One of the longest-running fairs’ businesses on the circuit is launching another event this year.
Continuity Fairs of Ludlow, a family affair founded by Donald Bayliss more than four decades ago and now run by his son Nick, will be holding a fair in Harrogate.
Up to now, the firm’s focus has been on the south and south-west of the UK, staging events at four showgrounds and one racecourse.
For the foray into the north, the first of three annual Yorkshire Antique, Home and Vintage Fairs will be held at the Great Yorkshire Showground on Saturday and Sunday, March 17-18.
They will take place in the Event Centre’s two main halls. The larger hall is standfitted and the smaller venue hosts a tabletop section.
Bowman aims for new target
The launch was prompted by Bowman Antiques Fairs’ decision to end its Yorkshire Antiques and Art Fair held at the Great Yorkshire Showground. That event began in 2009, but the last one took place in November.
Bowman director Helen Bowman said earlier this month: “We have been unable to successfully conclude negotiations with the venue and the rent and rising ancillary costs have become prohibitive.”
She added: “We have plans and meetings with some alternative sites and expect to make an announcement about the Yorkshire Antiques and Art Fair and its new home in the spring.”
Talking about his new fair, Nick Bayliss said: “I had heard on the grapevine about Bowman Fairs not continuing at the Yorkshire Showground. As I have been looking for another large showground for some time and after a long chat with Ben Wray [director of Bowman Antiques Fairs] it all slotted into place.
“I am very pleased, particularly as some 80-100 standholders at Bowman’s Yorkshire event will remain with me at the new fair.”
Fairs line-up
The latest Harrogate event joins Continuity’s roster of antiques and collectors’ fairs at Epsom Racecourse in Surrey, the Devon County Showground in Exeter and the Mona Showground in Anglesey. Its flagship 800-exhibitor International Antiques Fair of Wales has been running at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells since 2002.
Continuity Fairs’ next event is at the Devon County Showground on Saturday and Sunday, February 10-11.
Bowman Antiques Fairs’ long running 300-standholder three-day antiques fair in the Bingley Hall at the Staffordshire County Showground has its first outing of the year from Friday to Sunday, February 2-4.
