Advertising feature Wandering through Wharf Street
AS the oldest commercial street in Port Alfred and the entrance to the village on the east bank, circa 1820s Wharf Street was a dusty path, leading past the buildings that had been erected to serve shipping and eventually opening up to a scary road to Bathurst.
No one is actually sure of when the first building commenced, but historians say the triple roof stone building might have been the first. Various photographs on hand predispose one to making one’s own assumptions and weaving the delicious tale of sailors and trade in the growing village.
The triple building is now only two, a brewery, and a restaurant. However, it was used for many businesses over the years, from storage and acceptance of cargo to decadent pub with salacious undertones – if the folklore is to be credited from source.
Various other businesses flourished in this hub – haberdashery, printers and, one assumes, cooperatives as is the methodology today, selling everything a farmer and housewife needed.
Somewhere in the mix there must have been a ships’ chandler to service and replenish the outgoing craft, as they would have needed enormous amounts of water and fresh meat for their continued journey down the coast.
In recent times, historic Wharf Street has remained a commercial hub in Port Alfred with businesses firmly settled between the cobblestones.
In the five and a half years since it opened, Wharf Street Fruit & Veg has become renowned for supplying organically grown, locally produced fruit and vegetables.
“We have been programmed to accept that our fruit and vegetables come in standard sizes, pre-packaged, and all the same colour,” said partner in the business, Terri Goosen. “But that’s not how fruit and vegetables grow in nature.”
Goosen, together with her husband and business partner Marius, also known as “Shrek”, advocate fresh organic fruit and vegetables, as well as supporting local farmers.
Terri promotes eating seasonal fruit and vegetables. “Eating in season is always better as the produce hasn’t been exposed to radiation, and endured a long journey to the table, and it’s cheaper,” she said.
Wharf Street Fruit & Veg does self-supply with their own fruit and vegetables, and also supplies a range of preserves, cheeses, butter, fresh yogurt, cream and proper free range eggs.
“Our prices are always good, and change daily depending on market prices,” said Terri.
Wharf Street Fruit & Veg will also buy produce from the public if they have too much. Trading hours are from 8am-5pm weekly and 8am-1pm on Saturdays. For the freshest and healthiest fruit and vegetables, get to Wharf Street Fruit &Veg.
With artisan-style produce and especially craft beer being a growing interest among South Africans beer lovers and connoisseurs, Wharf Street boasts its own little brewery. Full of personality and flavour, The Little Brewery on the River has three beers brewed at its premises; Squires Porter – a dark ale; Coin Ale – an amber ale; and Kowie Gold – the famous local pilsner.
Travel and tourism magazine Getaway has rated Port Alfred’s own brewery, The Little Brewery on the River, as one of the top five destination breweries in the country.
They are also focusing on brewery tours, beer tastings, souvenir shops and brew pubs, all designed to make the brewery something of a tourist destination of its own.
Getaway magazine rated these, and The Little Brewery on the River has been chosen among the top five, alongside breweries from Paarl, Cullinan, Rustenburg, and the Natal Midlands.
Ian Cook, owner of the local brewery, said: “It is an honour for us to be rated among such company and we are pleased that we can contribute in some small way to our town’s tourism efforts.”
One of Port Alfred’s local brews, Kowie Gold, gets specific mention as being the “ideal session beer”. The local brewery started life as the Coelacanth Brewery in 1998, but closed down for a number of years before it was re-opened in 2008 as The Little Brewery on the River.
The Little Brewery on the river offers brewery tours and tastings. To make an appointment call (046) 624-8692.
Sparg’s Furnishers, owned and managed by Mickey Pauls, has many beautiful quality items of antique and previously-owned furniture, and Pauls makes certain her stock is pristine and displayed to its best advantage.
Sparg’s was opened almost 35 years ago. Since then the shop has been known for quality items found nowhere else. The store is a site to be explored and enjoyed as quirky, antique and incredible collectable furniture are scattered through the floor.
Sparg’s has done well over the years ensuring a strong foot print and roots in Wharf Street and Port Alfred. The charming little shop has gone from strength to strength in the year and caters for a broad spectrum of customers trading not only in old and antique furniture but modern, customized, trendy and statement pieces.
“We are so very happy and blessed to be where we are. Thank you to everyone for support and for making the street iconic. With our new street, Wharf Street is perfect; it’s a beautiful place in between history and the natural setting, we can’t help but get absorbed by the ambience,” said Pauls.
The Wharf Street Brew Pub is wrapped in stone walls, decorated with large black and white photographs for the interior and reflects Port Alfred in a bygone era.
They serve a variety of lunch and dinner delights such as steaks, calamari, spicy prego rolls, and battered fish and chips, with weekly updated specials depending on availability of seasonal produce. The menu is delectable and filled with mouth-watering dishes such as peri-peri chicken livers, a favourite like black mussels in cider and saffron – depending on availability, fall-off-thebone lamb shank, chocolate tart and many more too choose from.
The Wharf Street Brew Pub indulges not only in excellent delights, but this is a spot for wine lovers with its impressive wine menu and of course locally produced craft beer.
Owner and executive chef Bram Coetzee describes his style of cooking to be full of traditional South African flair. His speciality is fish and seafood and anything on the grill.
Café Reset a quiet, whimsical and relaxing little hide-away is situated in a charming open air courtyard behind one of Port Alfred’s most historical buildings. Café Reset is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch and serve up glorious dishes made with love and a passion for food and ingredients. Louise Hopkins recently bought the restaurant and is more than delighted to settle in Port Alfred after traveling around South African, Africa and internationally for many years.
Brunch and lunch dishes include gourmet tramezini’s, lasagne, fresh and tasty chicken salads, chicken Gordon bleu, quiche and a yummy range of quick and easy as well as big brekkie’s.
Café Reset has regular specials on and off the menu while serving up incredible roasted coffee from brewed in the Eastern Cape.
Having tasted and experienced lots of Zimbabwean, Argentinian, central and southern African flavours as well as spice and flavours from Morocco, India and other areas, Hopkins is keen on fusing her favourites with traditional flavour portfolios. Open for business weekly from 8.30am yo 5pm, Hopkins is adding Friday night sun downers as a permanent fixture for Café Reset. Keep an eye out for specials on Facebook.