The repair cafe also offer a recycling service for many items.
In an age when so many products are treated as disposable, the Cranleigh Repair Café stands out as a model of sustainability, community spirit, and practical problem-solving.
Established in 2024, the Repair Café operates on the first Saturday of each month at The Bandroom in Village Way, Cranleigh. The initiative brings together skilled volunteers who give their time and expertise to repair everyday household items, helping residents extend the life of objects that might otherwise be discarded.
A Community Initiative with Purpose
The Cranleigh Repair Café is part of a growing international movement promoting a “repair, not replace” culture. Supported by local volunteers and community organisations, it aims to reduce waste, conserve resources, and strengthen community connections.
Visitors are invited to bring items in need of repair — and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee while they wait. There is no fixed charge for repairs, but donations are gratefully accepted to support the running of the sessions and fund tools, materials, and training for volunteers.
What Can Be Repaired
The scope of repairs offered is impressively broad. Typical items brought to the café include:
Small electricals and household appliances, such as lamps, toasters, vacuum cleaners and mixers Bicycles, including electric bikes Wooden and mechanical items, including clocks and small pieces of furniture Toys and other sentimental household items Textiles and clothing, from zips and seams to button replacements and mending tears
In addition to repairs, the café also collects recyclable materials that are often difficult to dispose of elsewhere, such as:
Glasses:
- Old spectacles
- Sunglasses
- Glasses cases
Used batteries
Brita water filters
Empty blister packs
Contact lens packaging
Old prescription contact lenses
Pens, felt tips and marker pens
Babybel packaging – net and metal clasp, wax, wrapper and label
Used plastic and aluminium coffee pods
Milk bottle tops – these are being collected for the Parish Council who give them to The Springboard Project who can raise money from them
Used printer cartridges – these are being collected to raise funds for Surrey Tree Wardens
Clean soft plastics:
- Thin plastic lids of all types
- Kitchen towel, toilet roll, nappy bag, cotton wool wrappers
- Pouches – microwave rice, pre-cooked mussels, petfood, etc
- Fruit & veg nets, bags and wrappers
- Plastic sauce sachets
- Ordinary carrier bags
- Bread bags
- Crisps, nuts, snacks bags
- Bags from cereal and porridge, dried goods (dried fruit, pasta, rice, sugar, pulses, etc), frozen foods and ice cubes, chocolate and sweets bags and wrappers
- Biscuit wrappers
- Cling film
- Pizza wrapping film
- Bread product wrappers from croissants, pancakes, naan bread, pitta bread, garlic bread, fresh pasta
- Wrappers from cheese, pastry, cakes, Yorkshire puddings, baby wipes, meat, poultry and joints, tea and teabags, ground coffee, pies, pastries, sausage rolls, household textiles, scourers, rubber gloves, etc, giftwrap, greetings cards, etc
- Flower wrappers
- Petfood wrappers
Beauty products (these items can also be taken to Boots in Cranleigh and you can collect Advantage points):
- Plastic lipstick or lip balm tubes
- Plastic eyeliner or concealer pen
- Plastic concealer or eye shadow tubes (inc applicator)
- Plastic mascara tubes (inc brush, wand)
- Eyeshadow & brow palettes & compacts
- Plastic make-up tubes
- Plastic lip balm pots
- Plastic body, hair and face cream pot and tubes
- Plastic body lotion, hand cream and sunscreen tubes
- Plastic refill pouches
- Plastic sachets, samples and hotel bottle minis
- Plastic dropper bottles
- Plastic roll-on and stick deodorants
- Plastic combs
- Plastic toothpaste tubes
- Face and hair mask packaging (single use)
- Wipes packets
- Toothbrushes or electronic toothbrush heads
The following items are being collected for Rowleys as they can raise money from them:
- Jewellery – unwanted gold and silver, costume jewellery and watches (any condition)
- Coins and currency – any foreign currency of any age
- Stamps – loose and single used stamps, presentation packs, first day covers
- Electrical and electronics – games consoles, games and accessories, old cameras (digital or film), video cameras, mobile phones, iPads, sat navs and MP3 players.
How the Repair Process Works
Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by volunteers who log their item and match it to a suitable repairer. Each repairer works with the visitor to assess what is possible and whether replacement parts are required. In many cases, repairs are completed on-site during the session.
The emphasis is not only on fixing the item, but also on sharing knowledge — encouraging visitors to learn simple repair techniques and gain confidence in maintaining their belongings.
Environmental and Social Impact
The success of the Cranleigh Repair Café lies in its positive environmental and social outcomes. By helping to reduce landfill waste and unnecessary consumption, the initiative directly supports Cranleigh’s wider sustainability goals.
Just as importantly, it fosters community connection and skill-sharing. Residents meet new people, exchange practical advice, and enjoy the simple satisfaction of seeing an old object restored to usefulness.
Venue: The Bandroom, Village Way, Cranleigh
Time: 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
When: First Saturday of every month
Contact: cranleighrepaircafe@gmail.com
Booking: Pre-booking is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome subject to volunteer availability
Find them on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/14QEpRe7QxR/?mibextid=wwXIfr
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Cranfold Chronicle 
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