For all tape restoration, preservation and digitising enquiries and questions, please feel free to contact us by phone on
+44 (0)117 985 0500, or by email using the form below:
Customer Tape Assessment Form
If you wish to send in your tapes for assessment, please download and print our tape assessment form, to include with your package:
Greatbear Customer Tape Assessment Form
Any information you are able to give, will help us assess your tapes and understand your requirements.
Post
We advise using a suitably-sized cardboard box to protect your tapes in transit.
In the UK:
We recommend using a tracked and signed for delivery service such as Royal Mail Special Delivery, or Royal Mail Tracked 24 or 48 with added "signature on delivery" option.
If you have items over 20kg and/or want to use a courier, please contact us via the form above or by phone: 0117 985 0500 to discuss the safest arrangement.
International:
Customers sending tapes from outside the UK by post (not by courier) must complete and attach a customs declaration form, available from the post office in the country from which the parcel is being sent.
The customs declaration form for tapes sent from outside the UK must state: “CUSTOMER’S OWN PROPERTY FOR REPAIR TO BE RETURNED AFTER REPAIR”
This is essential to avoid unneccessary customs charges, and to enable us to complete the UK CN22 form when returning the tapes to you after digitising, if required.
Post to:
Units 25 / 26, The Coach House,
2 Upper York St.
Bristol, BS2 8QN
Personal visits by appointment only
Personal visits are very welcome but please call us on 0117 985 0500 before your intended visit to arrange a time. Appointments can usually be made between 2pm - 8pm Monday to Friday.
Spring 2026 update: Due to current building works at The Coach House, appointments between 2pm and 6.30pm are preferable. Please call us on arrival, and we will come down to meet you outside.
Units 25 / 26, The Coach House,
2 Upper York St.
Bristol, BS2 8QN
Accessibility
We’re sorry that the main Greatbear studios and office are situated up a flight of stairs and there is currently no lift, making them inaccessible if you are a wheelchair-user or find it difficult to use stairs. However we will happily arrange to meet you downstairs at The Coach House.
If you require any form of assistance to visit Greatbear, please let us know before you come. We're keen to make all our services fully accessible to all.
Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
Greatbear frequently transfer confidential or sensitive material. We guarantee the security and privacy of your tapes and their content. We regularly work under Non-Disclosure Agreements.
Insurance and damage
In the eyes of insurance companies, the value of recordings made on obsolete analogue and digital formats is undefinable unless documented in a previous transaction.
General insurance cover is therefore unavailable for the tapes we digitise.
Customers send us their material on the basis that Greatbear Audio & Video Digitising will not be liable for any loss or damage to the tapes.
We do recognise, of course, that your tapes are likely to have immense personal value, and we take all possible steps to protect them on our premises. If appropriate, we recommend you acquire Specialist Insurance Cover before sending us your tapes.
Return of digitised tapes
Tapes will be returned post-digitisation, using a tracked delivery service, at cost to the customer.
Customers are also very welcome to pick up their tapes in person, but as always, do phone in advance to arrange your visit: 0117 985 0500
Alternatively we can arrange to safely dispose of any tapes you do not want returned.
Unfortunately, we cannot store uncollected tapes beyond 8 weeks post-payment.
Other useful information
Click here to download a PDF of the Greatbear Analogue and Digital Media 'informercial.'
If you'd like to know more about what happens to your tape when you send it to us, visit our audio transfer and video transfer pages.