This year, Cohiba is celebrating its 60th anniversary — six decades during which the brand has established itself as the world’s premium Cuban cigar. A box of 10 Cohiba Behike 52 cigars costs £3,500, which is around £350 per cigar. A Cohiba Behike 56 is approximately £500-£650 per cigar.
There were rumours about a new 60-ring gauge Cohiba Behike being unveiled at this year’s XXVI Festival del Habano; however, the event was sadly postponed, and we missed what would have been a perfect opportunity to hear stories from it.
Nevertheless, the celebration continues. To mark this special occasion, James Barber Tobacconist hosted a celebratory Cohiba Dinner with Hunters & Frankau and Watts On Watches at the West Park Hotel, located not far from the cigar shop. This felt like the perfect occasion to visit both the shop and attend one of their increasingly popular cigar events after several years of wanting to go up North to visit it, and I will share my experience in this post.
First, let me tell you more about James Barber Tobacconist.
Background
Based in the heart of North Yorkshire (not a million miles away from Leeds), this cigar and pipe shop is one of the oldest family-run tobacconists in the United Kingdom.
Founded in 1867, this business has navigated nearly 160 years of change, evolving from a modest shop in Otley into a well-loved destination for cigar and pipe folk in Harrogate.
The story begins with Joseph Barber, James’s great-grandfather, who travelled from England to the USA as a “carpet bagger.” After five years of cultivating land, he acquired tobacco parcels in Virginia and Kentucky, where he founded the “Hickory Thicket” plantations. Joseph made more than thirty slow boat trips across the Atlantic, importing fine tobacco to England. In Otley, he opened a shop and factory to produce twist pipe tobacco, famously overseeing in 1889 the largest single consignment of tobacco — 80 tonnes — ever shipped from Kentucky to England.
The Barber family’s story is one of resilience. In 1939, a devastating fire engulfed the Otley factory, threatening the future of the business. Yet Jack and Fred Barber, Joseph’s grandsons, reopened new premises within weeks.
James Barber joined the family trade at age 11, where he swept floors and polished brass handles, and by 21, he took the reins in 1980 and was the driving force behind expanding the business to include Cuban cigars.
Today, the business continues as a fifth-generation family venture, with James, his wife, Rosalie, and James’s youngest daughter, Alicia, who joined the team in 2024, carrying forward the legacy.
James Barber’s expertise has been widely acknowledged: in 1994, he became the youngest-ever Chairman of the Association of Independent Tobacco Specialists (AITS) and has twice been named Tobacconist Retailer of the Year. His career has provided extraordinary experiences — from dining near Fidel Castro in Havana to singing backing vocals for Ringo Starr on “Vertical Man,” where the lyrics “La Di Da” cheekily reference cigars in Cockney rhyming slang.
James Barber was also among one of the first cigar retailers in the UK to register a website dedicated to selling cigars online. He shared this story in a recent YouTube interview with Mitchell Orchant of cGars Ltd.
In the late 1990s, a local police officer — an early internet enthusiast and customer at the shop — introduced him to the online world. Barber recalled the moment vividly:
“I had never heard of a website or email, and he invited me to his home to take a look. We typed ‘cigars’ into what I think was the only search engine at the time — AltaVista — and it took ages for results to load over dial-up. There were only four stores, all based in America. He said, ‘I can build you a website,’ and the next day told me to buy Microsoft FrontPage. For three months, nothing happened, and then suddenly I was inundated with requests — mostly from the US for Cuban cigars we couldn’t ship — but eventually we began receiving UK orders.”
By the 8th October 1997, he had registered and launched www.smoke.co.uk, an exceptionally valuable domain at the time. The venture marked a major shift in consumer behaviour, as cigar buyers were used to selecting products in person — relying on sight, touch, and aroma.
“We had to choose the best cigars for customers, making sure they weren’t pale, watermarked, or damaged. It was a seismic shift to build trust online. At first, people ordered via email — there were no shopping carts or secure checkout pages. But once they tried it and were satisfied, they became regular customers, often purchasing full boxes because local cigar shops were so scarce.”
Check out his number plate ‘Smoke’ in tribute of this…
Interestingly, Mitchell Orchant registered his own website, www.cgarsltd.co.uk, just a few months later on 12 December 1997, according to WHOIS records — marking the beginning of a wider wave of UK cigar retailers moving into the digital space. Mitchell would later go on to dominate the UK online cigar market.
In 2010, James Barber Tobacconist was named one of Country Living Magazine’s Top 10 most charming shops in Britain.
