Hames and Sons Locksmiths

Hames and Sons Locksmiths Our work includes lock changes, lock repairs, lock upgrades, emergency gain entry, window locks, uPVC handles, Garage Locks, plus additional security.

✨Family locksmiths in East Kent
✨25 years’ experience
✨Secured Over 20,000 Homes
✨Checkatrade Approved
✨uPVC / Composite Door Lock Specialist.
✨Traditional Timber Locks Installed We at Hames and Sons Locksmiths provide a friendly, reliable and professional service to both residential and commercial properties, around Whitstable, Herne Bay, Canterbury, Thanet, Faversham, Ashford and all local surrounding areas. Call Ghislane Hames for further assistance. We're always happy to help.

Here’s why I’d never choose a locksmith just because they’re at the top of Google.That number one spot often isn’t earne...
05/06/2026

Here’s why I’d never choose a locksmith just because they’re at the top of Google.

That number one spot often isn’t earned- it’s bought.

✅ They pay a fortune to be there
✅ That “£49 locksmith” price is usually just to get someone to your door
✅ Many national lead-generation companies use subcontractors you’ve never heard of
✅ The locksmith industry isn’t licensed or regulated in the UK

Not every locksmith at the top is a scammer, but plenty of customers find the final bill looks nothing like the advert.

My advice?

Choose a local locksmith with a real name, real reviews, a local phone number and a reputation in the community.

I’ve been serving Kent since 1997, I’m DBS Checked, Checkatrade Vetted, and I don’t charge a call-out fee.

Local beats national call centres every time. 🚪🔑

Another security upgrade completed in Deal today.The customer had an older standard nightlatch fitted to their timber fr...
04/06/2026

Another security upgrade completed in Deal today.

The customer had an older standard nightlatch fitted to their timber front door and wanted something that offered better security and met current insurance requirements.

I upgraded it to a Yale PBS British Standard nightlatch in a brass finish.

Why upgrade?

✅ British Standard BS3621 compliant
✅ Internal deadlocking function for added security
✅ Harder to force than older basic nightlatches
✅ Recognised by most home insurance policies
✅ Keeps the traditional look of a timber front door

If your front door still has an older Yale or budget nightlatch fitted, it’s worth checking whether it meets today’s standards.

🔐 No Call-Out Fee
👨‍🔧 DBS Checked & Checkatrade Vetted
🏆 25+ Years Experience

Hames and Sons Locksmiths
📞 07713118306

03/06/2026

🚨 Locked Out of Your Airbnb in Herne Bay? Here’s Why… 🚨

Today’s call-out took us to an Airbnb property in Herne Bay after the tenants found themselves locked out with no way of getting back inside.

The culprit? A faulty night latch.

The snib (the small internal locking button) had dropped down , effectively deadlocking the door from the inside. With nobody inside the property to release it, the tenants were left stranded outside.

After gaining access, serviced the lock- the door was back in working order in no time.

🔑 If your night latch feels stiff, loose, or the snib doesn’t operate correctly, it’s worth getting it checked before it leaves you locked out.

Whether it’s an Airbnb, rental property, or your own home, lock failures often happen without warning.

📍 Herne Bay & across East Kent
📞 07713 118306

Have you ever been locked out because of a faulty lock rather than lost keys? Let us know below 👇

🔑 A Bit of Déjà Vu Today…It’s always interesting when you’re called out to change the locks on a property because someon...
01/06/2026

🔑 A Bit of Déjà Vu Today…

It’s always interesting when you’re called out to change the locks on a property because someone has just moved in…

But today’s job was a little different.

As I stood at this front door, I realised I’d actually changed the locks on this very same door around 16 years ago for a previous owner.

A lot has changed since then. New owners, new memories being made, and another family starting their next chapter in the property.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the importance of making sure you know exactly who has keys to your home when you move in.

You never know how many spare keys are still out there from previous owners, family members, neighbours, tradespeople, or tenants.

A simple lock change gives complete peace of mind and lets you start fresh.

After nearly two decades as a locksmith, it’s moments like this that remind me just how long we’ve been helping families across East Kent keep their homes secure.

Have you ever moved into a property and changed the locks straight away, or is it something you hadn’t thought about?

📞 07713 118306
🔑 Hames and Sons Locksmiths
🏡 Helping East Kent homeowners stay secure

Another timber door security upgrade finished today in Deal.The old standard night latch had seen better days, so I upgr...
28/05/2026

Another timber door security upgrade finished today in Deal.

The old standard night latch had seen better days, so I upgraded it to a Yale British Standard night latch and freshly fitted a British Standard 5 lever deadlock for extra security and insurance compliance.

A proper lock upgrade on a solid timber door makes a huge difference.

✔ British Standard Yale night latch
✔ BS3621 5 lever mortice deadlock
✔ Fresh installation and clean fit
✔ Better security and peace of mind

All work carried out by me personally — DBS Checked, Checkatrade Vetted and over 25 years experience. No call-out fee.

Hames and Sons Locksmiths – Local locksmith covering Deal and the surrounding Kent coast.

