Sykes & Sons

Sykes & Sons Pianos is a specialist workshop dedicated to the restoration, preparation, and supply of high-quality pianos. With no compromise in materials, method, or precision, we’ve built a reputation among musicians, educators, and institutions for delivering instruments that perform reliably and respond beautifully.

We are very proud that our clientele includes many professional musicians, tutors and even other piano firms, all of whom rely on our in-depth expertise of the instrument.

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Piano Sales

Built to last. Prepared with integrity. Sold with sincerity.

We understand that choosing a piano is more than a purchase; it’s an investment in your musical journey. That’s why we focus on the things that truly matter: the materials used, the integrity of the design, and the precision of the preparation. These elements determine how a piano sounds, feels, and inspires, and they’re what set great instruments apart from merely adequate ones.

Every piano we offer has been expertly prepared by hand in our climate-controlled workshop, where our experienced technicians meticulously refine each instrument to ensure the highest standards of tone, touch, reliability, and finish.

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Not all school pianos were engineered equally.

The second image shows a piano that has overturned onto its back. Unfortunately, this is not as uncommon as many people think. Institutional uprights are frequently moved by caretakers, contractors, and teachers, rather than specialist piano movers, and once a conventional upright passes its tipping point, there is very little stopping over a hundred kilograms of piano continuing backwards.

The Danemann shown in the first image was designed with this reality in mind.

Look closely at the cabinet architecture and you begin to understand how seriously Danemann approached institutional safety. The extended lower structure, rearward ground contact area, and mid-set mass distribution all work together to resist rearward rotation during movement. The piano’s stability is engineered into the cabinet itself rather than added as an afterthought.

It is one of the reasons these pianos earned such a strong reputation in schools, colleges, and music departments throughout Britain. They were not simply built to sound good. They were built to survive decades of constant use in demanding educational environments, while protecting the people moving and using them every day. #piano #schoolpiano #pianoworkshop

Yamaha C5 action up on the bench for reconditioning #yamaha #yamahapiano #pianoworkshop #pianosales

#pianoworkshop #piano #yamahapiano #grandpiano

Reassembly: where the instrument starts to come back together ☺️

The keyboard and action return to the piano following reconditioning, from here, regulation begins, restoring the relationships that define how it responds under the hands.

A short window into the preparation of this Knight K10, now completed #pianoworkshop #piano #pianorestoration

A 1976 Knight Piano Company K10, newly reconditioned in our workshop and now available.

By the mid-1970s, this design had reached a mature and highly resolved form. Instruments from this period present with a quiet visual restraint, while offering a level of musical capacity that becomes apparent very quickly in use. There is a depth and authority here that reveals itself under the hands, with a bass that carries real presence, a middle register that remains full and supportive, and a treble that retains clarity without hardness.

In the workshop, the action has been restored and refined to give a consistent, reliable touch across the keyboard. Voicing has been approached with restraint, allowing the instrument’s natural character to come through in a more even and controlled balance.

A well-resolved example of a design that continues to justify its reputation, some fifty years on. #pianosales #pianoworkshop #piano

This little Bentley upright was prepared and supplied by us just over a year ago through our ‘Affordable Reliability Scheme’, placed with a player just beginning her journey.

A year on, she is progressing steadily through her grades, driven by her own determination and supported by a dependable instrument.

#pianoworkshop #pianosales #pianoplayer #bentley

This Chappell upright dates from the early 1960s and is a good example of why these English instruments earned such a reputation for dependability.

The piano arrived with its original finish, a nitrocellulose lacquer which was still in very good condition, but had yellowed over time and carried the unmistakable visual language of its era. It was the sort of finish that immediately places an instrument in the mid-century period. The case has therefore been carefully refinished, in an open grain, satin mahogany which allows the veneer to reveal the depth and warmth that was always present beneath the surface. The result is not a modernised piano, but one that now sits far more comfortably in a contemporary room while still respecting the character of the original cabinet.

Work like this is not about disguising the age of an instrument. It is about allowing a well made piano to continue living in the spaces people actually inhabit today. A piano that visually belongs in the room is far more likely to be played, enjoyed and kept for the long term.

While the cabinet was being restored, the instrument itself was also properly prepared for the decades ahead.

The keyboard has been fully rebushed to restore accuracy and control. The hammers have been carefully refaced, new damper felts fitted, and the action has received new felts, leathers, tapes and loops throughout. The trapwork has also been completely restored so that the pedals once again operate with the firmness and reliability the instrument was designed to have.

All replacement components are premium parts. No shortcuts and no cost cutting. Simply preparing a deserving little English upright for another long life with its next owner. #pianoworkshop #pianosales #pianopreparation

A third-generation Clapham-built Welmar A2, now safely delivered to its new home in London.

