Whether you are getting your very first tattoo or you are a seasoned collector, we aim to give you the very best experience.
Enjoy a homely, welcoming environment, where you can relax and enjoy coffee roasted on site, the very latest in streamed entertainment that will make you feel like you’re being tattooed in your own home.
Client comfort is at the forefront of our MO. We believe the more relaxed you are while being tattooed the more comfortable you will find the whole process.
Barbarian Collective is situated in the village of Botley just outside the City of Southampton.
On the site of an old flour mill and adjacent to the river Hamble, parts of the building are over 400 years old.
Getting to the Studio
We are located with great links to road, rail and even air. You can find us at:
Units 6&7, Botley Mills,
Mill Hill, Botley,
Southampton
Hampshire, UK
SO30 2GB
Parking is chargeable on site at £1 per hour with the first hour free. This is payable via the RINGO mobile app or via the pay station. Free parking is available locally and we can advise once you have arrived if you need it.
Please note that the car park is privately owned and run on ANPR cameras. It is your responsibility to make sure you have purchased a ticket to cover the amount of time you need to be onsite. It is important to be aware that we are unable to deal with any parking notices ourselves as the car park is not affiliated with us in any way. We also take no responsibility for any loss, damage or theft of/from vehicles parked in the Botley Mills Car Park.
By Road
Leave the M27 at Juntion 7 and take the A334 (Charles Watts Way) towards Botley.
At the round-a-bout take the second exit staying on the A334.
At the round-a-bout take the second exit (Grange Road) staying on the A334.
At the mini round-a-bout take the second exit staying on Grange Road (the A334).
At the Maypole Round-a-bout take the second exit onto Broad Oak (A334).
Continue on for 1 mile through the village of Botley. As you leave the village over the crossroad onto Mill Hill. Heading down hill the Mill entrance is on your left after about 100yds.
By Train
Botley Train Station is only a 5 minute walk from the studio and has a direct line to London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour.
By Air
Southampton Airport is situated just over 6 miles from the studio and is roughly 12-15 mins in a taxi or Uber.
London Gatwick is approx 1hour 20 minutes by road via the M27 and A3. Although travel times can vary greatly depending on time of year and day. Train services take around 2 hours with a single change at Fratton.
London Heathrow is approx 1 hour 15 via M27 and M3.
Preparing to get your tattoo.
Rest
Make sure the night before your tattoo you are well rested. A good night’s sleep can make all the difference to your experience.
Hydration
Make sure you drink plenty of water before and during the tattoo process.
Alcohol and recreational drugs
That’ll be a no. Although a single beer/glass of wine in the hotel the night before isn’t going to cause too much of an issue.
The Sun
Stay out of it before being tattooed. Arriving sunburnt could mean forfeiting your session, including your deposit. It’s worth bearing in mind that if you’re planning to go on holiday to warmer climbs then make sure you allow at least 2/3 weeks minimum for a tattoo to heal before going away.
Food
This is so important. Make sure you have eaten a healthy breakfast before getting tattooed. In a pinch at least make sure you’ve eaten something like a banana beforehand. Please let us know if you haven’t as we would rather allow you time to do this before your session.
Lunch
You can buy sandwiches, snacks and drinks in the CO OP a few hundred yards from the studio. Alternatively you can can bring your lunch with you. We can keep it cold for you and have a microwave should you need it.
Looking after your tattoo.
Advice
Depending on who tattoos you will depend on the advice on how to look after your new tattoo.
It is vital that you listen to what your artist tells you to do regardless of how you may have previously looked after a tattoo.
Failure to follow specific instructions will mean any potential touch ups will be made at your cost.
Hygeine
It is imperative that your new tattoo is kept clean in line with your artists instructions. It may sound obvious to most, but you must ensure your hands are clean before dealing with a healing tattoo
99.999% of infections will be caused by environmental factors and poor hygiene after the fact. We take studio hygiene extremely seriously and go above and beyond to ensure client safety when it comes to cross contamination. We believe our robust processes should be mandatory within the industry. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Once you leave the studio we are unable to control the factors that may affect the healing process so please follow advice stractly.
Infection and heat related irritation
At certain times of the year temperature and humidity can cause new tattoos to become irritated. We always ask that clients contact us should either of these situations occur. Infection seems to be a topic that gets hushed when it comes to tattooing, and although rare in our experience, is always a possibility. The key is to identify the occurrence of an infection quickly and deal with it appropriately with the help of your GP. Infections needn’t be a serious issue if the possibility is communicated effectively and dealt with swiftly. We don’t want your tattoo to heal poorly. It’s just time and money wasted for all parties involved. If we don’t know, we can’t help.
Where to stay
Otters Green
Botley Hill
Botley
Southampton
Hampshire
SO30 2DL
Otters Green is closest to the studio, literally two minutes walk. Situated at the top of the tidal reaches of the river Hamble, in the heart of a beautiful conservation area but only a few minutes walk from the centre of the ancient village of Botley.
Book Otters Green
McDonald Botley Park Hotel
Winchester Rd,
Boorley Green,
Eastleigh
SO32 2UA
Macdonald Botley Park Hotel & Spa is one of the finest 4-star hotels in Southampton. The Hotel boasts a luxurious spa with a range of state-of-the-art LifeFitness equipment
Book Botley Park
Holiday Inn Express
Botley Road
West End
Southampton
SO30 3XA
Contemporary hotel with free Wi-Fi and breakfast included, adjacent to the Ageas Bowl, home to the Hampshire County Cricket Club.
Book Holiday Inn
Trail king Mtb
“Couldn't recommend this shop enough so friendly and the tattoos are fantastic”.