porthtowan one day; he’d seen the village and said, ‘This is you.’ I took our baby for a walk, thought, ‘yep, this feels like mine,’ and asked everyone I could who the landlord was.

“It was like something was pulling me there. That’s the magic of Porthtowan.”

Creating a Natural, Flexible Space

Once she had secured the keys, Roseanne used the loan to refit the salon’s kitchen, flooring and lighting, aiming for a natural look with wood, bamboo and earthy textures.

“The loan helped me to do things exactly how I wanted,” she says. “I wanted it to feel like a living room. When I worked from home, I did things my way and my clients always loved being there.”

A hairdresser by training, Roseanne has integrated alternative treatments into her salon work, combining her craft with a holistic philosophy. She describes cutting hair as less of a service and more as a meaningful ritual where identity, energy and personal transformation meet.

“I’m passionate about creating a space where people feel held,” she explains. “Through gentle styling and energetic awareness, I help release stagnant energy so the body can soften into a state of self-healing. I believe people are deeply connected to one another — that’s where the collective comes from.”

All furniture in the salon is on wheels, allowing it to be moved aside to create space for workshops, including community circles, intimate yoga sessions and sound bath meditations.

“My goal is to provide a safe spiritual place for everyone, and to hold some events in which people pay what they can, in the hope some will pay more and enable others to come.”

Outside practitioners will be selected to complement Roseanne’s ethos.

The shelves feature a curated selection of products, artwork, crystals, candles and books, sourced internationally and from local artisans wherever possible. Roseanne also works with the Green Salon Collective to ensure waste products, including hair and foils, are recycled into eco-friendly products.

Backed by Start Up Loans and SWIG Finance

Roseanne found the Start Up Loans programme through an online search and was paired with Ellie Garbett, Start Up Loans Officer for SWIG Finance.

“The alternative was credit cards, so I put my application in and hoped for the best,” says Roseanne.

“Working with SWIG Finance was an amazing experience. Ellie was so friendly and helped me with spreadsheets and supported me – we did it all together.”

Ellie says: “I wanted to support this business as Roseanne had a clear and well-researched vision that meets a growing customer demand for integrated beauty and wellness services. Her business is unique which sets it apart from traditional salons.

“Roseanne has the dedication and expertise to make this business successful and create a meaningful impact in the community.”

Looking ahead, Roseanne’s long-term goal is to launch a podcast about Porthtowan, its residents and businesses.

“There are so many people doing amazing things here and across Cornwall, people’s stories have a deep sense of magic.”