This good news comes from Philip Crosthwaite who, with his wife Claire, runs the monthly 70-stand Hingham Antiques Fair in the market town in the heart of rural south Norfolk.
“We now have 120 dealers on our list with more wanting to stand all the time,” said Crosthwaite. “We try very hard to fit new dealers in where we can so the fairs stay fresh for the customer.
“We regularly see 600-plus visitors every month. At the upcoming fair on Sunday, October 28, we have Beezer Trading, who trade from the Long Melford Antiques and Interiors Warehouse and sell all sorts of unusual and quirky decorative stock.”
Crosthwaite, who also runs an interiors business in Norfolk, has a new venture up his sleeve.
He is launching the Norfolk and Suffolk Antique Dealers Association (NSADA) and will kickstart the first NSADA-members fair in January at the Barnham Broom Hotel and Golf Club near Norwich. More on this nearer the time.
Filled up quickly
Meanwhile, over in Worcestershire, another organiser reports a full house.
“Once again we are pleased that our Worcestershire Antiques Fair on October 27 and 28 is full,” announced Stephanie Castell and Ben Cooper of Two Cs Fairs.
Cooper added: “Even with a couple of cancellations due to ill health the spaces have been quickly filled.
“Some on the waiting list have even said they would fill a space in 24 hours – which is good going in these tougher times.”
As this fair has evolved, two areas have grown in popularity, say Castell and Cooper: ceramics – the organisers took over the Worcestershire Ceramics Fair in 2015 – and 20th century design.
So, among the stallholders at this fair, buyers can expect to see Martin Oliver from Cheshire with 18th century porcelain, Bristol-based Brian Ashbee with Burmantofts ceramics and the Peripatetic Gallery from Devon offering studio pottery.
For 20th century design, Shine On Design offers Art Deco furniture and Dave Hornik-Unger aka Deco Dave will be turning on his Art Deco lighting.
There will be plenty to suit traditionalists too with art from York House Antiques and glass from Jeannette Hayhurst.
