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The Hamptons store in Penarth has just celebrated its fifth birthday. During this time it has established itself as one of the leading interiors venues in Wales.
RETAIL HEAVEN
Hamptons is the brainchild of
interior designer, Andy Bradshaw
and garden designer, Peter Knowles
who also have their design studios
within the store.
Both Andy and Peter work on a variety
of projects, from newly built homes to
single rooms, country estates to court -
yard gardens - or you could simply
employ them for a few hours' consultancy to help with your project.
The Hamptons Store is magnificent and oozes style. "We wanted to create a relaxed environment filled with collections of beautifully designed and unusual products," said Andy. From the moment you enter the store your senses are bombarded by fabulous home fragrances and bath products, beautiful arrangements of flowers that would fool the busiest of bees, elegant glassware and gorgeous greetings cards studded with swarovski crystals. "We work hard to source the unusual and well designed", said Peter, and that's borne out by the fabulous collections.
The store itself is a beautifully converted two-storey Victorian building in the heart of Penarth town centre that was originally a fruit and vegetable market and meeting hall. The upper floor has a spectacular timber-vaulted ceiling and is decorated in subtle shades of cream and blue. The whole building has a feel of New England about it.
The upper floor houses the more serious interiors collections with furniture by Tamarisk and Sir Terence Conran, and throws, cushions and gorgeous pebble rugs that force you to kick off your shoes and sink into the sexy, chenille pebbles.
There is also a wonderful selection of lighting and mirrors as well as more decorative interior accessories.
And when you've shopped til you drop and are having all of your purchases spectacularly gift wrapped for free you can enjoy lunch or coffee and home-made cakes in the relaxing Blue Pelican Café upstairs. Lush palms, American colonial style shutters and staff in Hawaiian shirts give the café a real holiday feel. The menu is packed with delicious choices and Manager Sue John has the same attention to detail as the rest of the Hamptons store.
Food is freshly made and the specials board features delights such as smoked salmon and rocket salad with avocado, new potatoes and crusty bread served with a lime, mayo and parsley dressing.
And if you've any room left, the call of the cake table is irresistible. Towering Victoria sponges and lemon drizzle cake which are apparently completely calorie free. well almost! There's also a nostalgic selection of ice cream favourites including knickerbocker glory and banana split. The Hamptons afternoon tea is a towering confection of sandwiches, scones and cakes and for that special occasion you can add strawberries and Champagne.
At night, Hamptons transforms into a sophisticated live music venue where diners can enjoy a five-course meal while watching anything from cocktail jazz, opera or a host of excellent tribute singers performing anything from Abba and Diana Ross to Neil Diamond and our very own Shirley Bassey.
Hamptons alone is well worth a trip to Penarth but the town also has a wealth of other reasons to visit including the Esplande and the pier with views across the Bristol Channel, the Washington Art Gallery, parks and cliff-top walks and lots of interesting shops and cafés.
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SISTER MAGAZINES
 
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