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  • London's best repair shops

  • By Maggie Davis. Photography Josh Kearns

  • Don't throw it away - get it fixed! In these economically and environmentally fragile times, there's no need to buy new when you can make-do-and-mend. Time Out hunts down the best loved repair shops London has to offer, for clothes, shoes and other items

    London's best repair shops

    Julia Surnina, Artel House © Josh Kearns


  • Clothing | Specialist | Shoes

    Clothing repair shops in London
    British Invisible Mending Service

    For 70 years, this family business has been perfecting its reweaving techniques (threads are extracted from a hidden section of the garment). From £40 per hole (plus VAT).
    32 Thayer Street, W1U 2QT (7935 2487/www.invisible-mending.co.uk). Bond St tube. 8.30am-5.30pm.

    Designer Alterations
    Julia Dee’s 15-year-old company employs some 20 tailors to restyle, alter and repair your favourite items. A wardrobe ‘rehab’ service is also offered (from £20).
    220a Queenstown Road, SW8 4LP (7498 4360/www.designeralterations.com). Queenstown Rd rail. 9am-6pm Mon-Wed, Fri; 9am-8pm Thur; 10am-4pm Sat.

    First Tailored Alterations
    This traditional tailor is particularly good with delicate fabrics like chiffon and silk.
    85 Lower Sloane Street, SW1W 8DA (7730 1400). Sloane Square tube. 9am-6pm Mon-Sat. Feature continues

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    KS Tailoring Services
    Known for its alteration of suits and shirts.
    Lower Ground Floor, 13 Savile Row, W1S 3NE (7437 9345). Green Park or Piccadilly Circus tube. 9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm Sat.

    Manuela Alterations
    Regulars are full of praise for the speedy, good-value shortening and hemming services offered here.
    Oriel Court, Heath St, NW3 6TE (7431 9283). Hampstead tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Fri; 10am-5pm Sat.

    Stitchcraft
    Alterations, tailoring, remodelling – you name it, it does it. Reasonable rates too.
    3rd Floor, 7 South Molton Street, W1K 5QG (7629 7919/www.stitchcraftalterations.co.uk). Bond St tube. 9am-5pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Sat.

    Invisible Menders of Knightsbridge

    West London's most thriving invisible menders. Nina Rayit will take on anything from a mink coat to a ski jacket – things many other menders don't take. Customers include the Duchess of York and Simon Cowell.
    161 Gloucester Rd, SW7 4TH (7373 0514). Gloucester Rd tube. 9am-6pm Mon-Sat.

    Clothing | Specialist | Shoes

    Specialist repair shops in London

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    Sendean Cameras

    Jackie Electronics
    This south London electrical repair shop specialises in TV and hi-fi with prices starting at £20.
    1 Fernlea Road, SW12 9RT (8675 2777). Balham tube. 10am-6pm Mon-Sat.

    Micro Mend
    Specialising in Mac and PC repairs, including hard-drive replacement, water damage and data recovery.
    3 Tottenham St, W1T 2AF (7636 6667) Goodge St tube. 10am-7pm Mon-Fri, noon-5pm Sat.

    General Leather Company
    Designer and manufacturer offering tailoring and repairs, plus leather wall tiles.
    56 Chiltern Street, W1U 7QY (7935 1041/www.generalleather.co.uk). Baker St tube/rail. 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm Sat.

    Chapman Sewing Machine Co

    Established in 1937 by Mr Chapman, who still runs the shop, all sewing machines from old-fashioned treadle machines to modern electric machines are fixed here. Repairs from £25. Free estimates and two-year guarantees.
    80 Parkway, NW1 7AN (7485 0140) Camden Town tube. 9.30am-5.30pm Mon-Fri, 10.30am-5.30pm Sat.

    Artel House

    Julia Surnina set up her Islington upholstery business last May. She'll repair and restore anything from Louis XV furniture to your favourite sofa.
    34a St Peters St, N1 8JT (www.artelhouse.co.uk) Angel tube. By appointment.

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    Psubliminal Bike Shop

    Class Chandeliers London
    This reputable shop restores, cleans and rewires chandeliers.
    Christopher Close,  Rotherhithe,  SE16 6PN (07506 775 478/www.classchandeliers.com).

    Sendean Cameras

    The Demetriou clan has been running this Soho shop for the past three decades. They'll repair everything to do with cameras, from lenses to the flashes. Average price to repair a camera £50. They also buy second-hand cameras for cash.
    Shop 2, 9-12 St Ann's Court, W1F 0BB (0871 750 2463/www.sendeancameras.co.uk). Tottenham Court Road tube. 10.30am-6pm Mon-Fri.

