Simply Sam Trading - Antiques.Brocante.Gifts

We stock a variety of vintage, antique and hand-crafted items. Available on our web store simplysam.co.za or select antiques and beautiful 'proudly South African' hand-made Gift items on sale or to view at VinLee Art Gallery Hilton College Road, Natal Midlands. Hilton off-ramp, N3, Kwazulu Natal

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Visiting the Natal Midlands this weekend?

I went on a little sojourn this week to check out a couple of relatively new businesses in the Nottingham Road area. The first of my stops was Barbara Zietsmann's place, 'Barbz' Coffee Shop and Deli in Gowrie Village. Barbara has turned this little spot into a vibrant and colourful meeting place for locals and visitors alike with stunning, cheery decor, delicious food and owners with warm personalities, that are bound to give you a laugh with their wonderful sense of humour. Then after you've had your fill of cakes, coffee and 'all day' breakfast you can literally walk through into 'African Queen' a trendy new spot which has opened in the next room to Barbz. African Queen is probably old hat to Joburg dwellers in Parktown,  as they are well known for their creation of wearable functional pieces of art including beautiful hand-made leather hand bags with detailed African beadwork. 'Our' African Queen also stocks stunning items of clothing and select gifts and we now have our very own hint of 'Joburg' in Nottingham Road with a shop that will knock your sox off. Tel Barbz: 033 2666075


Renaissance was my next stop on the R103 towards Balgowan (on the left hand side). This beautiful 'Wethley's' style antique shop, owned and managed by Cheryl Wigmore, has stunning re-vamped vintage and antique furniture as well as new gift items to jush up your interiors. Tel: 033 2344407

My last stop was Born in Africa and, though this is not at all a new business on the Meander, it has gone through somewhat of a revamp over the last couple of months. The Shoe factory that 'Born in Africa' is well known for has moved to a  shed further up on the property and the old shed has been given a face lift into the most stunning wedding venue with its very own Thatched chapel, with views to die for! The whole feel of the wedding venue itself is French with gorgeous statement pieces of French furniture, as well as its very own Parisian 'interior' street, a la 'Monte Casino'. This venue is certainly worth getting married for!

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