The ‘Antiques in Your Home’ display.
For a relatively new fair on the regular calendar, Wembley Park Antiques Market certainly makes an impression.
The space it occupies is vast and all under cover, keeping traders and visitors safe from the ever-changing British weather.
Wembley Park Antiques Market entrance.
With an eclectic mix of dealers spanning everything from furniture and interiors to silver, ceramics and fine art, there is certainly something for all tastes.
The monthly antiques and vintage market was launched in October last year by the organisers of Portobello Green Market and quickly grabbed the attention of buyers and sellers with its handy north London location on the site of a Wembley Stadium car park.
Mayor of Brent Lia Colacicco (who has become a regular at the fair as she has antiques dealers in her family) with Jonathan Nixon and Cliff Bloomfield.
At the April 27 edition, a total of 135 traders stalled out. The fair opened at 8am and within an hour, dealership The Thrifty Gent had already sold out of its entire stand of antique interiors items and had to completely restock from its van
The lucky – and most welcome – buyers were Netflix set dressers who had come to the fair to find good prices on genuine period objects and The Thrifty Gent stall had exactly what they were looking for.
“The presence of such high-profile buyers really shows how far this fair has come since its recent beginnings”, said the delighted trader.
This buyer is looking forward to using a large Japanese parasol from the 1980s found at the market.
Entertainment studios were not the only pleased purchasers on the day. One woman visiting for the first time fell in love with a large Japanese parasol from the 1980s and was able to snap it up for £130. The happy buyer told ATG she looks forward to using it in the summer and will certainly be returning to the fair for future bargains.
Another buyer was clutching a large frame and a mirror; the frame was to house a picture she had bought in Ukraine a few years ago. The mirror was “very pretty and very rare, something I won’t find in other shops”.
A buyer with her picture frame and mirror.
The atmosphere among the dealers was also positive, with traders enjoying the venue and crediting organiser Jonathan Nixon for his passion and expertise.
Mid-century dealer Mr Newton Interiors from Essex is a regular and supports the venture because of its location and the footfall it attracts.
He praised Nixon for his extensive efforts: “It takes a hell of a lot of investment, time and constant belief – I’m here because I feel like Jonathan knows what he’s doing, and it’ll become an important event.”
Home sweet home
S&T Antiques had been invited to create an ‘Antiques in Your Home’ set-up at the front of the fair (picture above, top). It used pieces borrowed from dealers stalling out at the event, describing the style as “rustic glam” and encouraging the buyers to take inspiration from the arrangement on display.
Each month a different company or designer takes on the challenge and creates a new room set-up to display near the entrance.
The venue itself is also one of the fair highlights. The large underground carpark enables traders to drive up and unload easily and it could accommodate more than 700 pitches.
Entry for buyers – trade and privates – is free and hot food and drinks are readily available.
The site is conveniently located outside the London congestion zone and is a 10-minute walk from Wembley Park station, making it accessible for those from both inside and outside London.
For buyers coming on public transport, an in-house delivery company is available and most of the dealers are happy to organise deliveries themselves, so there is no concern about having to lug a large item across the capital.
The next edition of Wembley Park Antiques Market is on May 25.
