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Practical info – Frequently asked questions – Get in touch – Support – Photos – the first Marlow Repair Café

The Marlow Repair Café is an opportunity for people to learn how to fix their own items, rather than throwing them away. This can range from electronics to furniture, or from jewellery to bikes. The Repair Café Foundation website has more details on what it is and the history of the movement.

Practical info

Where? In the large downstairs Christ Church URC hall, 18 Oxford Road, Marlow, SL7 2NL. There is limited car parking on site, but several car parks nearby and a bus stop (bus 800/850) just at the corner with West St. Find it on the map.

When? On the first Saturday of the month (except in January and with a break in December), from 10 am until 1 pm. The dates for 2022 are:

  • 8th January
  • 5th February
  • 5th March
  • 2nd April
  • 7th May
  • 4th June
  • 2nd July
  • 3rd September
  • 1st October
  • 5th November
  • 3rd December

Frequently asked questions

How does it work?

  1. Come to the Repair Café with your broken item(s).
  2. Have a look at our House Rules.
  3. Talk to one of the volunteers about the item that you want to repair. If they are all busy, see #4.
  4. Help yourself to tea or coffee while you wait.
  5. One of our volunteer repairers will help you diagnose and (hopefully) repair your item.
  6. A voluntary donation is greatly appreciated. This helps us to keep the Repair Café going and growing.

What skills do your volunteers have?

This varies from month to month – keep an eye on the TTM newsletter and our Repair Café Facebook page.

Can you repair (insert your item here)?

We don’t know, but if you bring it to the Repair Café, we will have a look at it!

I am inspired! How do I start my own Repair Café?

We compiled a short guide with our top tips. You can also read a longer story about our journey or story on how to run a virtual event. If you have any further questions, please get in touch.

Getting in touch

Have you got thoughts, ideas, comments or suggestions? Are you good at repairing things? Do you have unique tools that could be of use? We’d love to hear from you, either via our contacts page or via the Marlow Repair Cafe Facebook page. That page is also a good way to show your support and spread the word.

Support

Please consider supporting the work of the Marlow Repair Café.

Photos

Below are some photos from our Repair Café events. Those marked “M. Phillips” were taken by Mark Phillips as part of his ‘Unbroken’ project.

The internals of a light (M. Phillips)
Patience with the toaster (M. Phillips)
Mugs for the Café (M. Phillips)
We will get that iron open! (M. Phillips)
No, it is not live (M. Phillips)
Clockworks
The robot will walk again

The first Marlow Repair Café

TTM organised the first Marlow Repair Café at the Marlow Market as part of the Love Marlow Festival on Saturday June 2nd 2018 in All Saints Church Hall. This was also the first Repair Café in Buckinghamshire. Our enthusiast volunteers tackled: 3 bikes (mostly diagnosis of what needs replacing), a few necklaces, a jewellery box, 2 clocks, 1 watch strap, an iPhone battery, a leaking Nespresso machine and seat cushions for a chair. The café also gave the opportunity for people to meet, have a chat or just sit down and relax. Below are a few snapshots of the event.