ANTIQUES
FAIRS DATES AND VENUES
2008
Scroll down for details of each fair
To see
the best photographs of each fair
scroll down to the fair of your choice
and click on PHOTOGRAPHS. or
FOR SUMMER 2007 PHOTOGRAPHS:
Photographs
(these taken by Daniel, age 11)
Please be patient, it WILL take a couple of minutes to download,
then click the PLAY button to operate the slide show (Sorry, I don't have time to update photographs in 2008)
Where I visit a fair (marked"visiting only"
below) I visit largely to deliver goods to stallholders and
early buyers, place your order at least one day before the
fair on 01923 220206 (office). On the day of the fair you
can find me on 07976 831953. The mobile phone is only switched
on during a fair so please don't call the mobile number at
any other time.
Scroll down for details of the fairs including
the number of stalls (as counted by me) and a very brief review.
I am sometimes a stallholder, I am sometimes a trade buyer,
I am not a fairs organiser, these reviews are independent,
they are not the Press Releases you read in every antiques
magazine.
2008
JUNE
24 Tuesday - Kempton Park
JULY
29 Tuesday - Kempton Park
AUGUST
7 Thursday - Newark (visiting only)
26 Tuesday - Kempton Park
SEPTEMBER
19 - 21 Friday to Sunday - Shepton Mallet
30 Tuesday - Kempton Park
OCTOBER
9 Thursday - Newark (visiting only)
28 Tuesday - Kempton Park
NOVEMBER
13 - 16 Friday to Sunday - Shepton Mallet
25 Tuesday - Kempton Park
DECEMBER
4 Thursday - Newark (visiting only)
DETAILS AND DIRECTIONS
The following directions
are written from my own experience, telling you what I see
as I drive and giving you what I consider to be the best route.
These are NOT computer-generated directions, which can, at
times, be quite bizarre. If
you have a better suggestion for a route or wish to tell me
about roadworks, diversions etc that I don't yet know about,
email me on raffi@quicktest.co.uk
Where there are directions, the numbers on the left are
mileages, set your trip meter to zero where it reads 00.0.
I have also included the size
of the fair, as counted by me, often quite different from
the size advertised by the organisers.
ALEXANDRA PALACE
PHOTOGRAPHS
These photographs are of the fair under the previous organiser.
Large file, may take a couple of minutes to load, please be
patient,
when it's loaded click the PLAY button
These details last amended: April 2008
Fair: Alexandra Palace Venue: Alexandra Palace, London Location: Alexandra Park, North London (by Muswell
Hill)
The fair was re-launched in April 2008 and we exhibited. We will not be back in 2008, watch this space to see if we will be back in 2009.
SUMMARY
Size: quite respectable though noticeably smaller than past years. Buyers: lack of support from local trade buyers, though I don't know if this was because they didn't know about the fair (publicity was lacking) or because they had better things to do. Moderate support from private buyers later in the day. Logistics / Parking: bad. Conclusion: we shan't be exhibiting here again, at least not in 2008.
DETAIL
For me (as a seller) the actual unloading went well (new system) but apart from that it was the most chaotic fair I have ever experienced: queuing, parking, check-in - a logistical nightmare, a complete shambles. Getting the sellers to park at the bottom of the hill half a mile away was an interesting idea, not over-popular.
Frustration, too, for the early trade buyers. The idea was that everyone started trading at the same time but the sellers went in half an hour early and the trade buyers over half an hour late (one told me 7.50am, the organiser says 7.20am). This left buyers frustrated at spending £10.00 entry then missing the first hour of trading. There was some good news for the buyers - parking was at the top of the hill near the hall. For later buyers it was easier still - no queues, little competition.
The fair was moderately busy between 10.30am and 1.30pm, the rest of the time it was 'peaceful'.
All this is, however, irrelevant if the buyers are able to buy and the sellers take enough money. Some buyers WERE buying and some sellers DID take money - on this basis the fair was not 'bad', though by no stretch of the imagination could it be described as a resounding success.
This is a prime venue, the fair has potential, it depends on whether publicity can be improved and the great many teething problems sorted out (in an attempt to help the organiser I sent a 6-page report listing the problems...it was not well received!).
As for me, I set a 'target' I had to reach for the fair to be worthwhile and I did not reach that target. Although I have attended every fair at Alexandra Palace since 1979, professional traders must make commercial decisions and for me this fair simply is not commercially viable, not even to give it a second chance.