After marrying Rosalie Barber in 2018, she stepped into a world she hadn’t anticipated. Arriving in the UK in 2019, she found herself surrounded by cigars, pipes, and regular customers asking questions she didn’t yet know how to answer. Initially, her role was practical — handling cigars with a smile — but COVID changed that. With shops closed and James not always present, Rosalie began learning the craft, connecting the work to childhood memories of her father, a tobacco farmer in the Philippines.
An industry insider has previously highlighted to me the significant impact Rosalie has had on the James Barber Tobacconist, including championing the opening of their cigar studio — an extension of the shop — as well as introducing a wide range of cigars from Nicaragua, Dominican Republic and Honduras to their collection.
Rosalie also became involved in the UK Aficionadas female cigar community, supporting and connecting women in the cigar world, though she has since stepped away from the hands-on stuff, but supporting as an ambassador from afar.
In 2019, the business relocated to the spa town of Harrogate, establishing a flagship store on Cold Bath Road (where the shop is today!).
Nowadays after a refurb in 2025 it features a spacious cigar studio filled with giant black wooden humidor cabinets, a curated selection of rare pipes and gifts, and a sheltered cigar terrace outside where customers can sample a cigar alongside complimentary tea or coffee. Among its highlights is the James Barber Series, a collection of specially curated cigars celebrating the art and tradition of tobacco, which has become a favourite among enthusiasts.
In June 2025, James Barber was honoured to be admitted as a Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Tobacco Pipe Makers and Tobacco Blenders. As a fourth-generation tobacconist, he reflected: “I’ve always felt a quiet responsibility to carry on what my family started back in 1867. This recognition isn’t just about me — it’s about the generations before me and the legacy we continue.”
Today, James Barber Tobacconist offers more than just fine cigars and pipes; it provides a connection to history and craftsmanship – aswell as a cigar community that they have built up over time. As Rosalie writes on her blog, CigarVogue, cigars are not simply items to smoke; they represent stories, legacies, and moments meant to be savoured and shared.
Next year, in 2027, James Barber Tobacconist will celebrate its 160th anniversary — a milestone that honours over a century and a half of family dedication, great pipes, cigars and community.
My experience
I first met James and Rosalie properly at the AITS Lords Lunch at Lords Cricket Ground in 2024. I was fortunate to be seated at the same table as James, and hearing his story was really impressive. He struck me as incredibly humble, considering his extensive experience in the cigar industry.
Afterwards, I enjoyed a cigar with Rosalie in the grounds outside.
In December 2025, I found myself in Cyprus for the launch of the Punch Princesas Edición Limitada 2025, where I had the chance to spend time with both James and Rosalie again.
I also met Rosalie’s alter ego, her AI avatar, who made an appearance at the event! 😄
As you know, if you’ve been following my journey, I’ve been making an effort to visit as many cigar shops with sampling lounges and terraces across the UK as possible, and their shop in Harrogate was on my list. This week, I finally had the opportunity to visit during their Cohiba Dinner event.
Getting there
I took the train from Kings Cross to Harrogate, which was about a three-hour journey, accompanied by my cigar buddy Sailesh, an excellent photographer. Our plan was to visit the shop first, check in at the West Park Hotel, and then head to the cigar event taking place in the hotel.
Harrogate itself is charming — somewhere between a town and a small city — with elegant houses, a rich spa history, and attractions like the Turkish Baths and Bettys Café Tea Rooms.
The shop
When I arrived on Cold Bath Road, I was surprised at how accessible the shop was, located in a lively area where many people passed by.
Inside the shop, we met Richard, one of the staff members, who greeted us warmly and shared some fascinating insights about the shop.
He originally came in as a regular pipe customer and eventually joined the team when an opportunity arose. Richard has developed a deep knowledge of cigars and is incredibly welcoming, whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned smoker.
The shop has a lot of character, with photos and memorabilia detailing its history and the journeys of James and Rosalie adorning the walls.
Of course, I was mainly there for the cigars, and the selection was impressive—eight cigar humidor cabinets filled with both Cuban and New World cigars, organised from light to medium to full-bodied options.
Today, the selection is impressive — 8 cigar humidor cabinets in total, split between Cuban and New World cigars in order of light to medium to full bodied cigars.
Empty cigar boxes line the tops of the humidors, a testament to how much stock moves through the shop.
Given the recent difficulties with Cuban cigar availability, it was remarkable to see such a wide selection on display.
I was also excited to see Rosalie and James inside the shop, along with José from Hunters & Frankau.
Outside, the terrace offered a cozy spot to enjoy a cigar, rain and sunshine alternating in true northern English fashion. Whilst we were there it was a bit cold and windy, but there are heaters around outside to help with that. It’s not huge—just a handful of chairs—but they bring more out when needed.
