About Macauley

Sykes & Sons has never been a high-volume retailer. Instead, the business is defined by care, selectivity, and a deep respect for the individuality of every piano.

Each instrument that passes through our doors is chosen with discernment, prepared with integrity, and offered only when it meets the highest standards of tone, touch, and reliability.

This approach has earned the trust of professional musicians, teachers, families, and even other piano firms, many of whom return to us time and again. Our reputation rests not on the size of our stock, but on the assurance that every piano has been handled with genuine expertise and sympathy for its maker’s original vision.

What sets Sykes & Sons apart is the belief that a piano should never be treated as a mere commodity. It is a companion for its player, and it deserves to be restored and presented with the same respect and individuality it was built with. From the initial hand-selection to the final preparation, every stage of the process reflects this philosophy. At the head of the business is Macauley, whose role is to guide this ethos in practice, ensuring that every instrument is more than just ready for sale, but ready to inspire.

Macauley’s path into the piano trade began with a natural talent for creativity and design. From his earliest years in education, he showed a particular aptitude for working with wood, drawn to the precision, patience, and imagination it required.

He was fascinated by how raw materials could be transformed into something both functional and beautiful, and this curiosity soon became a driving force in his life.

His ambition to become a craftsperson took root at a young age, long before he set foot in a piano workshop. Whether it was experimenting with tools, sketching ideas, or watching others at work, he sought every opportunity to explore the world of making and building. Always eager to learn, he gravitated towards experienced hands, absorbing their knowledge and sharpening his own skills; qualities that would later define his approach to piano restoration.

At just 15 years old, Macauley began his career in the piano trade most traditionally: by preparing part-exchange instruments for restoration. This was demanding, hands-on work that often meant stripping old casework right back to the bare wood before refinishing could even begin. It was patient, sometimes repetitive labour, but it offered something invaluable.

In dismantling and rebuilding these instruments, Macauley gained a rare perspective into the construction and design methods of different makers. Each piano revealed its own secrets, from clever innovations that had stood the test of time to weaknesses that exposed themselves only after years of use. This process opened his eyes to the world of thoughtful piano design and taught him to look beyond the surface, to see how each instrument was conceived, built, and expected to endure.

These formative years gave him more than technical skill. They instilled a lasting respect for the individuality of every piano and for the craft of those who built them. That foundation - rooted in patience, detail, and observation - continues to inform Macauley’s approach to restoration today.

Through his early refinishing work, Macauley developed a specialised understanding of how to restore the presence and character of an instrument. He became skilled in the traditional craft of French polishing, a discipline that demands patience, rhythm, and a finely tuned sense of touch.

Applied by hand in countless fine layers, shellac produces a finish of remarkable depth and warmth. It is the same technique that has been used for generations on the most exquisite furniture, and in piano restoration, it continues to embody the very highest standard of craftsmanship.

At the same time, Macauley did not limit himself to tradition alone. He explored modern finishing systems, from the clarity and speed of nitro-cellulose lacquers to the resilience of reactive finishes, to the stability and environmental benefits of contemporary water-based coatings. Each had its own demands, its own strengths, and its own place in the restorer’s repertoire.

By embracing both the historic discipline of French polishing and the innovations of modern materials, Macauley developed a breadth of expertise that few achieve. This dual grounding gave him a versatile and discerning toolkit, allowing him to judge which finish best served the character of each piano, its intended use, and the environment in which it would be used.

Macauley’s progression into the mechanical side of restoration began with the piano actions. His work often involved dismantling them piece by piece, stripping away worn components - frequently the original leather and felt - and preparing the framework for the installation of new parts.

Under the guidance of senior technicians, he was gradually shown the ropes of this craft.

Step by step, his confidence grew as he became increasingly proficient, developing a steady hand, an eye for detail, and a genuine appreciation for the intricate machine which transforms the movement of the player's fingers into the rich tones we all appreciate today.

From there, Macauley was introduced to the complete restoration of keyboards. This work demanded a wide range of skills: from repairing and reapplying traditional ivory to fitting newer composite coverings with precision. He also learned to rebush keys, restoring a smooth and balanced touch, and to correct problems such as snapped, bowed, or twisted keysticks that time and use often leave behind.

It was during this stage of his training that Macauley’s enduring passion for regulation began to take shape. He came to realise that the way a keyboard and action are set up - their geometry, alignment, and fine adjustments - has a profound effect on how the piano feels beneath a player’s hands. Even the smallest refinements could transform an instrument from ordinary to inspiring.

This discovery gave him not only a technical focus but a philosophy: that true craftsmanship lies in achieving harmony between design, mechanism, and musical expression.

Alongside his training, Macauley began to take on private restoration projects, funding them himself and pouring every spare hour into the work. Every profit was channelled straight back into his craft, funding an ever-growing collection of tools, specialist equipment, and piano literature that steadily expanded his knowledge and ability. Before long, the garage of the family home had been completely transformed into a workshop and base of operations for the young apprentice. Workbenches lined the walls, timber and spare parts filled every corner, and rows of pianos stood in varying stages of restoration.

By the age of 18, he had restored and sold more than one hundred pianos under his own name. At the same time Macauley's workload was increasing, his mentors were beginning to reduce their involvement, creating a natural handover of responsibility.

