Tucked away in Cascades Shopping Centre, Repair Café Portsmouth has blossomed from a grassroots initiative into a cornerstone of Portsmouth’s sustainability movement. This volunteer driven charity not only mends leaky kettles and wobbly chairs but also empowers residents to borrow tools, reduce waste, and forge meaningful connections. Let’s dive into the story of this remarkable hub and its ripple effect on the city.
From Pop Ups to Permanent Hub: A Journey of Growth
Founded in 2018 by a passionate group of volunteers, Repair Café Portsmouth began with monthly pop up events at Buckland URC in Fratton, where locals could bring broken items for repair instead of discarding them. By 2021, demand surged, prompting expansion to an additional pop-up space in Southsea Library and the establishment of Share (Portsmouth) in 2022 a charity dedicated to reducing carbon footprint and waste through repair, reuse, and sharing initiatives .
A pivotal moment came in early 2023 when Cascades Shopping Centre donated a retail unit, transforming Repair Café into a permanent hub. This space now hosts both the Repair Café and the Portsmouth Library of Things, where residents borrow everything from power drills to thermal imaging cameras, fostering a circular economy in the heart of the city
More Than Repairs: Skills, Sustainability, and Social Connection
The Repair Café’s ethos extends far beyond fixing objects. It’s a space where skills are shared, confidence is built, and environmental stewardship thrives.
Key Services & Workshops
1. Repair Sessions: Volunteers assist with small household electricals, textiles, furniture, jewellery, and tool sharpening though microwaves and e-scooters remain exceptions. Sessions are bookable via email, with a focus on collaborative repair and skill-sharing.
2. Library of Things: Borrow infrequently used items like camping gear, projectors, or DIY tools, reducing the need for ownership and curbing consumerism.
3. Empowering Workshops:
Thermal Imaging Workshops: Partnering with Switched On Portsmouth, these sessions teach residents to detect home heat loss using borrowed cameras, linking repairs to energy savings.
Women’s DIY Skill Shares: A groundbreaking series challenges gender stereotypes, offering hands-on training in drilling, plug wiring, and sawing all fuelled by tea and biscuits.
Community Impact: By the Numbers
Waste Prevention: Repair Café Portsmouth has diverted countless items from our city incinerators contributing to global efforts highlighted by the Global E-Waste Monitor which reports the UK as the world’s second-largest e-waste producer per capita .
Carbon Savings: Every repair reduces the carbon footprint tied to manufacturing and transportation. For instance, extending a vacuum’s life by a year can save up to 22 kg of CO₂
Volunteer Power: Over 50 volunteers staff the hub and pop-ups, supported by partnerships with The National Lottery and national networks like the Hampshire Repair Café Network.
Innovative Campaigns & National Recognition
Repair Café Portsmouth isn’t just thinking big, they’re going huge. In 2024, they grabbed the city’s attention with a 2-metre-tall interactive mobile phone, touring the streets as part of an eye-catching “e-waste amnesty.” The goal? To encourage locals to donate their unwanted tech and shine a spotlight on the growing issue of electronic waste. This bold initiative is perfectly in step with their involvement in The BIG FIX 2025, a nationwide repair extravaganza where thousands of broken items find new life in just one day. And let’s not forget their annual contribution to International Repair Day every October because for Repair Café Portsmouth, every fix counts.
Local leadership has taken note: Council Leader Steve Pitt endorsed the UK Repair and Reuse Declaration, advocating for national policies to support repair culture, tax incentives, and stronger right to repair laws.
Looking Ahead: Challenges & Vision
While Repair Café thrives, challenges persist. Clare Seek, founder of Share (Portsmouth), highlights barriers like scarce spare parts and high repair costs.Yet, the charity’s vision remains clear: to normalise repair in a throwaway society.
Internationally, Repair Café Portsmouth contributes data to the Open Repair Alliance, revealing insights like the UK’s lower success rate for fixing coffee machines compared to European counterparts, a call for better product design and legislation.
Join the Movement
Whether you’re a seasoned DIYer or a repair novice, Repair Café Portsmouth welcomes you. Drop by their hub (open Wed–Sat) or attend a pop up event. Bring a broken item, borrow a tool, or simply enjoy a cuppa while learning how small actions like rewiring a plug or borrowing a drill can collectively reshape our planet’s future.
Visit them at:
Find Us at 108A Cascades Shopping Centre, Portsmouth
Ready to give your broken items a second chance? Visit the Portsmouth Repair Café to explore our workshops or make a booking:
👉 shareportsmouth.org.uk/repair
📞 Hub contact: 07579 026568
Getting Here:
🚶 On Foot
Use the Spring Street entrance for the quickest route to the unit.
🚲 By Bike
Bike racks are dotted around the streets near Cascades. If you’re picking something up from the Library, feel free to bring your bike inside to load up. The nearest Voi Bike bay is on Bishop Crispian Way.
🛴 By Voi e-Scooter
Your closest Voi e-scooter parking spot is just around the corner on Stanhope Road.
🚌 By Bus
The City Centre South bus stops are only a 2 minute walk away.
🚆 By Train
Portsmouth & Southsea station is a short 5 minute walk from our doors.
⛴️ By Ferry
Portsmouth Harbour is about 10 minutes away on foot, with ferries to Gosport and the Isle of Wight.
🚗 By Car
Pop PO1 4RS into your sat nav. If you’re using the Cascades multi-storey car park, enjoy 20 minutes of free parking. For quick pickups or drop offs, there are loading bays on Spring Street, accessible via Edinburgh Road. Please be aware you can not leave your car unattended on Spring Road.
Because fixing what we have is more powerful than tossing it away.Repair Café Portsmouth small repairs, big impacts.
Find out more about more about our story by contacting us on our Contact page.