The Repair Shop: LIFE IN THE BARN: The Inside Stories from the Experts

by Jayne Dowle

'Heartwarming, magical and uplifting'

In today's throwaway culture, there's a counter movement growing that urges us to 'make do and mend'. The BBC's BAFTA Award winning The Repair Shop has brought this waste-conscious message to an even wider audience, with its regular viewing figures of 7 million in the UK alone, cementing itself as a classic series in the vein of Antiques Roadshow.

This new book concentrates on the show's much-loved experts, including woodworker and furniture restorer Will Kirk, clock restorer Steve Fletcher, metalworker Dominic Chinea, silversmith Brenton West, leatherworker Suzie Fletcher, upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary, and seamstresses Julie Tatchell & Amanda Middleditch - aka The Teddy Bear Ladies. Each of the experts shares their own stories and their repairs, capturing in the process the magic and ethos of the barn. Includes quotations and Q & As from the experts as well as Jay Blades on some unique restoration collaborations.

With the focus on the experts themselves, readers will feel as though they're stepping straight into the 'workshop of dreams' and experiencing first hand the magic of the barn.

Genres: Nonfiction

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2022

Reviews

[Rachel]

As a new viewer and fan of the BBC’s The Repair Shop programme I was really pleased to be granted an advance copy of this book. It’s been an absorbing read learning about the experts’ backgrounds and how they came to be part of the programme. Many of the items featured in the book I have not seen on the programme, however for long-term fans of the show this will make a lot of the book redundant. Many have watched since the beginning, and so I imagine much of the content of this book would bring a strong sense of déjà vu. For someone who is new, like me, it may be an enjoyable book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

[Sophie Crane]

A thoroughly heart-warming story of the wonderful programme The Repair Shop. It was good to read the views of the resident experts about some of their projects in the barn.
(Thanks to Net Galley, Kyle Books & Elizabeth Wilhide for this Amazing Behind the Scenes look at The Repair Shop).

[Chris]

This is a much better book than the previous Repair Shop books. It gives you some background on the experts, how they came to be in the Repair Shop, and their favourite projects. The regular experts from the TV programme we know and love are included and some of the less regular, but also popular experts appear as well. There are also slightly more detailed descriptions of a few projects which made the biggest impression on the restorers along with some photos of the process. I thought there could have been a better set of photos of the restorations, showing before, during and after. Also, like the TV programme, there is not a lot of detail about the process of restoration but it is interesting. And it's lovely to find out more about the experts!

[Louise (Bookmarks and Stages blog) Cannon]

I love The Repair Shop, everything about it amazes me. The warmth that oozes from it to people mending things that are broken or well worn, I am in awe of it all and wonder where in the world did they learn their craft. I also wonder if I have anything they’d like to repair with sentimental value and if I’d be brave enough to write in, but that’s another story entirely.

This book oozes the same care and attention and love that the tv show does. It has many stories of life inside the barn from the experts. You can learn more about their expertise and the items for repair. It’s a fascinating, insightful book for anyone who would like to know more about this special shed that has flung its wide open for you to enter through this book. It might even answer people’s burning questions as the experts have put together a Q&A section. The experts the book really focuses on is woodworker and furniture restorer Will Kirk, clock restorer Steve Fletcher, metalworker Dominic Chinea, silversmith Brenton West, leatherworker Suzie Fletcher, upholsterer Sonnaz Nooranvary, and seamstresses Julie Tatchell & Amanda Middleditch - aka The Teddy Bear Ladies. It is a book you can dip in and out of and easily keep going back to

It would make a delightful present for someone or a treat for yourself for anyone who is intrigued to know what life is like for the experts in the impressive Repair Shop barn.

[Simon Fenwick]

Very unusual for me to read a non-crime book but I just love The Repair Shop programme. This book was available from Amazon at a bargain price. Very interesting to read the backgrounds of the various experts from the barn. Also really interesting to read about the various items they encounter.

Only one thing spoils the book and that is the awful printing. It was printed in China using a very small font size and the font itself is unusual in that it looks like the Times Roman font but it actually isn't. Some words you have to read at least twice because of the nature of the font. For example, with a capital H it actually looks like two I's because the cross line of the H is hardly visible and that applies to a lot of the printing. Also, when using brackets the ( and ) are hardly visible. Thank goodness the Chinese printers were dropped for the second book where the print is larger and much clearer to read.

[Caroline]

An easy feel-good read - it rained all day the day it came out so I just lay around reading it. It's interesting to read the stories of how the craftspeople came to be experts in their field, and that's the main thing I was hoping for from the book. The segments on specific items they repaired are very much like the show itself, and like the show it leaves me wanting to know some more about the details of how the work was done. Someone get this show back on in the US, ok? Whatever service will show it, a lot of people will immediately subscribe.

