Harry Jack’s Family Restaurant

Hanging in the foyer of Harry Jack’s, is a copy of a photograph of one filed in the Howick Museum. It depicts the house and wagon-manufacturing business operated on a site at the north-west end of Main Street, Howick, by the original owner, James Buchanan.
He emigrated from Scotland during the Anglo-Zulu Wars and opened his first Blacksmith shop in Howick where the White House complex stands today.
Around 1900, he bought five acres and built the house where Harry Jack’s lives today. He then transferred his blacksmith’s business there. He employed twenty-one hands and used to turn out a new wagon every week. Mr Buchanan was a master craftsman of repute and some of the Pietermaritzburg blacksmiths used to ask him to go there and balance their new wagons for them.
A maize mill was also built of handmade mud bricks on the property, and Mr Buchanan used to grind meal for local farmers. This building still remains on the site.

James Buchanan married a Miss Dow who lived in Drew Avenue. They had eight sons, one of whom was killed in the first world war, and two daughters. Mr Buchanan eventually retired in Howick. He was an elder of the Upper Umngeni Presbyterian Church and attended Divine Service every Sunday until his death.

The house has several owners during the twentieth century. In 1995, it was surveyed by the National Monuments Council. The property was declared to be a building of significant importance, distinguished by its colonial style sliding sash windows, the arched and fretted verandah lintels and scrolled end walls. It was bought by Sean and Rebecca Wakeford, well known proprietors of the Bierfassl Restaurant in Nottingham Road. Substantial renovation and restoration of the hundred year old features were undertaken. The original bricks which were hand-made on the site are still in place, while original floorboards and sash windows have been carefully preserved. The building was re-decorated and the overgrown grounds cleared.

In November 2006, Harry Jack’s was born and immediately gained a reputation among locals and visitors as one of Howick’s foremost family restaurants.

Harry Jack’s has just launched an exciting new brunch menu, that is already proving extremely popular. With menu options priced from just R13.50, it is certainly outstanding value. this menu is served from 09h00 til 12h00 every day of the week, and is great for businessmen, families and bike runs.

By dining at Harry Jack’s, you can rest assured that you are supporting a cleaner environment, as Harry’s comprehensive recycling programme ensures that dumped refuse is kept to a minimum.

These are catered for in the extensive garden and play area with a variety of themes available. Harry Jack’s works around any budget, and makes the day stress free and enjoyable for parents.

Harry Jack puts down his pen and pencil and joins the Internet age.

Those nice people from Internet Uncapped have installed a wireless router and patrons can tap into free internet access at Harry Jacks by opening their laptops!!!

Making Harrys place the first of its kind in the Natal Midlands.

The story of Harry Jack is in fact quite simple, not made of legend or fancy, but rather of family ties and respect. Harry was a farmer of scale not much more than subsistence.

His means of livelihood were often superseded by his passion for life, which after having served King and country during World War 2, was abounded. Family came first, and after the days duties were dispensed with, Harry would retire to his barn, to ferment, brew or distil whatever was available; from marigold wines to odious bitters, Harry Jack would cultivate these precious liquids.

Whenever time came for tasting, Harry’s Barn would be open to all. Friends and locals arrived and the old gabled barn soon became a hub of village politics and gossip. Glasses were chinked and platters brought forth from the old farmhouse kitchen. Merriment and spirit abounded during these long lazy days, and Harry’s hospitality earned him respect and recognition.

When Harry Jack sold his farm in 1980 and retired to the nearby coastal town of Seaford, his friends held one last get together in the old barn.

In memory of Harry Jack and because he was the Great Grand-dad, we hoped to name our first born… but the name didn’t quite suit a little girl! So in time we named the next best thing.

Welcome to Harry Jack’s where legendary hospitality lives on.

Situated in a delightful heritage building at 118 Main Street, Howick, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.