Visiting the Repair Café

There is no booking system, just turn up between 10.30 and 12.15 (last registration time) and we will endeavour to repair your item.

You can bring along most household products. Typical products include items of clothing, textiles, lamps, radios, stereo equipment, strimmers, hedge trimmers, electric mowers, toasters, food mixers, coffee makers, kettles, chairs, small tables, typewriters, sewing machines, toys, power tools, laptop computers to name but a few!  We can also do minor and cosmetic woodwork/upholstery repairs and will offer a sharpening facility (knives/scissors only).

Items, including textiles must be clean, dust bags emptied, food/gardening residue removed etc.

Please note there are some products we do not repair – see next FAQ.

CRC does not complete repairs on petrol driven products, industrial devices, 3 phase power tools, mobile phones, tablets, TVs, gas powered items, antiques/valuables, watches or jewellery, fragile or unusual items. We have also decided not to repair bikes at this stage but that may change in the future. Products that could present a hazard to repairers such as those known to contain or be made from Asbestos should not be brought to the Repair Café.  We are unable to do large scale woodwork or upholstery repairs due to the time required. Alterations to clothing, replacement fly zips are also not undertaken by CRC.  

Crowthorne Repair Cafe is run by volunteers, any purchases of refreshments or donations go towards the running costs and allow us to keep the monthly sessions going. Donations/purchases may be made during any Repair Cafe session either by card or cash.

You may bring two products for repair. Only one item will be registered. Once the item has been through the process the second item can then be registered.  Only ONE item will be examined per person at a time.

Yes, please remember to bring anything the repairer will need in order to power the item up and attempt a diagnosis of the fault.

On arrival you are asked to check in at our reception desk to register your product and complete some simple paperwork with one of our volunteers. Once completed you will either be directed to a suitable repairer or be asked to wait in the seating area until one becomes available. Once a repairer becomes available, they will discuss the fault with you and then attempt to diagnose the problem with your product. You can sit at the repair station whilst your product repair is being undertaken. You may want to discuss the fault symptoms and even assist the repairer. We actively encourage visitors to discuss with their repairer what is being done, particularly with items that may have developed a simple fault that you could experience again. You may be able to use this knowledge to help rectify or prevent the same problem occurring in future. 

If you want to speed up your registration, you can download, print and complete the first section of the Product Repair Form and present it to the Welcome Desk.

The product should be able to be carried and not too large as we have limited space to conduct the repairs. 

CRC does not make any charge to look at and attempt the repair of product or give advice concerning its repair. We do not charge for our time. If spare parts or materials are needed to carry out the repair, then you are expected to buy these and bring these along to a future Repair Café for fitment.

If you wish you may make a donation to the Repair Café you can do so in one of the donation jars located at the reception desk or via the card reader held at the cafe.

We do not dispose of faulty products. If a product is no longer required, then we recommend that it is taken to an approved recycling centre or local authority waste management centre for disposal. Product owners are responsible for the removal of all items that cannot be repaired.

The product owner is responsible for providing (and paying for) any consumables such as leads, batteries, plugs, zips etc., that may be needed to attempt the repair. If additional parts are required to complete the repair the product owner obtains the part and brings it/them (along with the product) to a future Repair Café for repair.

Before and after a repair, one of our electrical repairers will use a PAT tester to check the electrical safety of mains powered electrical devices. If you are unsure whether an electrical item is safe you should stop using it immediately, ensure it is unplugged from the mains supply and have the item checked by a competent electrician.

Repairers offer no guarantee or warranty for any repairs carried out with or without their help and are not liable if any repaired items do not work properly at home or break down again in the future.

Product owners are expected to remain with the repairer while the repair is being carried out. Items should not be left with the repairer and be picked up at a later time during the session.

Parents or Guardians are responsible at all times for the behaviour and safety of their children during their visit to CRC.  Should we feel that there is a risk to safety then we will ask the individuals concerned to leave.  Only guide/assistance dogs are allowed on site.

Yes, we have wheelchair access. If you need any additional assistance, please speak to one of our volunteers at the welcome desk.  

We do not attempt the repair of mobile phones or tablets. There are mobile device repairers in the area who can undertake this type of product repair and have the necessary specialist tools required.

We only work on repairs at the Repair Cafe.  If you have a broken item and cannot wait for the next CRC  – then you can either visit a Repair Cafe in the surrounding area (Farnham, Spencers Wood or Arborfield – search online for their dates/times) or you can contact a local handyman/electrician/carpenter etc.  Please do not contact us regarding a broken item by email or on Facebook as we do not have repairers monitoring these accounts