Repair Cafe Chailey

Chailey Repair Café is part of a  world-wide movement where volunteer experts repair things free of charge – although a donation towards running costs is invited. Anyone can bring along broken items or clothing needing repair from home, and have a cuppa and a cake while they wait!

Chailey Repair Café got off to a  flying start when it first  opened its doors in August 2018 – folks were queueing outside from just after 9am and by 11am the car park was solid! There isn’t much that the Café’s skilled repair  teams can’t take on! Our  electrics and general repairs teams  have tackled toasters, irons,  record players, table lamps  and everything from a unicorn to a  beautiful 1940s Pedigree doll! We have an IT team who will not only get your laptop or iPad working properly again  but will also spend time showing you how to use it if you’ve got stuck!” 

By the time  the doors closed at our January Café,  27 volunteers  had attempted a record 84 repairs, including several toasters and kettles which had obviously worked  too hard over Christmas!!The Café’s new knife sharpening service was very  popular, and the talented fabrics team repaired burn holes in clothing , some torn cushions and a broken bag handle, whilst  the Café’s  IT team were busy fixing  some tired computers.

It’s all in a day’s work for  this successful local initiative which has gone from strength to strength since it opened its doors for the first time 18 months ago. 

We are based at North Chailey, East Sussex, but people travel from far and wide to visit us. Our 2020 dates are easy to remember  – we are normally  open every 2nd Saturday of each month between 10am – 1pm at Chailey Village Hall next to the Five Bells pub on the A275.