FIX this FIX that As part of FIX 13 Thursday 12th Sept 2013 1pm outside Catalyst Arts
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A walk around Belfast city centre in search of good places
to get things repaired where participants were invited to bring damaged goods
in need of fixing.
The rain was on, there was nothing we could do to fix that
but when Jackie arrived having nipped her thumb in her umbrella mechanism
Catalyst’s first aid kit was obligingly on hand with a sticking plaster. Her
texting thumb was the first fix of the day.
They arrived one by one to be photographed outside Catalyst
with their damaged item. Alice’s watch hadn’t told time in a while. Sinead had
a handbag defunct because of a broken; I had 2 in similar condition. Jackie had
a bracelet in need of a clasp, a souvenir that gave fond memories of a holiday
in Greece. There was our computer cable whose magnetic jack had been bitten off
by the dog the previous day. Maurice’s leather boot had a seam starting to
unravel at the rear.
There were all small jobs that had been left unattended, the
type of task you continually put off.
With this list of jobs we set off. We emerged onto Castle St and noticed that
Savanna Sunbeds retube sunbeds, but no one seemed to have an immediate need of
such a service, so we turned right onto King St, just to take note of James
McGarveys Bicycles, where Keith had recommended for cheap city centre cycle
related repairs. We rounded onto Berry
St passing Halvin’s Locksmith in case of keys lost before duking out of the
rain into Castlecourt and Timpson’s, at the Gresham St entrance, our first port
of call.
Here Alice’s watch was nimbly repaired in a matter of
seconds as was Jackie’s bracelet which just needed a little TLC and deft
handling of a set of needle nosed pliers. When the guy behind the counter heard
the nature of our mission he kindly gave these services for free!
After such swift completion of two of our tasks we had time
to take in an array of premises in the Smithfield area that mend things. Richer
Sounds on the corner of Winetavern St will mend amps, televisions and DVD
players. In Smithfield covered market The Sewing Box do repairs and alterations
of all sorts, but not bags, so unfortunately we had no trade for them that day.
There is a House of Healing on Winetavern St for the
psychically minded with perhaps longer repair jobs in mind, we pushed on
towards Gresham St, Kavanagh’s, a jewelers on the corner advertised all kinds
of repairs, The Skate Shop down the street fixes wheels and bearings but can’t
repair broken boards. Once the board is broken that’s it! The plethora of sex
shops might provide another type of fix but we are practically minded today so
press on.
We had in mind a trip to the Tivoli Barbers, now forced to relocated
to North St after over 102 years in its Lower Garfield St premises, which, like
so many building of architectural interest in the city, has been let
deteriorate by the landlords to the point where the roof has been breached by
the elements.
We cut through the arcade and crossed over Royal Ave onto Lower
Garfield St to point out the original barbershop once housed in a Grade B
listed red brick, curved façade. Lower Garfield St opens out onto Lower North
St where you once could have ducked out of the rain into North St Arcade to
avail of the services of an old fashioned cobblers and spectacle repair shop
amongst others. Sadly this 1930’s arcade (by Cowser & Smyth) of architectural interest is also in need of
extensive repair after an arson attack in 2005. It has remained boarded up
since.
The relocated barbers is down the road, we will pop back
there for the last task of the day but meanwhile (after pointing out a small
premises above Cash Convertors where Phil got a good trouser alteration) it’s
onto Pottinger’s Entry to Prestige Computers in the hope that some miraculous
surgery can be preformed on my de capitated computer lead. I secretly suspect
that this one’s beyond repair and I am proved correct with a sting of £40 to
replace the lead, but still £20 cheaper than the manufacturer prices.
The Morning Star is pointed out as a recommended spot for
‘the cure’ given that it opens at 10.30 am but we still have work to do.
Maurice’s boot has a hole, its still raining plus there are still 3 strapless
handbags in need of attention.
It’s worth noting that the pharmacy on the corner of
Pottinger’s entry can deal with most minor aliments as can any pharmacy saving unnecessary
trips to the doctor. We thankfully are
all in fine fettle. The Phone Shop here also
does mobile repairs.
On Church Lane we find Victoria Heel Bar, which comes with
several recommendations, and we soon discover why, but not before Mike nips
into Miss Moran’s Ltd, one of the oldest tobacconists in the city, for a quick
nicotine fix.
At the heel bar Maurice sheds his boot and it is stitched on
a sturdy cast iron machine in the back of the shop in no time. It’s a beautiful
job. On hearing of our mission they too generously provide the service for
free. We leave the 3 bags for collection
in 1 hour and head for the barbers. I
collect my 2 bags later, cleanly repaired for a well worth it £5.
At the Tivoli Mike gets a number one and Maurice gets a
short back and sides. Both sharp, no nonsense haircuts. We are given a tour of
the new shop and shown the door of the original premises, which has original
carvings, by the artist John Lavery on it. The door leans against a stud wall
out the back waiting to be re hung again.
£5 a haircut an excellent deal!
Time for the last fix of the day and some time out of the
rain, a coffee fix in the Wha café on North St.
FIX THIS FIX THAT part of FIX 2013, Meet outside Catalyst Arts at 1pm Thurs 12th Sept
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