Lincoln fair to become a two-day event

The popular ‘Antiques & Home Show’, held six times a year at the Lincolnshire Showground, is to change from a three- to a two-day event.

Beginning in the New Year (on January 28-29), the fair will be held on a Monday and Tuesday with a day's hiatus before the start of the nearby Newark International Antiques and Collectors' Fair which runs on Thursday and Friday at the Newark and Nottingham Showground.

Swallow Fairs, organisers of the Lincolnshire Antiques & Home Show, say they have cut the fair to two days to maintain its integrity. While Lincoln's Monday trade day and Tuesday public day continue to be supported by stallholders and buyers alike, organiser Richard Burgoin told ATG that attendance on the Wednesday, when so many of the stallholders had left the showground, was poor.

He added that, as Swallow rent the site for a two-week period for each fair, costs had not changed and there could be no reduction in stand rates.

The change of days for 2013 certainly provided a subject for debate at last week's fair held from October 1-3, when sympathy for the organiser's position was juxtaposed with the concern traditionally expressed towards any change that jeopardises the back-to-back scheduling of the Lincoln and the Newark fairs.

Holding the fairs in close proximity appeals to those dealers with the stock to sustain a full five days of trading - three at Lincoln and then two at Newark - and is key to attracting overseas customers on a buying trip to the East Midlands.

Dealers from 21 different countries passed through the Buyer's Lounge at the October Lincoln fair.

Wednesday Break

During the Wednesday break that will now separate the two giant fairs, buyers and sellers staying in the region will be encouraged to visit the many nearby antiques shops and centres. The Hemswell Antiques Centre are planning a number of initiatives tailored to overseas custom - including making their website accessible to Far Eastern and Latin American customers.

However, in August at least, the two fairs will be more than a week apart.

Richard Burgoin said, because of another event at the showground, it had not been possible to hold the two fairs back-to-back in August when Swallow's Lincoln will be held from August 12-13 and IACF's Newark on August 22-23.

The final Lincolnshire Antiques & Home Show of the year will remain a three-day Monday to Wednesday event, which is scheduled to run from December 3-5.