Half-price stands to new exhibitors at Newark fair: New incentives will address problem of early leavers say organisers Dmg

The offer, a one-off, three-fair deal, is open only to exhibitors who currently stand at the other Dmg fairs in Ardingly, Detling, Newmarket and Shepton Mallet.

Dmg Antiques Fairs say the half price deal – available for the next three fairs in June, August and October – is part of a wider initiative to address the problem of early leavers on the second day of the two-day fair. The exodus on the Monday night currently leaves areas of the Newark and Nottinghamshire showground half empty for visitors the following day – a source of hundreds of complaints from both buyers and the sellers who remain.

While at recent Newark fairs Dmg have used their waiting list to ensure full attendance at some of the choice spots – for example the Shopping Arcades close to the Red and Yellow gates where visitors enter the site – there remain problem areas. In particular four elements – the Lady Eastwood building, the Crocker Pavilion, the Sir John Eastwood building plus outside pitches in Area D – have been targeted as needing most help. These are the places where the half-price deals will be available to any new standholders.

Those who take up the deal (payment for the three events to be received in advance) must agree to stay at the fair for both Monday and Tuesday, and there will be no return permitted and no refund offered to those who break the agreement. Dmg concede the initiative might cause some dissent among the many Newark regulars who pay the full rate, but argue that incentives for new standholders who view this as a two-day fair will, in the long term, improve Europe’s biggest antiques and collectables event for all concerned.

The half-price pitch rates for those taking up the offer between now and the June 7-8 fair are as follows: Lady Eastwood (£66 per fair/£198 for three fairs); Crocker Pavilion (£60/£180); Sir John Eastwood (£82/£246); Area D outside pitches (£53/162).