A lighting dealer at a past antiques and collectors’ fair at Alexandra Palace, which returns under a new look this summer.
Ally Pally is opening its doors again to the trade, giving a huge boost for the many who mourned the demise of the antiques and collectors’ fair.
A new company has been formed to revive this highly popular and large event – some would say an institution – at Alexandra Palace in north London.
Paul Kelly, a former organiser with the Newmarket-based Nelson Events which ran the antiques and collectors’ fair from 2008-14 before handing over to IACF, is stepping into the void and launching a revamped annual fair on Sunday, July 2, under the banner Alexandra Palace Antiques and Collectors’ Fair (APCF).
Kelly, who is a director of Newmarket Antiques and Collectors’ Fairs and also organises the Bermondsey Antiques Market in south London, said: “We are expecting that a core of 250 dealers will return which will be the foundation of the event.
“It will be great to see many of those dealers again, some of whom have supported this fair at Ally Pally for more than 20 years. I feel privileged to be the new custodian.”
A speedy sign-up is Maxine Stonehill of Pop Up Vintage Fairs. She is fielding around 100 stands of vintage fashion and homewares.
“We have been part of the fair at Ally Pally for 10 years and now our vintage traders are so excited to be continuing the tradition with new organisers”, she said.
London-based Pop Up Vintage Fairs will be back at Ally Pally and this picture shows a smiling vintage customer at the ‘fair within a fair’.
It’s the vinyl countdown
Alexandra Palace is famed for its music gigs so it seems appropriate that vinyl lovers can expect 100 or so stands on July 2 from VIP Record Fairs, which will offer “a massive range from the super rare to collectable memorabilia.”
The Ally Pally fair ran for 40 years and the announcement last year that it would cease (ATG No 2571) caused consternation at what seemed like curtains for one of London’s best-known regular fairs.
But now the noise, clatter and banter between stallholders as they set up in the early hours will resound once more at Ally Pally this summer and hopefully on into the future.
Stall space can be booked via its website or on 0333 358 3688.