This piano comes from the period when Welmar’s designs had fully matured, and before later cost-cutting began to creep in. When technicians and pianists speak about a “proper Welmar”, this is exactly what they have in mind ❤️

It is also why we are so careful in the Welmars we choose to bring into the workshop. Our selection is deliberate, ensuring our customers receive the finest examples of the marque.

Here in the workshop, this instrument passed through careful and detailed preparation, including specialist regulation, tuning, and exacting voicing, to ensure it performs exactly as a Welmar should.

Our sincere thanks to our customer for choosing Sykes & Sons Pianos. We wish them many years of music with this beautiful Welmar. 🎹 #pianosales #pianoworkshop #pianosforsale #welmarpiano

Some pianos quietly stand apart from the rest.
This Knight K10 is one of them.

Instead of the more restrained cabinetry usually seen on Knight uprights, this example is finished in pyramid mahogany veneer, beautifully book-matched, under a high gloss polyester finish.

Only two K10s were ever made with this veneer.

When we photographed this piano, Alfred Knight’s grandson, who worked in the factory when this piano was produced, called into the workshop to discuss just how unusual this particular instrument is. #pianoworkshop #pianopreparation #pianosales #knightpianos

One of the more satisfying stages in action reconditioning is the moment decades of accumulated grime finally disappear.

Dust, oxidised metal, and other airborne contaminants slowly build up across the components. Over time this leaves the action looking tired and dirty, even when the underlying materials remain structurally sound.

In situations like this, one of the most effective cleaning methods we use in the workshop is soda blasting.

Soda blasting uses sodium bicarbonate propelled at relatively low pressure to gently clean surfaces. Unlike aggressive abrasives, it does not cut into the timber or alter the geometry of the parts. Instead, it lifts contamination from the surface, removing oxidation, dirt, and old residues while leaving the original material intact. #pianoworkshop #pianopreparation #pianorestoration

This advertisement, taken from the Sunday Telegraph in 1972, accompanied one of our latest arrivals to the workshop. The advertisement itself is a fascinating example of how British pianos were marketed during the mid-twentieth century. Rather than focusing on technical specifications or mechanical features, the language leans heavily on musical character and reassurance. The advertisement also lists the price of the instrument, beginning at £697. To modern eyes, that may not appear remarkable, but in the early 1960s it represented a significant investment. When viewed through the lens of modern purchasing power, that figure equates to roughly £19,500 today.
In other words, this was never intended to be a disposable household item. It was marketed and purchased as a serious musical instrument, expected to remain within a family for many decades. #chappellpiano #piano #pianoworkshop

New damper heads going in 😍 #pianoworkshop #piano #pianorestoration

Some people rely on a smart watch to remind them they’ve been sitting too long. In my workshop, the reminders arrive with considerably more enthusiasm and an invitation to go outside #pianoworkshop #piano #labradorretriver

Keyframe stripped, cleaned and re bedded with new balance and front rail punchings.

This work does far more than improve appearance. It lays the foundation for a textbook regulation.

Structural fixings have been replaced with correctly sized modern wood screws to increase clamping force and eliminate movement within the assembly.

Fresh punchings of consistent density stabilise key height and allow dip and aftertouch to be regulated with greater precision. The result is a firmer, more coherent tactile impression across the keyboard.

Most buyers will never see this work under the keys, but they will feel it immediately.

#pianoworkshop #pianorestoration #pianopreparation #piano

These pedals arrived dull and worn, but the wear went deeper than the appearance of the brass. The entire trap mechanism was removed and refurbished. New felts. New leathers. Cleaned and refinished steelwork. Correct alignment throughout.

The brass was hand polished. The straps refinished in black for definition and contrast.

What you see is the shine.

What you feel is a firm and mechanically quiet pedal under the foot that you can count on. #pianoworkshop #pianorestoration #pianopreparation #piano #pianorepair

Just a fresh whisper coat of graphite, applied where it belongs, with a small brush, ensures a clean, controlled break at escapement with minimal friction.

Old actions respond best when you respect how they were built and you feel it in every note. #pianoworkshop #pianoaction #pianorestoration

When you’ve seen as many Welmars as we have, you start to see patterns.

Changes in veneer and finish. Adjustments in cabinet proportions. Changes in pedals. Shifts in detailing that mark different production phases.
Small details reveal the era before any panels are even removed.

#welmarpianos #pianoworkshop #pianorestoration

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Follow us on Instagram to see all of our latest posts from the workshop

Piano Restoration

Reimagined by Experts. Revitalised for Generations.

With decades of expertise, we blend traditional craftsmanship with precision techniques, carefully reviving each instrument’s unique character and voice. Whether breathing new life into cherished family heirlooms or historically significant pianos, our dedicated team ensures that every piano we restore meets our exacting standards, ready to inspire musicians for generations to come.

