Meet metalwork experts Bob Hollywood & Cas at The Repair Shop N16: bringing precious pieces back to life

Together, they make an incredible team. Ideas bounce between them as they discuss metalwork solutions, challenge each other, and carefully work through every detail until they’re confident they’ve found the very best approach for their customer. Whether they’re restoring an iconic piece of mid-century furniture, repairing a treasured bicycle frame or creating a bespoke steel sculpture, the goal is always the same: do the job properly, never compromise on quality, and leave every piece stronger than it was before.

As Bob puts it, “We’re here to do what we do well. We don’t let standards slip.”

It’s a simple philosophy, but one that’s earned The Repair Shop N16 – Hollywood Design a reputation for craftsmanship, care and metalwork repairs that are built to last.

Q & A with Bob and Cas at The Repair Shop N16 – Hollywood Design

Q: What kind of work do you do at The Repair Shop N16 – Hollywood Design

Bob:
Well our primary work is designing and making sculptures from steel, often combining them with other metals such as copper, and we do that for both private and commercial customers all across the UK. In terms of what metalwork we repair, essentially it’s anything metal, from bike frames, furniture, lighting, sculptures and even retro-fittings in need of a re-vamp. We specialise in repairing high-end mid-century furniture such as Eames chairs for example. Our ethos is to restore pieces sympathetically, using time-honoured traditional methods. We often work in collaboration with other expert artisans, such as Eames chair restoration expert Graham Mancha (from The Repair Shop), to ensure broken pieces are repaired to the best possible standard. Longevity of these pieces is key and we love nothing more than promoting the traditional skills needed to keep these iconic pieces in use for our customers.

But for us, the most important aspect of our repair services is that we work hard to repair things that are close to people’s hearts and have sentimental value. There’s nothing we love more than having a customer come into our workshop, feeling saddened by their broken item and us knowing we can transform it for them. Being able to hand back a much-loved metalwork piece which we have fixed and transformed is a feeling we never get tired of.

Q: What makes working with The Repair Shop N16 – Hollywood Design so special?

Cas:
We genuinely care about and love what we do. Running The Repair Shop N16 – Hollywood Design is about more than just making money. Our desire is to fix problems and do the best possible work for our customers. We avoid fast-paced approaches – you don’t get the best results that way. We take the time to get things done right. Whether we’re repairing a broken chair, restoring a treasured bicycle or creating something entirely new within an important historic setting, the approach is always the same. We take time to understand the history behind the piece, respect what makes it significant and do everything we can to ensure it continues to be appreciated for generations to come.

Bob:
Take for example a chair we repaired for a lady recently. This was an iconic Diamond chair by Harry Bertoia for Knolls and our customer brought it us, as it was a sentimental piece that her father had bought for her in 1954. But it was broken, and so she dared not sit on it or use it for fear of causing any more damage. We spent time fixing and repairing it and when the lady came back to pick the refurbished chair up, she was wowed by the transformation. Those kinds of projects are so special to work on. It’s the nicest feeling in the world when you fix sentimental pieces which help our customers reconnect with memories and loved ones. You can’t beat it.

Q: What’s your favourite thing about your work?

Bob:
Simple – I love it – When I look at a job, I can already see the solution and the finished piece in my head. I understand metal work inside it and I know how to work with metal. I love problem solving and making things – my brain is designed to diagnose problems and fix them.

Take for example a cannondale road bike frame we worked on recently for a customer. The carbon seat post needed removing from the frame on this bike so it could be ridden again, but no-one had been able to tackle this kind of risky job on this bike before. The bike was built in 1995 and was worth a lot of money so it was crucial we got this repair right. After lots of eye bolts, a threaded rod, ingenuity and utilising the 1 ton crane in the workshop, we were able to remove the post and repair the bike so our customer could ride it again. He’d travelled all over the world on his bike and wanted to continue on his adventures so it was so important we got this one right – and both us and the customer are so pleased we did!

Cas:
My favourite thing is the variety of work and how we get to adapt our skills for each and every job. I love the challenge of learning new skills and being able to bring our ideas to life. I love working with our customers and getting into the real crux of what they want and seeing how thrilled they are with the end result.

Q: And finally, have you got a favourite project that’s really stuck with you?

Bob:
Well people often assume our most memorable jobs are the biggest or the most technically challenging, but that’s not always true. The projects which stay with me are the ones where there’s a real sense of responsibility. Whether it’s repairing a chair that’s been in the same family for generations or restoring a valuable bike that has travelled the world, you’re looking after something that simply can’t be replaced. Those are the jobs that stay with you because you know you’re preserving part of somebody’s story.

That same sense of responsibility was with me on one project I’ll never forget…

This was a commission we did for Seth Stein Architects, who carried out a unique restoration and landscaping project of Novo Cemetery located at the Mile End campus of Queen Mary, University of London in 2012. It was a sensitive project as this is the site of a Jewish cemetery dating back to 1733. A new walkway was needed to act as a viewpoint for this sacred area, as understandably, it can’t be walked on. The architects created a cantilevered path as an extension from the nearby piazza so it was effectively floating over the cemetery ground rather than resting upon it. I was commissioned to create a steel staircase and long steel balustrade along the perimeter of this floating path. I understood the gravity of working on this job, spending hours researching its important history. It was my responsibility to be respectful of this job and create something which honoured this historical location.

Upon completion of the project I was lucky to be allowed to go into the cemetery with the Rabbi who was so appreciative of the level of research and care that went into this project. To be allowed to spend time in this cemetery, on this sacred soil, which most people aren’t allowed to be on, was a really proud moment and one I will never forget.

Because preservation is at the heart of everything we do. Sometimes that’s preserving a treasured family possession. Sometimes it’s preserving a piece of exceptional design. And sometimes, it’s helping protect somewhere that carries centuries of history.

Repairing metal. Restoring memories.

From treasured family furniture and much-loved bicycles to sculptures, lighting and architectural metal work, Bob and Cas are proving that broken doesn’t have to mean the end of the story.

Every repair that leaves The Repair Shop N16 carries with it decades of experience, traditional craftsmanship and a genuine desire to help people hold on to the things that matter most. Their work isn’t simply about welding metal back together. It’s about preserving history, respecting great design and giving customers the confidence to keep using the pieces they love for many years to come.

If you have a sentimental item, a favourite piece of furniture, or a metal object that’s seen better days, don’t assume it can’t be repaired. Visit The Repair Shop N16 – Hollywood Design’s profile to find out more about Bob and Cas’ repair services and discover what’s possible before you decide to replace it.