We caught up with Annabel Hann owner of The Mews Fabrics & Furnishings, a devotee of all things bright and beautiful and asked her to highlight any businesses in the Scottish Borders that she recommends. We hope you enjoy reading Annabel’s favourites!
The Faldonside Farmers Market is a fantastic event run by locals Pete and Posy Maitland-Carew. I’m not saying this because I was lucky enough to be a recent stallholder but because they have created the market with the community at the heart of it; they have gathered together a fantastic selection of local artisan producers and they are really championing these people. Any local producers can find it hard to get their name out there and their products seen, and Pete and Posy have quietly gone about making this wonderful market that is so accessible and so fun to be part of.
I couldn’t live without Mainstreet Trading in St Boswells – not just for the coffee but I’m a real bookworm and can’t fail to find something that I know is going to be great. It also has a fantastic kids section and so it’s actually a pleasure taking the children in there (rather than a chore like some shops as any parent can testify!).
I must mention my uncle, John Church, who is a local upholsterer near Duns – he makes wonderful footstools and dog beds and has recently done a fabulous footstool for a local customer in one of our striking Mallorcan striped fabrics.
Having grown up near it, Kelso is the town I know the best and it’s wonderful to see so many shops thriving there – old timers like Archie Hume (outfitters), Rogersons (shoes) , Hector Innes (cameras and photographs), James Stewart and Son (electricals) , Borders Cookware, Tweed House Interiors, and W.J Blair (Jewellers and they can mend any watch or piece of jewellery) as well as new ones like Hunter’s the Butchers, Treetop Toys, 20 Storey, and Fin & Game.
Also a Kelso local, Stella Lathangie is a fantastic photographer I’ve used. Stella makes a photoshoot – which I usually find quite stressful as there’s a lot of work to get through – a breeze and a pleasure, with amazing photos as the end of it.
I also love Floors Castle Garden Centre and Café – the home produce is amazing and so good to stock up on.
Douglas Home & Co do a mean set of accounts and I must do a big mention to the Post Office staff in St Boswells and Kelso who have to be the friendliest postal workers I have ever come across (and I post a lot of things!).
Some great area insights here from Annabel and some wonderful local businesses to try. To read our whole conversation with Annabel about the inspiration behind The Mews Fabric & Furnishings and her love of colour, and also to find out more about her wonderful fabric collections click here.