[Mark Fallon]

A wonderful insight to the people who make The Repair Shop a magical place - the masters of their crafts. A brief biography of each expert, how they found their way to their profession - and The Repair Shop, plus some lovely stories of projects. When reading the project stories, I gave the voice of Bill Paterson - one of the narrators - to the text.

If you love the show, you'll love this book.

[Matthew Holley]

This is what I was expecting when I read the previous Repair Shop book, Tales from the Workshop of Dreams (which ended up instead being a fairly boring series of world history lessons in reference to certain items that had been repaired). This book, Life in the Barn, is what I wanted: profiles on the experts who work in the barn and interviews with them, along with examples of some of their work on the show. Brilliant!

[Roger Woods]

The third volume about The Repair Shop. In this book we learn about the backgrounds of some of the expert repairers who are highly experienced and qualified to carry out repairs/restorations. Then there are accounts of some of the many items they have dealt with. A fascinating read about a good programme.

[Kerry]

As a fan of the television show. I was immediately drawn to reading and reviewing this book.
It gives you a brilliant insight of all the restorers, their backgrounds etc. It was also nice to look back at some of the projects they have undertaken over the years.
A must read for all Repair Shop fans!

[Carol Farrington]

I did enjoy this book a lot, I love the show. I would have given it 5 stars if more before and after pictures had been used. There were a few of these and there were before and work in progress pictures so that helped but one of the things I love about the show is seeing the final results. I’m always astonished at them.

[Odette Lattimer]

Thank you for the advanced copy.

I love The Repair Shop, it's such a fantastic programme and this book feels like a dream come true getting to know them and look more at them than items they repair.

I hope eventually this is made into a programme.

Highly recommended

[Kerrie 💫 Rundle]

This book was gifted to me for Christmas and it’s not a programme I have watched so thought I would struggle with reading about it. That being said, I really enjoyed reading this book, learning all about all the trades of the various crafts people and then reading about some of the repairs that have been undertaken on the show. Some of the stories really were heartfelt and warming which was what made me enjoy this book even more! Definitely think I’ll be tuning into the show now!

[Karen Hammond]

I spent yesterday glued to this book. I love the tv programme but this gives extra depth and background stories about the repair shop and it's people. It really added to my enjoyment of the series, a great gift book for anyone tho loved watching the show.

[Annarella]

A very interesting book about a topic dear to my heart: repairing thing and helping the environment.
It's well written, full of different voices.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Tina Milledge]

If you know someone who enjoys the TV show of the same name, this would make a wonderful gift. It’s beautifully presented, very colourful and the content about the artists and their work is very enjoyable.

[Erin]

The Repair Shop was one of my pandemic comfort watches and it was really nice to flip through the book and hear more about the people. Their backgrounds are just as fascinating as the backgrounds of the items they restore.

PLEASE someone bring this show back to the US.

[Marilyn Gast]

love the Repair Shop and this book

The Repair Shop is one of my favorite shows. I watch them over and over and always see something I've missed. I like how they keep adding and moving things on the shelves, and it's wonderful to see the restored items and the gobsmacked owners!

[Barbara Deeprose]

An Interesting Read

I enjoyed getting to know all of the craftsmen a bit better and finding out which of the repairs they enjoyed the most. The barn is set amongst the lovely buildings which have been saved by the Weald & Downland museum. A lovely place to visit if you get a chance.

[Cleo ✨✨]

I absolutely love the repair shop and this book does not disappoint, it is a wonderful book filled with beautiful stories it would make the most fantastic present for any repair shop fan

[Sherran]

The Repair Shop

Love the programme and loved reading the about the backgrounds of the talented individuals who appear. Long may the series continue.

[Pat Smith]

Interesting background to the people workong in the shop

[Claire Haywood]

As easy to read, as the TV programme is to watch. Just lovely

[Kate]

Inspiring and heartwarming just like the show

[JCS]

I thoroughly enjoyed finding out how The Repair Shop developed and learning about each of the experts and their skills. It is full of super photographs from this wonderful television programme and the people that make it so enjoyable. Thank you to Net Galley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Tony Stacey]

The biography sections are brilliant, the repairs less so, it's better to see them on the TV...

[J]

What a lovely book! It not only gives an insight into the backgrounds of the Repair Shop experts, but shows some of the items each person has repaired, along with the story behind them. As with the show, I found myself feeling quite emotional at times whilst reading this.

This would make a delightful gift for anyone who is a fan of the show, or who is interested in bringing treasured items back to life.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

[Emma Dargue]

This was very good. Found it interesting to learn about each individual experts career and some of the jobs that stood out to them.