🚨 “Why does every locksmith feel like a scam now?” 🚨I saw this question online earlier and honestly… it’s a fair one.The...
26/05/2026

🚨 “Why does every locksmith feel like a scam now?” 🚨

I saw this question online earlier and honestly… it’s a fair one.

The locksmith industry in the UK is completely unregulated.
That means literally anyone can buy Google Ads, stick “24/7 locksmith” on a website and start taking calls.

And unfortunately, a lot of customers only realise the difference when it’s too late.

Here’s some genuine red flags homeowners should look out for 👇

❌ “Locksmith from £39” ads
Nobody is driving across Kent, gaining entry, supplying parts, paying insurance, fuel, tools and VAT for £39.
Those adverts are designed to get the phone call… not honour the price.

❌ No fixed quote before arrival
A real locksmith should give you a realistic guide price before attending.
Not:
“We’ll see when we get there…”

❌ Drilling immediately
A proper locksmith will usually try non-destructive methods first.
If the drill comes out within 30 seconds without even trying… alarm bells.

❌ No real local presence
Some companies use fake local numbers and fake addresses to appear local in every town.
Always check:
• Google reviews
• Facebook activity
• Real job photos
• How long they’ve actually been around

❌ Pressure tactics
“You need all this changing immediately.”
“Your lock is illegal.”
“Cash only.”

Fear selling is massive in this industry.

The truth is… customers are more cautious now because they’ve been burnt before. And honestly? I don’t blame them.

At Hames and Sons Locksmiths we’ve spent years trying to educate people on this because one bad experience damages trust for the whole trade.

That’s why we:
✔️ Give fixed prices before work starts
✔️ Don’t charge call out fees
✔️ Prefer repair over replacement where possible
✔️ Use non-destructive methods first
✔️ Show real work from real customers across East Kent
✔️ Explain what’s actually failed before touching anything

Not every locksmith is a scammer.
But homeowners absolutely should ask questions before opening the door.

The cheapest quote online is often the most expensive lesson later. 🔑

22/05/2026

Recent jobs carried out across Margate, Canterbury and Herne Bay this week — helping homeowners get doors opening properly again, replacing failed locks and bringing back a little peace of mind.

From jammed uPVC doors and failed mechanisms to lock upgrades and new homeowner lock changes, most people call us when something suddenly stops working… and usually at the worst possible moment.

One stiff handle.
One door that won’t lock properly.
One key that suddenly stops turning.

That’s normally how it starts.

The good news? Most problems can be repaired before they become a full lockout or complete mechanism failure.

If your door has started feeling stiff, dropped, difficult to lock or needs “a little lift” to work properly… don’t ignore it. That’s usually the warning sign.

✅ Family locksmiths since 1997
✅ No call out fee
✅ Fixed upfront pricing
✅ Non-destructive entry wherever possible
✅ Local independent locksmiths covering East Kent

Helping secure homes across East Kent one lock at a time 🔐

Recent jobs carried out across Margate, Canterbury and Herne Bay this week — helping homeowners get doors opening proper...
22/05/2026

Recent jobs carried out across Margate, Canterbury and Herne Bay this week — helping homeowners get doors opening properly again, replacing failed locks and bringing back a little peace of mind.

From jammed uPVC doors and failed mechanisms to lock upgrades and new homeowner lock changes, most people call us when something suddenly stops working… and usually at the worst possible moment.

One stiff handle.
One door that won’t lock properly.
One key that suddenly stops turning.

That’s normally how it starts.

The good news? Most problems can be repaired before they become a full lockout or complete mechanism failure.

If your door has started feeling stiff, dropped, difficult to lock or needs “a little lift” to work properly… don’t ignore it. That’s usually the warning sign.

✅ Family locksmiths since 1997
✅ No call out fee
✅ Fixed upfront pricing
✅ Non-destructive entry wherever possible
✅ Local independent locksmiths covering East Kent

Helping secure homes across East Kent one lock at a time 🔐

Not every day I get asked to open a church door.This one was a proper old timber church door with a huge surface-mounted...
18/05/2026

Not every day I get asked to open a church door.

This one was a proper old timber church door with a huge surface-mounted lock that had completely seized up.

Managed to get it opened without damaging the door.

These old timber doors are a completely different world compared to modern uPVC doors, but after 25+ years working on locks across Kent, I still enjoy jobs like this the most.

DBS Checked
Checkatrade Vetted
No Call-Out Fee

Hames and Sons Locksmiths
Local independent locksmith since 1997. 

Called out to Canterbury today.Customer’s sash lock had failed internally, so I stripped it down and replaced the intern...
14/05/2026

Called out to Canterbury today.

Customer’s sash lock had failed internally, so I stripped it down and replaced the internal levers rather than fitting a whole new lock.

I also cut extra keys on site, so they’re sorted there and then.

Canterbury locksmith work carried out by Ross — 25+ years experience, DBS Checked, Checkatrade Vetted. No Call-Out Fee.

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Address

Whitstable

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+447713118306

Website

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