SPRING is looking bright for the popular South Peninsula destination Imhoff Farm in Kommetjie – one of the most iconic attractions on the Cape Point tourism route. During lockdown, construction, renovation and restoration work on the 277-year-old farmstead continued with several new retail offerings and attractions.
The farmstead and its historic Werf (farmyard) are being sensitively revived to incorporate new additions which position Imhoff Farm as a unique retail and commercial destination in the Western Cape. The second phase of the redevelopment – which started in mid 2019 – will introduce a goat tower, stables and paddock, restrooms, ample parking, relocated petting farm and a craft beer taproom.
More than five years in the planning, the popular family and tourist destination has been refocused as an integrated retail, leisure and work destination, which offers a new customer-experience and tenant mix which is relevant and convenient for South Peninsula locals and visitors.
“Rather than a touristic show farm or wine estate catering mostly for tourists and day visitors, that shuts down at night and low-season, we want to provide locals a retail destination which serves their daily needs and offers a contemporary and convenient hub for socialising and entertainment,” explains Gerhard Van der Horst, managing director of Red Cliff Property, owner-developers of the property.
“We take our responsibility to retain the farm’s sense of place very seriously and have consulted with architects, historians, designers and local stakeholders to ensure that the farm can continue to grow with the needs of our community while meeting the necessary environmental and historical requirements,” continues Van der Horst.
The Werf remains at the centre of the commercial activity with new buildings sensitively complementing existing structures. The architectural heritage components including the original Manor House, Werf and some out-buildings have all been carefully restored and freshly repainted to highlight heritage elements and architectural details with white-trim.
Imhoff Farm remains a must-see destination for local and foreign visitors wishing to experience authentic Cape hospitality. Its newly curated retail offering, while more attractive to locals, will surprise and delight even the most seasoned travellers.
Existing food and beverage offering which include popular Umami Sushi, The Free Range Farm Shop and Deliand Blue Water Cafe have revived their offerings with new menus planned for the season. The new taproom – collaboration between Lakeside Brewing Co, a local craft beer produced in Kommetjie and Blue Water Cafe – promises to be a first of its kind in the South Peninsula. With a shaded deck overlooking part of the Werf, it is poised to become a hit.
The best spot for a glass of your favourite South African wine is on the lawn at Blue Water Cafe overlooking the vines towards Noordhoek’s Long Beach and Hout Bay; or shop at The Old Cape Wineshop which stocks a curated collection of South African wines including small batch and once-off releases which will titillate even the most practised palettes.
For those interested in browsing the shops in the old silo, blacksmith’s forge, and milking sheds, there are loads from which to choose. Two new clothing and apparel stores have recently made the farm home, complementing Rummage Co-op which stocks gently-worn-before clothing. Southern Provisions stocks on-trend premium international and local brands from North Face, Hurley, St Goliath, Silent Theory, All About Eve, Happy Socks and Molo Socks as well as accessories from Herschel and Bits & Botany homeware.
The success of The Werf Pop Up Space, launched in July, has seen Makemba Boutique – a bohemian designer shop specialising in clothing and hand crafted jewellery – become a full-time tenant with resident Rodrigo Salazar Castro, an artisan from Mexico, making once-off silver and brass jewellery. The brainchild of Jodi Jade, Makemba stocks a collection of slow fashion clothing, leather accessories and macramé pieces.
One of the first tenants on the farm, Precious Cargo, stocks quirky gifts, jewellery, hand-made fabrics, funky hats, vinyl records and everything “hippie” you can imagine. Another treasure trove is the little bookstore called The Reading Rooster, where you can find previously loved books for all ages.
Imhoff Farm currently offers two pop up spaces which can accommodate lifestyle retail brands and smaller craft-based businesses. In future, the retail component will be grown to include more craft and light manufacturing spaces to encourage local artisans to showcase their work.
At the entrance to the Werf, a new plant nursery and organic micro herb supplier – Ogwini Greens – has made the farm home. Apart from offering succulents, water wise and indoor plants, the nursery stocks hand-made pots, a collection of gifts and firewood.
Adventure activities include Gearup 4×4, Action Paintball and Lasertag, and Imhoff Equestrian Centre, which offers horse riding on the farm and famous Long Beach. Once Covid-19 regulations allow, the popular play area Milkwood Maze and Higgeldy Piggeldy Farm Yard will reopen to entertain the youngsters.
The newly rebranded ice-cream parlour The Ice Cream Silo is offering treats for children and adults. Another foodie offering is Off The Hook Seafood Deli, a seafood lover’s dream stocking the daily catch as well as quality fresh and frozen seafood at wholesale prices.
The farm’s wellness and beauty offerings include The Well Being Studio, which offers a range of holistic therapies. Hairdresser Cherie is based in a small salon overlooking the Werf and Mane Hair is an experienced unisex barber with natural handmade hair products.
Resident artisans include Purely Porcelain, La Belle Armoire by Greg Pullen and Lindsay Quirk Printmaking Studio. Natural Yarns – the go-to natural fibre yarn store in South Africa – has recently moved from the Werf to a retail space close the original threshing floor – one of only two remaining original threshing floors in the Cape. Bisque-Bah has moved to a larger space in the corner of the Werf and offers ceramic painting for all ages.