The business had previously focused almost exclusively on restoration, with only the occasional piano offered for sale. Macauley changed that balance, placing equal emphasis on retail and building a carefully curated selection of stock alongside the workshop’s restoration work.

Today, Macauley leads Sykes & Sons with an approach to piano retail that is as personal as it is discerning. Rather than offering every model on the market, he carefully hand-selects each instrument, choosing only from the makers and vintages in which he has complete confidence.

While his particular passion lies with British and European pianos, he also specialises in select Japanese brands whose consistency, reliability, and craftsmanship have earned international respect. This breadth allows Sykes & Sons to offer instruments that not only reflect tradition and heritage, but also meet the highest modern standards of performance and durability.

Every piano offered by Sykes & Sons is personally described by Macauley. For him, the process of writing about an instrument is an extension of the restoration itself; another way of honouring its individuality. Each description is carefully crafted to reflect not only the piano’s technical qualities but also its character, history, and voice.

This hands-on approach ensures that clients are never faced with generic listings or sales language. Instead, they are given an insight into what makes each piano distinctive and why it was chosen to form part of the Sykes & Sons collection. It is a level of personal attention that reflects Macauley’s wider philosophy: that every instrument has a story worth telling, and that every client deserves the knowledge and guidance to purchase with complete confidence.

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Personal Challenges and Business Changes

After more than a decade in the driving seat of Sykes & Sons, Macauley made the difficult decision to step back from the business at the end of 2021. It was not a step taken lightly, but one made out of necessity, as his health began to falter in the months following a COVID-19 infection from which he never fully recovered.

Until that point, Macauley had been known for his tireless energy in the workshop. Long days preparing pianos, often working late into the night, were part of his normal routine, and he thrived on the rhythm of restoration, retail, and the many responsibilities that come with leading a business. But as time went on, he found that the work which once came so naturally demanded more of him than his body could give. Tasks that had been second nature became physically draining, and even the administrative side of the business began to weigh heavily as his health declined.

By 2022, the situation could no longer be ignored, and Macauley was referred to a specialist clinic for assessment. There, he began treatment for Long-COVID and post-COVID postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Yet his doctors felt there was more at play: that an underlying condition had left him vulnerable to the long-term effects of the virus and was intensifying his symptoms.

After a long process of investigation and referrals, the answer finally came in mid-2023, when Macauley was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a hereditary connective tissue disorder. The condition explained much of what he had been experiencing: the chronic fatigue, the widespread joint pain, and the difficulties with posture and circulation. It was a sobering discovery, but also one that brought clarity.

Under a tailored treatment plan, with regular physiotherapy and the support of both cardiology and rheumatology specialists, Macauley is now making steady progress. The condition has changed the way he works, but not the values that drive him. If anything, it has sharpened his resolve: to focus on quality over quantity, to lean on resilience rather than relentlessness, and to ensure that every ounce of energy he gives to Sykes & Sons goes into maintaining the standards for which the business is known.

Since returning to work, Macauley has approached Sykes & Sons with a renewed sense of focus and clarity. His experiences over the past few years have shaped not only his personal outlook but also the way the business is run. Rather than pursuing growth for its own sake, he has abandoned plans to expand the business any further and has chosen to maintain Sykes & Sons at a scale that he can comfortably manage.

His workload today is, of course, far lighter than it has been in previous years. Macauley no longer spends long days in the workshop; instead, he works very limited hours just a few days a week, pacing himself carefully and focusing his energy where it has the greatest impact. This slower, more deliberate rhythm allows him to invest extra time, materials, and thought into each instrument without pressure or haste. By operating on this smaller, more personal scale, he can continue to ensure that every piano leaving the workshop has been prepared to the very highest standard.

In making these changes, Macauley has also worked to reduce overheads as far as reasonably possible, without ever compromising the way the business functions. Quality remains the priority, and in fact, it is one of the driving forces behind the restructuring of Sykes & Sons. Running leaner not only preserves resilience in uncertain economic times, but also guarantees that resources can be directed where they matter most: into the preparation and performance of each piano.

This resilience is vital in today’s climate. The UK economy has entered a particularly difficult period, and many businesses - including two of Macauley’s closest competitors - have already been forced to close their doors. By keeping the business at a sustainable scale, both personally and financially, Macauley is safeguarding Sykes & Sons for the future, ensuring that clients can continue to rely on the same quality and integrity that have always defined its work.

Most of this takes place in Macauley’s fully equipped, climate-controlled home workshop, a space designed to support every stage of reconditioning while also offering room to display a carefully curated selection of pianos. Here he is supported by family members, trusted technicians, and, more often than not, the cheerful company of his dog, Willow.

Willow is a working-line Labrador Retriever from a distinguished ancestral line of champion gundogs.

True to her breeding, she has received gundog training and is a capable retriever, with all the drive and enthusiasm that her heritage brings.

But Willow’s role goes far beyond the field. She is also trained to support Macauley in his day-to-day life, helping with practical tasks such as retrieving dropped items and providing alerts when she detects changes in his health, including irregularities in his heart rate.

Her presence is a constant source of reassurance and companionship, both in the workshop and at home. More than a helper, Willow has become a central part of Macauley’s routine, and she is always very happy to meet the customers who also wish to see her.