A pinch of France in Dorset – Bergere
By now you’ve probably realised that I like old stuff! Vintage, antiques and reclaimed items float my boat. I dream of one day having a barn conversion filled with a mix of these things well-balanced with modern items. Refectory table meets Charles Eames chairs, that sort of thing. But where are the best places to find these types of reclaimed items? Well sometimes you just have to stumble upon them. On the way to one of our favourite child friendly farms in Dorset there is a sign on the side of the road saying ‘French Furniture’ next right. One of those signs you see and think I must investigate at some point but often never do. Well I did and I’m so glad. At the end of this country road you turn into a courtyard surrounded by brick barns and workshops, all a hive of activity. Bergere is the wonderful furniture shop that drew me here and it is an Aladdin’s cave of fabulous finds, sourced and shipped over from France. It’s an eclectic mix of old shutters, beautiful armoires, Louis Philippe mirrors and 1940’s leather armchairs. You can spend forever going around the various barns seeing everything. Some of my favourite things are the vintage french school chairs that are sitting up on a beam. (See below in pictures) The great thing is you don’t have to be a local to see what they have on offer, check out their website here to see if there is something that catches your eye. Bergere Interiors.
Once you’ve seen everything there is to offer then you’ve earned your lunch and thankfully there is a fantastic cafe furnished with the same wonderful French furniture, The Barn Cafe. A plethora of cakes, pastries, charcuterie boards and fabulous local Dorset produce await you.
That’s not all, this one courtyard has even more to offer. If you’ve always fancied doing a cookery course but hadn’t found one that made you jump into action then you have to check out White Pepper Cookery School. They offer courses including French Patisserie, Dinner party cooking, Japanese and even Funghi foraging. The chefs have a very impressive collective CV which includes a Michelin Star, published cookery books and celebrity clients. I would so happily sign up for every course.
So my final thought is, if you see a sign that intrigues you don’t just think I’ll check that out another day. Follow it there and then, you might find something really fantastic!
Love Katy xx
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5 Responses to “A pinch of France in Dorset – Bergere”
Some fantastic photographs and a great article accompanying them. Do you watch American Pickers on the History Channel? I think that you’d love it. I also think you’d be great in doing a British version of that show. Katy. 🙂
Haha thanks Dennis, I shall drop them a line and tell them I would be happy to do it!
What a wonderful find! It’s like a treasure trove for grown-ups. : )
It really is Louisa, I could have spent hours in there!
Just come across your blog via Dorset Cereals . What a lovely article on what is a fantastic place, visit it often. X