Ashford Village is a small group of boutique shops and a cafe around the historic Mill House, at 427 West Street in Allenton, Ashburton. The site is the home of Ashford Wheels & Looms, makers of spinning wheels and looms. The Ashford Store is the main draw. It stocks the full range of Ashford wheels and looms, along with New Zealand knitting yarns, specialty yarns, books, patterns and accessories. Ashford equipment is on display to try, and the store teaches spinning, weaving and felting. Other tenants include Millhouse Kitchen, a family run cafe with a garden setting, Aladdin's Cave with clothes, fabrics, jewellery and homeware from India, Thailand and Japan, and Best Buddies, which sells natural dog treats and holds dog events. The village is open seven days, with plenty of off-street parking for cars, campervans, caravans and buses. It is one hour south of Christchurch on State Highway 1.
The Mill House and the Ashford name give the village its character, so the yarn and spinning shop is the reason many people stop, and the cafe and boutiques make a longer visit. Our pick in Ashburton for a relaxed stop on the drive south, with a textile shop worth a look.