Bridge Street Brewery

Its Friday afternoon and the end of a tough work week.  Feel like a quick drink with some friends to celebrate the coming of the weekend before heading home?  One of the best place in town to do that is the very popular Bridge Street Brewery next to the Baakens River on Upper Valley Road.  The plan … Continue reading Bridge Street Brewery

Grand Hotel from the lighthouse

The original house where the Grand Hotel in Central stands today was built in 1867.  By 1885 the house was extended to Whites Road and the owner, Kames Brister, advertised the house as to let with 24 rooms.   Shortly after on 15 October 1885 Arnold Lipman opened the Grand Hotel.  The hotel has been taken over by new owners and is currently being … Continue reading Grand Hotel from the lighthouse

Feather Market Hall side view

In the 1870's the city fathers of Port Elizabeth could not postpone the erection of a market building, especially for the sale of ostrich feathers and produce, anymore.  A building was commissioned in 1878 when a competition was run for the best design for the building.  While the roof was being built in England the council realised that … Continue reading Feather Market Hall side view

Donkin Street houses renovation

When the first Settlers arrived in Algoa Bay they found an array of hills, streams, rivers and kloofs, making habitation of the area a problem.  Donkin Street as it stands today was originally a "kloof" (steep valley) with a stream.  The water it carried was channelled into the then Main Street.  This kloof was eventually filled using convict labour … Continue reading Donkin Street houses renovation