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From May 2016 the Newbury Antiques and Collectors Fair will run at the Newbury Showground and become a two-day biannual Friday/Saturday fair.

A one-day Monday fair has been held six times a year at Newbury Racecourse since 2010 but a redevelopment programme has made holding an antiques event at the course near-impossible, says Rachel Everett, IACF operations manager.

She adds: "It was fortuitous that Newbury Showground had their plans approved for a new purpose-built exhibition centre at the same time that we found the racecourse unworkable.

"It offers huge potential for our event, with scope for some 300 indoor stallholders and plenty of room outdoors. And there is unlimited car parking, which was becoming an issue at the racecourse."

Everett says: "Taking place on a Friday and a Saturday [a successful format used at the Bath & West Showground in Shepton Mallet], we'll be able to offer the trade as well as greater numbers of the public a chance to attend the fair."

The fair scheduled at Newbury Racecourse for Monday, December 7, has been cancelled with the first event at the Newbury Showground on Friday and Saturday, May 13-14.

IACF's 2016 calendar will include two monthly one-day weekday fairs: Runway Monday at the Newark Showground and IACF's new venture, a monthly Monday antiques market at Sandown Park Racecourse to be launched on March 7.

This follows IACF's acquisition of Wonder Whistle, whose long-term owners, Ludi and Alan Kipping, are retiring.