Sarah Lewis-Briggs, of Brampton, was distraught when her coffee machine broke down. But thanks to the skill of the town’s repair cafe, she soon got her froth back…
My cappuccino habit is a regular one; fine when I was commuting to work each day (apart from the cost) but when lockdown kept us all in our homes, I didn’t have a cappuccino for months.
Then I had a big birthday, and with some of the money I received decided to buy my own cappuccino maker.
I researched the best makes and sizes and opted for a Gaggia. After all, surely such a well-known Italian brand would make the best coffee?
It was always a little temperamental – which I put down to its being Italian – but one day it decided to pack up all together.
Of course it was no longer under warranty, and a search of social media and the internet produced nobody who would admit to repairing these machines. I was about to give up and demote it to the small electricals section at Brampton Recycling Centre when I found a flyer: Brampton Repair Café.
Think The Repair Shop but without the television cameras. The group has been going over a year now, and on the particular Saturday when I went, they had set up their stalls in Hallbankgate Village Hall, partly as they have received some funding from Fellfoot to take the concept out to local villages.
A friendly group, there’s plenty of space to sit down and drink tea, eat cake and have a chat while your items are being repaired.
One woman was busy with her sewing machine; the bike mechanic had a steady stream of cycles in front of him; two electricians sat at the top of the room with various bits of gadgetry and screwdrivers in all shapes and sizes. Nobody was idle: there’s obviously a need for this sort of service.
I’m glad to say that both my items were repaired and I am now enjoying frothy coffee each morning again.
The group is keen to spread the word – they rely on donations, funding and their willing volunteers – and whilst you might not have noticed them, there is almost certainly bound to be a group near you, to which you’ll be able to drop in with items which need repair.
And it goes without saying that not only will your purse feel the benefit, but you’ll be helping the environment too.
The group can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bramptonandfellsiderepair or you can email them at [email protected]