I will follow the progress of the fair keenly, I WOULD like this fair to succeed and I WOULD like to be able to report a dramatic improvement I WOULD like to be back in 2009 - watch this space.
THE NUMBERS GAME
All organisers of large fairs (without exception) play The Numbers Game.
The organiser told me 685 stands were booked; in his booking form for the September 2008 fair he claims over 700.Or if you take the figures from the Antiques Trade Gazette of 10 May, "...the final tally for the number of stands booked at Ally Pally was 648 manned by 500-plus dealers"
At 7.30am I counted 302 exhibitors in the main hall and Palm Court, but I forgot to count the furniture pitches (maybe another 30) and I later discovered there was a 'corridor' of stalls outside the main fair, and I always like to be generous to organisers and round my figures up. There were (on this basis)somewhere between 350 and 400 exhibitors. This is the number of EXHIBITORS not stalls (tables), this is the number of people who would have sent in booking forms to the organiser, this is the number of payments for rent the organiser would have received.
Allowing for the two rows of stalls that had been removed, I estimate that the capacity of the fair was about 700 stalls (tables), in other words, it was just about full.
On the one hand, buyers arriving from mid-morning were pleasantly surprised to see the large number of stalls, very few were empty, the fair WAS very nearly full; on the other hand the early trade buyers were dismayed to see a large number of emptystalls.
There is an explanation (this applies to every large fair, not just Alexandra Palace).
The number of stalls (tables) is higher than the number of exhibitors because many exhibitors hire more than one table, so the number of tables booked (i.e. actually paid for) will be more.
What happens next is that exhibitors spread their stock onto the empty tables (sometimes the organiser 'officially' allocates spare tables, sometimes not) - so that by mid morning the fair IS nearly full. If, therefore, the organiser walks round the fair and counts 15 empty stalls (out of the 700) he is absolutely correct in concluding that 700 less 15 equals 685.
I always count 'exhibitors' on the basis that this is a measure of the support from the trade and the strength of a fair; if you think that I should count 'stalls' (tables) on the basis that if, for instance, 685 tables were covered with stock the number of exhibitors is irrelevant...then so be it.
HISTORY
The
fair ran for about 30 years (Pig & Whistle Fairs ran it
for 25 years). Throughout 2006 the property developer Firoka
Group was negotiating to lease the complex from its owner
the Charities Commission (the main trustee being Haringey
Council who also subsidized the complex). The lease was granted
in May 2007. At the same time the Alexandra Palace management
(pending the Firoka takeover) and the fairs organiser, Pig & Whistle Fairs, were unable to agree a new contract
to run the fair...and so the fair folded. It was noticeable,
from the official Alexandra Palace web site, that there were
virtually no exhibitions (antiques or otherwise) planned for
2008.
Then, two dramatic developments.
In October 2007 the High Court blocked the Frioka sale (transcript
of ruling). There followed a reorganization of the management
at Alexandra Palace (Alexandra Palace Trading Ltd) who were
keen to start running exhibitions again.The fair was re-launched in April 2008 by a new fairs organiser.
Fair: Kempton Venue: Kempton Park Racecourse Times: 6.30am prompt for everyone, packing starts midday
(earlier outside if the weather is bad), most have gone by
1pm. (Note: we are gone before midday). Location: Sundbury, Surrey by J1 of M3, less
than 10mns from J12 of M25. Size: About 500 exhibitors made up as follows: main hall 160;
other halls 50; outside varies from 200 (e.g. in bad
weather) to 350 (in the summer). The organiser says the fair is far larger than this - that is because organiser's always count 'tables' and I always count 'exhibitors' so we are both correct.
A true trade fair, there really is no trading before 6.30am when the buyers come in. The timing is such that buyers arrive just before the London rush, leave just after the morning rush, and are back in their offices and shops by lunchtime; stallholders pack up at lunchtime; entrance is free!
Directions
to Kempton from M25
M25 J12 onto M3 / Sundbury
M3
J1 / Sundbury
At
the traffic lights at the end of the sliproad be in the middle
lane, careful, difficult roundabout, stay in the lane marked
A308 KGSTON
You will pass under the motorway,
then take the exit signed Hampton Court Palace
and Kempton Racecourse.
