Peer through the beautifully-dressed window of Angela Reed on Peas Hill, and the glorious array of gifts, home accessories and seriously smart furniture is sure to lure you in. A meander around the bright boutique is like a voyage around the world, gifts thoughtfully gathered from across the globe. There’s penguins created from recycled oil drums in Zimbabwe, colourful Indian jute rugs, a magnificent reclaimed wood desk carved in Vietnam, fused glass animals crafted in Poland, elaborate Nordic feather lampshades. . .the list goes on.
Priding themselves on handpicking an ‘interesting and inspiring’ mix of products, the Reed family has been in business since 1881, when Thomas Reed began trading in antiques. The entrepreneurial spirit thrived, with the store’s namesake Angela - and husband Martin - opening a shop selling new furniture and accessories in Saffron Walden in the 80s. Growing organically over time, these premises now encompass 13 rooms of stylish pieces, from Conran sofas to terracotta planters, plus a café, bakery, and neighbouring antique store.
Angela’s son, David Reed, who joined the fold eight years ago following a successful rugby career, oversees the running of the company, and is a master at sourcing innovative stock from specialist suppliers. This is perfectly illustrated at the Peas Hill store, which opened last September, in an ideal spot, surrounded by indie cafes, restaurants and boutiques. Eye-catching buys include a colonial dinghy bookshelf, a Danish dining table with natural ‘waney’ edges and a five foot hessian giraffe! There’s also lots of reasonably-priced gifts including reed diffusers, wooden ducks and sumptuous cushions.
Perhaps most inviting about this store is its sense of fun, from the rainbow pom-pom garlands which welcome you in, and the cheery staff - led by manager Hannah - to the quirky flamingos adorning the shelves. It really is a must visit for happy shoppers!
Angela Reed
4-5 Peas Hill
Cambridge
CB2 3PP
Tel: 01223 510301
www.angelareed.co.uk
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