Simon Pearce

Simon Pearce Review

The main attraction in the village is this glassblowing factory, store, and restaurant, which an Irish glassmaker by the same name set up in 1981 in a restored woolen mill by a waterfall. Water power still drives the factory's furnace. Visitors may take a free self-guided tour of the freshly updated downstairs factory floor and see the amazing glassblowers at work (great for kids, too!). A perfect place for unique gifts and souvenirs, the store in the mill sells beautifully crafted contemporary glass and ceramic tableware and stunning home furnishings, such as glass lamps, vases, and wooden bowls. Seconds and discontinued items are reduced 25%. An excellent, sophisticated restaurant with outstanding views of the falls uses the Simon Pearce glassware and is justly popular. Make an afternoon of it: watch the glassblowers, check out the shop, have lunch, and be sure not to miss the small but elegant art gallery across the street, which showcases local artists in a tasteful, serene setting.