Some 175 exhibitors are booked out at the upcoming fair at Brighton Racecourse on Sunday, October 20. Love Fairs now has an impressive 400-strong waiting list of would-be exhibitors.
Based in Tunbridge Wells, decoratives dealer Robin Fletcher is an enthusiastic standholder at UK fairs including Love Fairs, B2B Events at Detling in Kent, IACF at Alexandra Palace and – rather a favourite of his – the Tree of Ages antiques fairs held in Nutley, Surrey.
He dealt part-time when he worked in the wine trade and as an antiques dealer has been dealing full-time for six years, building up his fairs’ presence this year.
Like many in the trade, Fletcher’s love of antiques and dealing came from his parents.
He said: “Aged eight, I would accompany them in the early 1970s to fairs and markets in south- east London including the Greenwich Market, help out on their stalls and buy and sell too.
“I don’t collect one particular thing, although I have a small collection of TE Lawrence-related items,” Fletcher added. He buys online, at auctions, fairs and from other dealers, and his stock is priced from £10 (which will buy you an Edwardian lapel pin) up to £600 for a pair of composite weathered stone classical urns, pictured above.
You can contact him on Twitter or RFletcherAntiques@outlook.com