Hardware Retailers in the UK
The one screw you need rather than a box of two hundred, a key cut while you wait, the washer for the dripping tap, paint mixed to the old colour, a mousetrap, a bulb, a brush, the right glue, and somebody who knows what you are trying to do: find a local hardware shop people rely on.
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020 3355 4830Hardware Retailers by city
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Guides & advice for hardware retailers
Oxford Woodburners Closes After 14 Years, Owner Cites ‘Misinformation’ and Personal Loss
Oxford Woodburners has closed after 14 years, with founder Kit Sandham citing personal loss, HMRC’s swift debt collection and misinformation about woodburning stoves.
Coventry’s historic Astleys business closes after 295 years due to rising costs
Astleys, Coventry’s oldest business at 295 years old, is closing after rising costs and changing shopping habits made trading unsustainable.
Finding a good hardware shop in the UK
A hardware shop, or ironmonger, is the shop that has the thing: tools and fixings, nails and screws sold by the handful, paint and brushes, plumbing fittings, fuses and bulbs, locks and hinges, adhesives and sealants, cleaning products, garden tools and seed, cookware and household goods, and the key cutting, blade sharpening, engraving and small repairs that no website does. The good ones are run by people who have answered every DIY question there is, and who will sell you the one part rather than the kit.
Against the sheds and the internet, the local hardware shop wins on the small job: it is a walk away, it sells single items, it has the odd size, and the advice at the counter saves the second trip. Prices on tools and paint are close to the chains, with the independents' buying groups matching on the big brands, and higher on some commodities; the difference is the fifteen minutes and the fixing that actually fits. Many also mix paint, hire a few tools, deliver bulky items and stock the local specialities from coal to chicken feed.
The listings here show each shop's reviews, what it stocks and does, hours and contact details, so you can see who is nearby, who cuts keys or mixes paint, and which hardware shop people in your town go to first.
What hardware shops stock and do
Tools and fixings: hand and power tools, screws, nails, bolts, wall plugs and fixings sold singly or by weight, and the odd sizes.
Home repairs: plumbing fittings and washers, fuses, bulbs and electrical bits, locks, hinges and door furniture, adhesives, sealants and fillers.
Paint and decorating: paint mixed to order, brushes, rollers, fillers, sandpaper, wallpaper paste and the advice on which to use.
Household and garden: cleaning products, cookware, storage, pest control, garden tools, compost, seed, pots and, in winter, salt and coal.
Services: key cutting, blade and mower sharpening, engraving, tool hire, gas bottles and refills, small repairs, and delivery.
Getting the most from a hardware shop
- Take the broken part with you; the shop matches it in seconds and saves a wrong guess.
- Describe the job, not the product; the answer is often a different product.
- Buy single fixings and small quantities; that is what the shop is for.
- Ask about key cutting, sharpening and paint mixing; most do them while you wait.
- Support the shop that is open on a Sunday morning with the washer you need; it is why it is still there.
- Ask about delivery for compost, salt, gas and anything heavy.
Prices at a hardware shop
Big-brand tools and paint are priced close to the chains through the independents' buying groups, and often the same on promotions; single fixings, washers and small parts cost pennies rather than the price of a box; commodities such as compost and bulk cleaning products can be a little dearer than the sheds. Key cutting runs £4 to £8 a key and £15 to £40 for security and car keys, mower sharpening £10 to £20, paint mixing free with the paint, and delivery a few pounds locally.
The hardware shop's washer costs 30p; the shed's bag of assorted washers costs £6 and does not contain the one you need.
How do I find a hardware shop near me?+
Look at the hardware shops and ironmongers listed for your town, which show what each stocks and does — key cutting, paint mixing, tool hire, delivery — with hours and reviews. Take the broken part in; the shop matches it and tells you how to fit it.
Are hardware shops more expensive than the big DIY chains?+
On big-brand tools and paint, usually about the same, since independents buy through groups; on single fixings and small parts, far cheaper than buying a box; on some bulk commodities, a little more. The saving is the trip, the right part first time and the advice.
Do hardware shops cut keys?+
Most do, while you wait, for £4 to £8 for standard door keys and £15 to £40 for security, restricted and car keys where they can be copied; take the original, not a copy of a copy. Locksmiths handle the keys hardware shops cannot.
Can a hardware shop mix paint?+
Many mix paint to order from the main brands and can match a colour from a sample or a chip, usually while you wait and at the same price as the pre-mixed tins. Take a piece of the old paint or the manufacturer's code.
Do hardware shops sell single screws and fixings?+
Yes, singly or by weight, which is the whole point: the odd size, the one bolt, the four screws for the hinge, the washer for the tap. Take the old one in and the shop will find its match and the right wall plug or drill bit to go with it.
What else does a hardware shop do?+
Depending on the shop: mower and blade sharpening, engraving, tool hire, gas bottle exchange, small repairs, delivery of compost and salt, and the seasonal stock from seed potatoes to Christmas lights. Ask; the answer is usually yes or the name of who does.
How do I get my business listed?+
It is free. Add your business in about two minutes to appear on this page and your local town directory. Upgrade to Featured for £2.99 a month to sit above the free listings.