    Psubliminal Bike Shop

    Opened 12 years ago and still going strong, Psubliminal provides a speedy, well-priced repair service tackling anything from puncture repairs to same-day servicing and pumping up tyres free of charge. They even offer on-the-spot puncture repairs for buggies.
    17 Balham High Rd, SW12 9AJ (8772 0707/www.psubliminal.co.uk). Balham tube/rail. 9am-6.30pm Mon-Sat, Thur until 7pm.

    Clothing | Specialist | Shoes

    Shoe repair shops in London
    Fifth Avenue Shoe Repairers

    Shoe and bag mending, as well as key cutting in a traditional environment.
    41 Goodge St, W1T 2PY (7636 6705). Goodge St tube. 8am-6.30pm Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm Sat.


    The Master Cobbler

    Popular with north London shoemakers and residents alike, the Master Cobbler charges from £5.99 to re-heel a stiletto.
    183 Upper St, N1 1RQ (7226 8126). Highbury & Islington tube/rail. 8.30am-6pm Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm Sat.

    Well Heeled

    Proprietor Ken Holmes is strictly a needle and thread man – you won’t catch him solving problems with a slick of glue. Great-value service, too.
    443 Bethnal Green Rd, E2 9QH (7739 3608). Bethnal Green tube. 7am-5pm Mon-Fri, 8am-4pm Sat.

    Clothing | Specialist | Shoes

  • Add your comment to this feature

19 comments

  1. Posted by Jeff thompson on 25 Nov 2009 20:37

    I am wondering if the Sarah Burrows who wants a lamp repairer went to the University of North Wales in the Sixties. If so, would she care to get in touch with me? I can't repair lamps, or much else, I would like to repair a friendship though.

  2. Posted by Todor Chakarov on 20 Nov 2009 17:17

    Hi! I am looking for someone to repair my CD Changer SONY. Any ideas about that - if that shop is in North London , will be better for me.
    Thanks.

  3. Posted by Thomas Karshan on 22 Oct 2009 08:35

    I need someone who can darn my sweaters and mend the holes under the armpits for a good price, and is central London,
    preferably near Bloomsbury/Kings Cross/ Covent Garden ... any suggestions?

  4. Posted by Alan P on 06 Oct 2009 14:17

    I am looking for a shop that can repair a tear in my leater jacket.
    Can anyone recommend a good reliable shop that will do this at reasonable rates

  5. Posted by Sarah Burrows on 17 Aug 2009 14:30

    Dear S. Foxton - thanx so much for the recommendation - will definitely give them a call....

  6. Posted by S. Foxton on 17 Aug 2009 13:33

    Hi Sarah,
    Class Chandeliers are based in South London, give them a try. 07506 775 478 There are lots of good reports about them on Touch Local.
    Report this comment as inappropriate

  7. Posted by Sarah Burrows on 17 Aug 2009 13:17

    does anyone know a good lamp repairer in south london? also, i have a small antique lamp that needs putting back together - does anyone know a REASONABLY PRICED renovator who might be able to help? By the way, what a great website!

  8. Posted by J. Greenhill on 11 Aug 2009 19:06

    What about repairing books! I had this lovely book from my grandma which was falling apart so went to the bindery in Bayswater where I pass everyday to get to work. They repaired it perfectly! It is rare to see bookbinders nowadays. I look forwards to see more features like this one.

  9. Posted by sajida on 20 Jun 2009 05:26

    I am looking for someone to repair my sewing machine and a overlocking machine in west london

  10. Posted by Emma on 19 May 2009 13:24

    I use KG shoes on Eversholt Street, near Mornington Crescent. Have found them to be good for shoe repairs and reasonably priced.

  11. Posted by Clare O'Brien on 27 Apr 2009 10:57

    And another great shoemender is Elias in Chiswick, W4. Been there for years right near Turnham Green tube

  12. Posted by Sarah K on 26 Apr 2009 19:19

    Can anyone recomment a good cobbler for recovering heels? I've destroyed some patent leather heels that I love and need to get them mended!!

  13. Posted by Derrick Carter on 19 Apr 2009 20:10

    Hi Anna, if your looking for a lamp mender then the best place is probably Class Chandeliers of Rotherhite. They fixed my mates lamps and did an excellent job. Furthermore they pick up from anywhere and are reliable.
    www.classchandeliers.com
    Best Regards,
    Derrick

  14. Posted by Anna Blackmre on 17 Apr 2009 14:58

    For luggage try Euston shoes, on Euston Rd, near Warren St tube station.

  15. Posted by tanya thompson on 17 Apr 2009 14:36

    I am looking for a lamp mender in west london. Any ideas?
    The last place just shut down.

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