Alston Moor Repair Café

The Alston Moor Repair Mill is held on the first Saturday of the month our new Community Workshop at the High Mill Factory, Alston, CA9 3HS. The easiest access is from the path at the back of the Co-op Car Park in Alston or go past Cobbles Café on Market Square and turn right up the hill, and for anyone who knows the town, we’re at the foot of the Hill House Bank steps. We’re open from 10am to 3pm – What3words ///washable.smuggled.treaties

Our volunteers have a wide range of skills and can turn their hands to most things that are brought in every month, and with a surprisingly high success rate so far!

Since we started in 2018, we have got chainsaws buzzing again, lamps to light, radios to play, chairs unwobbled, jeans patched, hoovers to suck, jackets re-zipped, clocks ticking and watches powered up. We’ve cleaned cameras, repaired projectors, fixed shoes, adjusted bicycles, glued plates and cups and so much more. If you can bring an item in to us, we’ll gladly take a look. Bin it? – No Way!

Once you’ve booked your items in at our reception desk, you can be introduced to a volunteer who will work with you to see if your item can be repaired. If you wish, they will be happy to show you what they’re doing and encourage you to participate. Please note though that we don’t keep a stock of parts, and so if a replacement part is required we can advise you what is needed and a possible supplier so that you can obtain the item, which we’ll be happy to assist you to fit on your next visit. Alston is fortunate however to have a rather good Hardware shop (Mad Hatters, opp the Town Hall) that stock many of the commonly required items that we will be happy to fit for you.

All electrical items are PAT Tested by qualified volunteers before being returned to you.

All repairs that don’t require parts or have parts supplied by you are completed free of charge, we do however have a donations box which does contribute significantly towards the running costs of the Community Workshop, Men’s Shed and of course the Repair Cafe. Please note though that any alterations (rather than repairs – i.e. resizing of clothing) may be charged for, but your repairer will discuss that with you before they begin work.

We are a part of the Alston Community Workshop, a CIO Charity group (Charity number: 1202099), incorporating the Alston Men’s Shed and ‘Busy Buddies’ Community Workshop, and have some amazing plans for the near future that focus on sustainability and community within Alston and the neighbouring area, so watch this space!