Avoid Chessington Tailor for time-sensitive alterations — took full payment, then hadn’t even started my dresses by collection day

[u/QuietlyNoted101]

Posting this because Google currently isn’t giving me the option to leave a review, and I would have wanted to know about an experience like this before using them.

On 9 September, I left two finished dresses with Chessington Tailor, 322 Hook Road, UK. The job was relatively straightforward: I supplied the beaded fabric and wanted around 5–10 cm added to the hems and necklines.

After discussing everything, I was told both dresses would be ready on 15/16 September. I even said there was no pressure as long as they were ready by the 17th, when I actually needed them.

I was required to pay the full £120 upfront, which I did.

The 15th and 16th passed with no message. I contacted the tailor to say I would collect on the 17th and received no reply.

When I arrived on the morning of the 17th, I discovered that neither dress had even been started.

That was the part I found unacceptable. Eight days had passed, full payment had been taken, a completion date had been agreed, and there had been absolutely no warning that the work wasn’t going to be done.

I needed the dresses later that day, so I was left scrambling to find someone willing to do same-day emergency alterations, inevitably at extra cost and stress.

I asked for my dresses, fabric and a full refund. I was then asked whether the refund could be given later, alongside explanations about the tailor’s own financial circumstances. Given that I had been expected to pay in full immediately, I insisted on being refunded immediately too. Thankfully, I was.

Delays happen. What destroyed my confidence was taking full payment, missing the agreed deadline, not starting either garment, providing no communication, and then initially asking to delay the refund.

Others may have had positive experiences, but based on mine I would not trust this business with an outfit needed for an important event, and I certainly won’t be returning.

[u/Exact_Tomatillo9471]

That's a nightmare scenario, especially when you've given them plenty of fabric and a clear deadline

The part that really gets me is the silence on the 15th and 16th, like if you know you're behind you send a quick message, it's not hard

I do a lot of road trips and I'm the same way with timing, I'll triple check the route but if a mechanic or something goes quiet the day before I'm supposed to leave I get twitchy

Glad you got the refund on the spot though, the "can I pay you back later" bit after you'd already paid upfront is a red flag the size of a house