Mantra first opened its doors in 1979, making it Cheltenham's longest established Tattoo Studio. Here at Mantra, we aim to provide high-quality tattoos that cater to all tastes and styles while making our customers feel comfortable and welcome. Not only do we have an incredibly talented team of resident tattoo artists, but we also have our friends from around the world to join us on guest spots so that we can make sure all styles are catered for.
We can provide you with small, elegant tattoos or entire body suits and everything in between. The work you see on our site is usually something created entirely for our customers. We can design something based on your ideas, existing tattoos or by using historical reference.
We can provide you with small, elegant tattoos or entire body suits and everything in between. The work you see on our site is usually something created entirely for our customers. We can design something based on your ideas, existing tattoos or by using historical reference.
Services
Darryll Richards has been tattooing at Mantra since 2002, perfecting his traditional blackwork style. His Polynesian style tattooing is heavily influenced by the symbolism of traditional approaches. He also leans on Maori designs for his tribal work. With the rise of dotwork and geometric tattooing, Darryll's technique truly shines when taking his hand to the patterns of today's tattoos.
James has been tattooing full time since 2011. Drawing a big influence from classic designs, a strong old school aesthetic can be seen through his work, whilst adding his style/twist. He is a diverse artist, pushing traditional, hand-drawn script and Japanese to name a few styles. Creating a solid portfolio from the outset, James has always been passionate about creating custom pieces but also has a love of old flash.
Lewis Turner is a resident artist at our sister studio, Black Letter in Gloucester but can be found at Mantra a few days a month. Lewis specialises in classic traditional tattoos, single needle and hand-drawn script, but his abilities don't stop there. With a street shop background, he has a firm grasp of just about every style you could want.
At Mantra, we were the first shop to start offering piercings in Cheltenham. Our resident piercer is highly experienced in all forms of piercings above the waist. From the more common, like ear piercing, through to surface piercings and micro dermal implants. Her primary aim is to provide a professional service and make clients feel as comfortable as possible, no matter what they're having done.
Popping into the shop for a chat is always going to be the easiest way to book in with us. Depending on the type of tattoo you want we may be able to book you in there and then, while other tattoos may require a more in-depth discussion with one of our artists. In this situation, we would book you in for a free consultation with a particular artist and they can help you refine your ideas.
Reviews (10)
Alessandra Maria
Dec 23, 2021
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Kim Boyle
Aug 14, 2021
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I had my first tattoo here with Darryll last week and couldn’t be happier with the results. Darryll literally drew my dream tattoo on paper and then made it a reality. He’s such a lovely guy and made me feel so at ease. Considering it was my first tattoo and a decent size one too on my thigh, it barely hurt! The studio itself is also very clean and Covid safe. I can’t wait to go back to Darryll for my next which I’m already planning :-)
Jonny Saunders
Jun 20, 2021
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P. Tron
Jan 22, 2020
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Great team of friendly staff who helped me finalise the design of the tattoo I wanted. The design ended up far better than I had envisaged in concept and the attention to detail took the tattoo to the next level. I would highly recommend these guys as the work is excellent and the vibe of the shop is welcoming.
Sharon Pullen
Dec 20, 2019
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Had my first ever tattoo today at Mantra. Felt a bit nervous but was immediately put at ease by Daryll. He created the most amazing design for me, putting in such fine detail...the result was stunning. So much better than I imagined it would be. Highly recommend this place. Other staff were also very friendly. I will definitely be going back for a second one!
Damien O'Neill
Nov 20, 2019
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TankGurl
Nov 19, 2019
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Chris Bain
Oct 24, 2019
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Rosalind Whelan
May 29, 2019
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Honestly - I am over the bloody moon - I can not tell you how pleased I am to have met Darryll and to have been tattooed in Mantra studio -
This tattoo (given by a different tattooist previously) has be taken to the level I could only dream of by Darryll - it has taken on a form which I am exceptionally proud of now - everyone is impressed already after just one sitting!!!! I can’t believe the difference! - The attention to detail - the skill and the want to be proud of putting a life’s long mark of ink on someone! The tattoo itself was applied with care, consideration and respect - which
This tattoo (given by a different tattooist previously) has be taken to the level I could only dream of by Darryll - it has taken on a form which I am exceptionally proud of now - everyone is impressed already after just one sitting!!!! I can’t believe the difference! - The attention to detail - the skill and the want to be proud of putting a life’s long mark of ink on someone! The tattoo itself was applied with care, consideration and respect - which
Nelly Shammon
Dec 13, 2018
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