THIS year has produced an impressive number of new fairs, markets and centres. Here are a few highlights from the column’s bumper crop.
To everyone in the trade who has featured in Fairs & Markets this year, I wish you a Happy Christmas and a till-ringing New Year. It’s an ongoing pleasure to write about you all.
Show your style
In February, decoratives dealer Bill Jones, as Style 1900, launched the first of three annual 20th century decorative fairs at Voewood House, a fine Arts & Crafts mansion near Holt in Norfolk.
Next up for Jones is a fair at the Modernist De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill at the end of January 2017.
In March, IACF’s antiques market – a new concept for the fair organisers – launched at Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher, Surrey with more than 200 exhibitors.
IACF had acquired the fair from Ludi and Alan Kipping of Wonder Whistle in November 2015 and initially held the event on a Monday before moving it back to its usual Tuesday slot mid-way through 2016.
Earlier this month, Rachel Everett, IACF’s operations director, told ATG: “All the dates next year are on a Tuesday, which is the day the trade have told us they prefer.
“We are able to fit eight fairs into the calendar and the response from all the regular stallholders and buyers has been very positive. It’s an event that is well loved by dealers in the area and we look forward to a very successful 2017.”
The first Sandown Park Antiques Market next year will be held on Tuesday, February 7.
Three a year
In April, B2B Events kicked off a new triannual vintage and antiques fair at the Cranmore Park Exhibition Centre near Solihull, which has been a sell-out for all three events this year.
Demonstrating a crossover of business from the fairs circuit is Field Dog Fairs, aka Charlotte and Frankie Milford, who opened an antiques centre in Grantham, handily placed for both IACF Newark and Swallow Fairs in Lincoln.
Donny Mann, as Love Fairs, has had such success with his vintage and antique fairs at Lingfield Racecourse that he launched another, at Brighton Racecourse, in August.
In October, Ronnie Davies and Tim Pearson, co-organiser of vintage toy and train fairs in Cirencester, started a new fair, Collectors at the College, at Marlborough College, Wiltshire.
