An easy to get to launderette on the main road of allerton up near the co-op. Wash houses are a…read moredying art so it is nice to know there is still one or two going. This has only been opened about 5 years and is run by a local guy. It is very clean and tidy inside and has the most up to date models of machines and when any break they are replaced or mended onsite as soon as possible. There is plenty of space inside but it isnt disabled friendly as there are steps to get in and no ramp. They also do take in services like drop your own washing in for them to do or they pick up at your home and bring back washed and even ironed if you have paid for that service. They also do dry cleaning services too. The staff are hardly ever on site but can easily be contacted via one of the shops next door (i think the same guy owns it). When the staff are onsite they are usually very polite and up for a nice chat and a joke. Very friendly place with plenty of takeaways nearby and a shopping centre if you want to do some shopping or grab a bite to eat while waiting for your washing.

Shoe Craft of Otley is one of those essential shops that everyone (certainly the locals) has needed…read moreat one time or another. Although the word 'shoe' is in the name, keys is largely the game with Shoe Craft specialising in key cutting of all kinds - car, household and security. If you've worn those party shoes that one time too many they can sort this too as they offer a shoe repair service which is both swift and reasonably priced! Should that not be enough, they also engrave items, such as trophies, watches and so on! Pretty much everything you could want and need from a repair shop of this ilk but with the friendly staff and good prices to boot. (Hah, get it?! I know, it's a terrible pun...)

Our washing machine has broken and I've actually taken my time about trying to get it fixed, on…read moreaccount of my secret obsession with laundrettes. I love them. Since we moved to Chapel Apple, I haven't had an excuse to try any new ones though, until now. And so it came to pass that I spent a delightful half hour at The Laundry Room this morning. It's next door to Angel's Share, which is our pub of choice thanks to happy hour cocktails and Red Stripe, so it's easy to spot. It's also distinctly unlike any other laundrette I've been in, with its flat screen telly showing Saturday morning baking shows, its IKEA chairs and lovely sage green windowsills. £2.80 for a normal wash, £4.80 for a large one, and plenty of dryers (big and small). There's also a dry cleaning and service wash service, but the main draw is that it's just really lovely.

This launderette has been perfectly designed to sit comfortably in Chapel Allerton. This area is…read moreknow to me as the nice almost-suburb of Leeds where the 30-somethings move to when they have children, get married or make enough money not to live in the scummier parts of Leeds dwelled in during and post-university. Amazing that, yes, even the people of Chapel A. still have to go to the launderette! But it doesn't look like the launderettes I have encountered before - it is amazingly clean and well presented, neatly laid out and quite spacious. Its not a DIY job - you don't have to watch your own washing spin round hundreds of times as there is the lady working there will keep an eye on it for you and you can pick it up later on. Perfect! And they have massive tumble dryers so you don't have to walk home with a bag full of damp clothes.

The best place in leeds!!!read more

I've been back several times now, to bring new life to old shoes, and I have to say that these…read morechaps are fantastic. En route to town, I dropped in my solid favourite heels to be fixed up, and was greeted by the ever friendly and welcoming guys that man the shop. I'm sure one of them must be Steve, and one day I might venture to ask which one, but on this occasion I wasn't so brave as to make introductions. It costs just over a fiver to get re-heeling done, and I've never been in without being able to collect the shoes about 30 minutes later. Basically, it gives you enough time to pop off for a coffee, take in the world, and pop back again before going about your day. Of course, if you need keys cut, and the various other cobbler odd jobs, they're ready to provide good service for that too. They're always smiling, they're cheap and cheerful, they're fantastic and I've them to thank for not having to buy new shoes. It's always a pleasure. Cash only, but as Hannah says, there's a cash machine right next door!

Steve's is probably the most traditional business in the whole of Headingley - amidst a sea of…read morestudent pubs, bars and modern delis, it stands proud, providing ye olde cobbling and keycutting services for anyone who so desires. The keycutting services are as fast as they are cheap (very) and on the two occasions I've needed a key cut here, I've had no problems with the finished product working in my doors. Can't say I've ever needed to have a shoe cobbled though. I'm a firm believer in the if-a-shoe's-broke-bin-it school of thought, so I can't comment on Steve's shoe skills, but I'd wager they're as professional as his key-cutting skills are.

I stumbled across (excuse the pun) Shoetech! when passing through the Merrion Centre purely by…read morechance. A pair of tall boots bought for my girlfriend as a Christmas present were a little too tall for her diminutive frame and so I was looking to get around half an inch taken off the top. The shoemaker in question was quick to point out it was not an easy job, as they are machined leather throughout, but he would give it his best shot. However the resulting job was perfect, exactly as requested and very well finished and stitched. The price was only £15 and they were back within two days. I think the exclamation mark in their name is warranted after all.

V good and friendly service. I came here after being quoted a ridiculous price on the market stalls…read moreand had just about given up. The chap here did a great job v good quality - and was almost half the price. I dont know how it compares to Timsons but I would guess its half the price they charge

Appears to be run from a semi derelict house, but don't let this put you off, I've never had any…read moreproblems with their services or products, this could of course be because I've never shopped there. On the up side, beetplek has been there around six times and they have left him satisfied on each visit, although he didn't notice that the staff were squatters and I would therefore question his observational acumen.

This is a PC repair shop which I`ve used around 6 times. The man incharge really knows his PC`s…read morewell and Ive never left unsatisfied. Prices are cheap and the service is very friendly.

Old-fashioned quality driven furniture upholsterer and restorer…read more You might walk into Ken Reeves' workshop and be taken aback by the vast sprawling mounds of bits of chair, fabric sample books and other bits and bobs linked to an upholstery restoring business. It looks chaotic and Ken's approach is certainly laid back. But he and his team deliver a service that simply can NOT be beaten in terms of quality and value. He restores furniture, simple as that. But he often buys quality furniture that's seen better days and restores it to a condition that's probably better than it was when the piece was new. And he is very far from expensive. We've realised there's no point buying the hastily designed and poorly constructed sofas from places like World of Leather or Ikea when you can go and see Ken Reeves and he'll find the right sofa, strip it right down to the skeleton and then rebuild it to a very high quality using materials you choose yourself. We bought a very large sofa from him and we chose some heavy wearing fabric and Ken delivered it within 6 weeks, for £700 + VAT. That's crazy value. The idea of finding a solid wood constructed sofa for that sort of money is impossible as you'd normally only get some chipboard version from Ikea for that. Ken Reeves' sells furniture that should last a lifetime if looked after. Another of the sort of businesses you don't often find these days. Craftsmanship is at the fore, and you will be surprised by the prices. Ken himself is a charmer. Loves to chatter so make sure you have some time to spare if you visit. Mention the word Ikea and he's away with rolling eyes and quiet laughter. You won't find anything that could flatpack here - only superbly restored and heavily solid furniture.