Two of my other cigar friends joined us: Ryan (who accompanied me on the ‘La Casa UK tour’ last year) and my buddy Alistair, whom I travelled to Cuba with last year.
I enjoyed one of the new Diplomaticos Cancilleres cigars during our visit 👌.
It was great to bump into Jamie, known as the Harrogate Havana Man on Instagram.
The shop was busy, with plenty of people walking past, and being near a bar added to the lively atmosphere. There was even a fish and chip shop across the street and a bar next door. The sense of camaraderie, familiar faces, and the curiosity of passersby made the visit special as we enjoyed the environment and witnessed newcomers discovering the shop for the first time.
The hotel
After the shop closed, we headed over to the West Park Hotel for the evening’s Cohiba 60th anniversary dinner. Upon arrival, the restaurant was being set up, and there was a real buzz in the air.
I stayed at the venue for the night, and it’s the perfect place to stay if you’re visiting the cigar shop in the future.
The Cohiba Dinner
After checking in, it was time for more cigars.
We were welcomed with our first Cohiba of the night, the Siglo I, along with drinks.
The weather was classic northern England: sunshine one moment, a bit of light rain the next. I had forgotten my jacket—not the best move!—but there were heaters outside to keep us comfortable.
After about an hour, we were invited in for the main event: the Cohiba dinner.
Dinner consisted of a three-course meal. I had a Mample & Garlic Roasted Cauliflower, Chicken, and Sticky Toffee Pudding, all of which went down a treat!
There were speeches from James, Rosalie, and José from Hunters & Frankau (the UK’s importer of Cuban cigars) , who spoke passionately about his experiences in the cigar industry.
José introduced us to the event and shared insights about the Cohiba brand, which was fascinating to hear. It was particularly noteworthy that the Cohiba Robusto was the best-selling Cuban cigar in the UK in 2025.
Jose previously served as the Deputy Director of the El Laguito factory, the home of Cohiba, before joining Hunters & Frankau. He spoke passionately about how it became a cherished tradition for him to walk through the factory each morning to see the production process. Key mentors for him included Pedro Luis Perez Acosta, the former Director General of El Laguito, and Ana Lopez in the UK, with whom he collaborates at Hunters.
James Barber then addressed the ongoing difficulties in Havana, stating,
“I’m sure many of you are aware of the current situation in Cuba—it’s not good. Since losing support from Venezuelan oil, the country has been grappling with severe food and medical shortages. This is a very serious issue. We were supposed to attend the Havana Festival in February, but it was cancelled due to the Government restricting travel to essential trips only. That alone reflects how difficult things have become. People are struggling; many are going hungry. For instance, the average monthly wage is around 4,000 pesos, which today might only buy about 30 eggs and a bag of chicken wings. Conditions are incredibly tough right now. This evening, we hope to raise funds for Cuba. Rosalie reached out to the Cuban embassy to inquire how we could help, and they informed us that donations would go directly toward providing much-needed medical supplies.”
During the event, Hunters & Frankau donated a box of ten Cohiba 55th Anniversary cigars signed by Jemma Freeman. Tom from Watt on Watchers also contributed a 1966 Omega Seamaster watch (the year of the first Cohiba) for a raffle and auction.
In total, James & Rosalie raised over £6,300, which will be sent to the Cuba Vive Medical Aid Appeal to support families in Cuba during these challenging times, as endorsed by the Cuban Embassy.
Afterward, it was time to head back outside for our second Cohiba cigar of the night: the Cohiba Robusto.
It truly felt like a special occasion—celebrating 60 years of Cohiba, surrounded by fantastic people, great food, and a shared passion for cigars.
What a trip!!! I really enjoyed hanging out with my brothers of the leaf Sailesh, Ryan, and Alistair, and it was great to bump into Jamie, Harry, Archie, Tony, Dales, Kym Sims (of 90’s house tune ‘Too Blind To See It’) Maria and many others I had the chance to chat with.
The shop is full of character, and their cigar events were the perfect way to celebrate such a significant milestone in the cigar world – 60 years of Cohiba 🫡. Get ready for next year – as the shop will be celebrating their 160th anniversary and they’ve got some exciting things planned!
Special thanks to Rosalie and James for making our trip truly unforgettable and to West Park Hotel for a fantastic stay 🙏.
Interested in visiting?
James Barber Tobacconists
63–65 Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 0NL, UK
Phone: +44 1423 787 322
Website: Visit official site
And I whole heartedly recommend staying at the West Park Hotel – they have a lovely outdoor terrace area where you can relax with a cigar:
West Park Hotel
19 West Park Road, Harrogate, HG1 1BJ, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1423 524471
Website: Visit website
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