Karoo Art Hotel
Community Featured News

Great excitement in Barrydale as Hand Weavers confirm Cellar move

Barrydale Hand Weavers Cellar
Written by Mickey Mentz

As part of their efforts to meet the ever-increasing demand for their popular products, Barrydale Hand Weavers confirmed this week that they would be relocating to the Barrydale Cellar by the end of April.

This much-needed increase in floor space will ensure that the weavers have more than enough room to erect all the new looms that were purchased over recent years.

Weavers on the move

The Barrydale Cellar is in a prime location in town but it has been under-utilised over the last few years, with wine production stopping and the closing of all off-sales.

“Moving our weaving business to the Cellar is just the start” said an excited Arran Bastable, owner of Barrydale Hand Weavers.

Kate and Arran Bastable in action at their soon to be new home

“There are great opportunities here for developing the site along with our landlord, Joseph Barry Distillers.”

Joseph Barry Distillers intends to open a tasting room and off sales again in line with the hand weavers move in April, lockdown restriction willing!

More looms means that more weavers will be trained, increasing local employment. This is wonderful news as it was not that long ago that people thought this craft would die out completely.

“This is a really exciting development for our business and although a lot of preparation work still has to be done, we are delighted that we could reach a mutually beneficial agreement on timescales with Joseph Barry Distillers,” Arran added.

More good news is that several new retailers across the country confirmed that they would be stocking the exquisite hand crafted textiles.

This includes partnering with:

Home Choice

Groot Constantia Trust

Boschendal Wine Farm

And the unique and eloquent Karoo Farmbox Range

A brief history of significant hand weaver moves:

Born in July 2007 in what is today what is the Belanti Theatre and Bioscope at the Karoo Art Hotel, the unique business moved around Barrydale as it gained popularity. From the Belanti operations moved to a building on the R62, across the road from the Donkey Shed (Jamtarts) before it found a home in what is The Makers’ Brew Brewery today. The final – and we trust the penultimate – move was to the weavery in De Kock street.

Barrydale Hand Weavers

About the author

Mickey Mentz

From my Barrydale base, my goal is to tell the stories of people and places on the picturesque R62. Ek het oor die jare 'n cappuccino verslawing ontwikkel en my honde se name is Bella en Obi.

Leave a Comment