We have lots of repairers and most of them specialise to some extent. There are specialists in bikes, textiles, tool-sharpening, electricals, electronics, furniture and so on. So when you bring your item along on the day you will be welcomed by one of our triage team who will take some details about what you have brought with you. This allows them to match you up to a suitable repairer, but it may be that the particular person who would be best able to help you is engaged with someone else, fixing their item. If so, you may have to wait a bit, but we will try to make sure nobody is kept waiting too long.

While you are waiting you can enjoy a drink and a piece of cake, that’s the café bit. When a repairer is available you will be directed to them and they will have a look at your item and try to see what the problem is and what can be done to fix it. They will be very happy to discuss the whole proccess with you, so that you may be able to tackle it yourself in future. If the repair is too complex or there is not enough time to complete the fix, you will be given some suggestions on what to do next and possible places to go.

All items are brought in at your own risk and with no guarantee of a fix (they are broken already after all!) but the repairer will discuss with you what can and cannot be attempted. This is all free.

We are all volunteers and we rely on donations to keep the Repair Café going. It costs approximately £90 to run each session with expenses including any venue hire, insurance and marketing.