19/10/2026
❤️ The End of an Era – Our Final Week at Mug 'n Brush ❤️
It's hard to believe we're writing this, but after all these years, we are officially in our final week of trading at Mug 'n Brush.
Our little family business has ended - our building have been sold, and while we're excited about the next chapter, saying goodbye to something that has been such a huge part of our lives is incredibly bittersweet. So yes, there is a renovation coming - its just not ours :)
📅 Our final day open to the public will be Sunday, 25 October 2026.
🎨 Pottery collections will continue until Saturday, 31 October 2026, with limited opening hours. Please contact us to arrange your collection.
Before we close our doors for the final time, we wanted to take a moment to share our story and, most importantly, say thank you.
Because Mug 'n Brush was never just a café, an indoor playground or an art studio. It was our second home, a place where our children grew up, where memories were made, and where we shared some of the happiest and hardest moments of our lives.
When we first started, Elanie's daughter was just a toddler, and she practically grew up within these walls. Elanie was pregnant with her son, and today he's seven years old!
Our children were lucky enough to spend their days surrounded by their mum and grandparents, growing up in a place filled with laughter, creativity and the occasional stolen cupcake (okay, probably more than a few!).
We watched them learn to bake, help in the kitchen, make their own little creations and grow up alongside the business. Looking back, what an incredible privilege that was. Not many families get to spend so much of their everyday lives together, and that is something we will treasure forever.
Somewhere in those early years, amongst raising children, running a business and all the everyday chaos, Elanie even managed to complete her Arts degree!
But Mug 'n Brush gave us so much more than family memories.
Over the years, we've celebrated countless birthdays, watched little ones play, seen friendships form over coffee, and admired thousands of beautiful, quirky and wonderfully unique creations.
One of our greatest joys was watching that little spark when someone realised, sometimes to their own surprise, that they actually could be creative.
We've watched tiny hands make keepsakes for parents and grandparents, families create memories together, and people discover a love for art they never knew they had.
We've shared in your celebrations, your laughter and sometimes even your heartbreak. And in many ways, you've shared in ours too.
Our journey certainly wasn't always easy.
We had big dreams for Mug 'n Brush. We would look across the road at the bigger building and imagine what we could create there. More space, more opportunities, more room for our little dream to grow.
And eventually, we did it! We took the leap, moved across the road and poured so much of ourselves into making that dream a reality.
Just one month later, COVID hit.
We were forced to close our doors, almost as soon as we'd opened them in our new space.
It was devastating. After all the planning, hard work, excitement and financial commitment, suddenly everything we'd worked towards was thrown into uncertainty.
But somehow, with the support of our customers, our team and our family, we made it through.
Along the way, we also faced theft, financial challenges, a massive renovation and more unexpected hurdles than we could ever have imagined.
And then life threw another challenge our way.
Hannes, our dad and co-owner, suffered a traumatic brain injury after a fall.
It was one of the most difficult and frightening chapters of our family's life. Through the uncertainty, the heartbreak, months at the hospital and the long road that followed, Mug 'n Brush gave our family something to hold on to. It kept us going when life felt overwhelming.
And somehow, through it all, we kept opening the doors, making coffees, painting pottery and celebrating birthdays.
We also built something we are incredibly proud of: our team. ❤️
To every staff member who has been part of Mug 'n Brush over the years, thank you. You helped turn our little dream into something so much bigger. You brought your own personalities, talents, laughter and care into this place. We could never have done it without you.
And to our extended family, who stepped in, helped out, supported us and stood beside us through everything, we owe you more than words can express.
And now, after everything we've experienced together, it's time for a new chapter.
Elanie has returned to her other passion, working as an electrician, and Hannes and Elma can finally look forward to a well-deserved (slightly early!) retirement.
As we close this chapter, we want to say one very important thing.
Thank you. ❤️
To every family who chose to celebrate a birthday with us. Every parent who came in for a much-needed coffee. Every child who ran through our playground. Every person who sat down to paint something, whether it was their first masterpiece or their fiftieth. Every customer who returned, recommended us to a friend or simply walked through our doors.
You made all of this possible.
Your support didn't just keep a business running. It gave our family the opportunity to grow up together, to be present for our children, to overcome some of life's biggest challenges, and to build a lifetime of memories.
We hope that somewhere in your home there's a slightly wonky painted mug, a tiny handprint, a birthday photo or a little keepsake that reminds you of a happy day spent at Mug 'n Brush.
Because there are certainly thousands of memories that will remind us of you.
If you have the chance, we'd love to see you one last time before we close our doors on 25 October.
From our family to yours, thank you for being part of our story. For the laughter, the friendships, the memories and the years of support.
What a journey it's been. We wouldn't change it for the world. ❤️
With all our love and gratitude,
Hannes, Elma, Elanie and the entire Mug 'n Brush family ❤️
