Fairs, Markets, Shops and Centres

Particularly appropriately named for Mother’s Day is Love Fairs, whose upcoming fair at Brighton Racecourse runs on Sunday, March 11.

Antiques dealer and fair organiser Marcus Potts is an Art Deco and early 20th century ceramics man, but he is an absolute mine of information on vintage toys.

The Specialist Glass Fair, founded in 1991 by Patricia Hier and run for 16 years by Paul Bishop, will be held on Sunday, February 25.

Kate and Mike Button of Black Dog Antiques in the market town of Halesworth in Suffolk, also run the monthly Halesworth Brocante which they launched two years ago in the town’s Old Print Works.

“We are always being asked about running our art fairs in Surrey,” said Deborah James, director with Sarah McAllister of Contemporary Art Fairs.

Mid-century design, particularly furniture, continues to be one of the most sought-after within the vintage genre, particularly by designers and decorators.

Antique Church Furnishings, which describes itself as ‘God’s Furniture since 1985’, sells almost everything in the religious line – from chasubles to crucifixes and misericordes to missal stands.

According to Wikipedia, the medieval city of Norwich had at one time 36 parish churches, the largest collection of urban medieval buildings north of the Alps.

Antique pine furniture has many followers who buy it battered and cheap and simply ‘tart it up’ with an invariably low degree of skill and taste to sell on.

If you want to find something unusual in the book and ephemera line, then head to one of the fairs held by the Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association (PBFA).

The next three Frock Me vintage fashion fairs this year will be held at the Kensington Town Hall, instead of its usual venue, Chelsea Town Hall, which is being refurbished.

House enhanced by the great architect hosts fresh July fair which is already half booked by dealers wanting to stand.

Sharon Blagrove of Bentleys Fairs has launched an ambitious double venture called UK Fairs.com involving an online fairs directory and a printed guide.

Karen Dalmeny is a well-known face not only from antiques programmes Dickinson’s Real Deal and Secret Dealers on ITV, but also on the fairs circuit where she is a standholder.

Dedicated to those who campaigned for 50 years for the right of women to vote, the Museum of London is currently holding an exhibition of images and objects chosen from the museum’s vast collections of suffragette material.

Author and dealer in memorabilia ready for busy year which is centenary of landmark act that gave women in the UK the vote for the first time

The antiques-rich Devon town of Honiton was famed for its bobbin lacemaking since the 16th century when it was introduced by Flemish refugees.

As well as being an actor, playing Alfie Moon, the landlord of the Queen Vic pub in the soap EastEnders, Shane Richie is a singer and last year recorded a country music album.

Portable lighters appeared in the early 20th century, with Dunhill being the most collectable name and watch lighters regarded as most covetable.

Northcote Road is a half-mile stretch of road which runs between Clapham and Battersea in south London which is well-known for chain restaurants and bars. It is also renowned, though, for its independent businesses, some of which have been there for 30 years.