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Piano Hire

Chosen for quality. Enjoyed with confidence.

At Sykes & Sons, our piano hire service brings exceptional instruments within easy reach, tailored precisely to your event or personal requirements. Whether you're hosting an elegant recital, staging a professional recording session, or simply seeking the joy of a piano at home without a purchase, we offer a carefully curated selection of premium grand and upright pianos. Each instrument is expertly maintained, meticulously prepared, and delivered with the reliability and warmth that defines the Sykes & Sons experience.

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Teacher Partnership Scheme

Supporting the teachers who shape the next generation.

You are the ones who spark the first notes of curiosity, who nurture discipline and creativity in equal measure, and who pass on not only technical skill but also a lifelong love of music.

To recognise the vital role you play, we’ve created a dedicated partnership programme designed exclusively for musical educators. Through this partnership, we aim to build a circle of trust between teacher, student, and piano; where your professional expertise meets our commitment to quality craftsmanship.

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From the Workshop: Insight, Craft, and Guidance

Ivory Piano Keys and The Law

For owners, these keys can raise a complicated mix of feelings: respect for the instrument’s history, discomfort about its origins, and uncertainty about what’s legally allowed when it comes to repairs, restorations, or selling. Public attitudes and laws have evolved significantly over the last few decades.

10 min read

Variations of the Knight K10

Reconditioned Knight K10 pianos remain to be one of our most popular models and demand for them has only continued to increase.

12 min read

Harris Tweed® Piano Bench Upholstery

A piano rarely exists in isolation within the home. Whether positioned in a formal drawing room, a quiet reading corner, a country sitting room, or a contemporary living space, it naturally becomes part of the atmosphere and character of the interior around it. The materials and finishes that accompany the instrument, therefore, play an important role in how comfortably it belongs within the room. Every piano from Sykes & Sons is supplied with a complimentary brand-new adjust

3 min read

Why We Only Sell Pianos We Would Happily Sell Again

At Sykes & Sons, we work to a very simple principle. If we sell a piano today, we must be confident that we would still be happy to sell that same piano again twenty years from now. That belief quietly guides almost every decision we make in the workshop. It shapes the instruments we select, the work we carry out while they are here, and the advice we give to customers when they are selecting a piano. It is also the reason we are comfortable offering what we call our “buy-bac

3 min read

The Reconditioning of a Little Chappell

This Chappell Model B came to me from a family that had owned it since the 1960s. When they first contacted me, their request was simple. They wanted the piano to have the best possible chance of a long future. They understood that the instrument would need careful work, and they knew that at Sykes & Sons, we are prepared to go to considerable lengths when preparing these well-built British pianos for their next chapter. After arranging a visit to see the instrument in person

4 min read

The History of Welmar Pianos

The Welmar name first appeared in 1919, marking the beginning of a legacy that would grow to become one of Britain's most famous and highly respected piano brands.

26 min read

The Different Models of Knight Pianos: A Complete Guide

The Knight K range represents one of the finest chapters in British upright design. From the foundational K6 to the flagship K10 and the ambitious K15, these pianos combine structural ingenuity with enduring musical depth. This guide explores the models that defined the Knight legacy and explains why they remain so highly regarded today.

11 min read

Why WWII Still Matters for British Pianos Today

How did a confident, craft led British piano industry become a handful of surviving names and factories? This article traces how wartime controls, redirected skills and post war austerity reshaped what British makers could build, and explains why those shifts still matter when choosing a piano today, especially at Sykes & Sons.

10 min read

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Browse our collection of thoughtful articles, drawn from years of experience;

sharing what we know, how we work, and what every piano owner deserves to understand.

In Their Own Words

We’ve never believed in flashy sales talk, and we don’t need to. Our customers say it best.

We’re proud of the work we do, but even prouder of the trust we’ve earned.

Pat

From start to finish, I received a first class service from Sykes & Sons Pianos. This heavenly company quite clearly intend on offering an entirely different approach to piano retail.

Browse More Reviews

Sykes & Sons

Piano Sales

Built to last. Prepared with integrity. Sold with sincerity.

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Follow us on Instagram to see all of our latest posts from the workshop

Piano Restoration

Reimagined by Experts. Revitalised for Generations.

Piano Hire

Chosen for quality. Enjoyed with confidence.

Teacher Partnership Scheme

Supporting the teachers who shape the next generation.

From the Workshop: Insight, Craft, and Guidance

Ivory Piano Keys and The Law

Variations of the Knight K10

Harris Tweed® Piano Bench Upholstery

Why We Only Sell Pianos We Would Happily Sell Again

The Reconditioning of a Little Chappell

The History of Welmar Pianos

The Different Models of Knight Pianos: A Complete Guide

Why WWII Still Matters for British Pianos Today