Now
look at your mileometer, entrance is on left after 0.3mile,
(it appears very suddenly, your cue is: keep looking ahead
to your left and you will see the struts that hold up the
Grandstand).
Directions from Kempton to Sandown Park
The Kempton fair often clashes with the Sandown
fair, Kempton starts at 6.30am, Sandown starts at 1pm, the
two are very close, here are directions, 15mns in light traffic,
30mns in heavy traffic.
0.0Turn left out of the main gate (Grandstand entrance) [you are on the A308 towards Hampton]
5.2at big junction (a squiggle followed by roundabout)turn right A307 Esher, Sandown Park
5.9entrance on right
If you have a better suggestion for a route
or wish to tell me about roadworks, diversions etc that I
don't yet know about, email me on raffi@quicktest.co.uk
CLOCK
& WATCH FAIR (Was 'Brunel')
Organiser's web site: [Details]
Fair: Brunel Venue: Brunel University - NOTE, THIS FAIR HAS MOVED
TO THE NEARBY UXBRIDGE COLLEGE, Details Location: [see details] Size: Clock and Watch Fair by Horological Fairs,
132 exhibitors on 153 tables (counted June 2003) - we exhibit
here on a very occasional basis
2008 DATES (Sundays):
June 15
September 28
December 7
M40 Eastbound towards London.
First exit after the motorway has run out and has become
A40
At roundabout at end of sliproad take 3rd Exit signposted
Uxbridge
[click on DETAILS above for directions and map to new venue]
An alternative route is
the local cut-through from Ruislip, Pinner and Harrow via
Ickenham to the M40, like this:
Traveling south you pass through the centre of Ickenham
on Ickenham Road / B466.
The landmark at which to set your trip meter to zero is
the junction of Swakeleys Road (you would turn right here
for M40) with the 'funny hut' opposite on the left (looks
like a mini-bandstand, it's actually a pump).
0.00 DO NOT turn right here but continue ahead. Ickenham
Road changes name to Long Lane then B466 changes number
to A437 - all same road.
2.40 you run out of road, turn right onto Uxbridge Road
/ A4020 towards Uxbridge
[click on DETAILS above for directions and map to new venue]
Here is a useful link, it gives real-time travel information
including the messages on the motorway message boards at
this very moment. Click on BIRMINGHAM, click on TRAFFIC
(or you could choose Rail, Car Parks or Bus & Metro):
http://www.help2travel.co.uk Unfortunately, this site only covers the West Midlands
area of England, it would be useful if it covered all of
the U.K.
I visit this fair
only, we no longer exhibit, orders delivered, binoculars
bought, contacts sought, telephone the office before the
fair on 01923 220206 or telephone me directly on the day:
mobile number is 07976 831953.
These details last amended:
October 2007
Fair: Birmingham Venue: St Martin's Market, B5 5BN Times: Visiting 7.30am to about 10am Location: Edgbaston Street, St Martins Size: 120 tables (+ about a dozen selling new
silver).
BY CAR: Program
your Sat-Nav to take you to B5 5BN or follow these written-by-a-human
directions:
M1 - M6
M6 Junction 6 - A38M towards central Birmingham
As you go down the sliproad get into the second lane
and stay there
Keep your eye on the overhead gantries, exit after you have
seen 'End of Motorway' sign and get into far left lane,
to the red doors of the fire station to the Give Way lines.
At the Give Way lines by
the red doors of the fire station set your trip meter to
zero
Turn left, stay in left
lane, then:
0.6 Moor Street car park (market straight ahead,
not far to walk)
0.7 follow left at lights then get into RIGHT
lane
0.85 fork right at lights
0.9 Moat Lane car park (easiest for visitors)
0.95 fork left at light, market on right (stallholders
unload and move vehicle)
ON FOOT: the market entrances
are opposite Debenhams and Borders
If you have a better suggestion for a route or wish to tell
me about roadworks, diversions etc that I don't yet know
about, email me on raffi@quicktest.co.uk
When you email please tell me your first name and the place
(nearest town) you start your journey.
Fair: Newark Venue: Newark & Notts. Showground Times:Trade
from 9am on the Thursday (note new time for 2008) , £20.00
entrance fee includes entry on the Friday. Location:
Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. Size: (as counted by me in December 2007) 535
booked tables*, 75 pitches in the Sir John Eastwood building,
200 tented units, 20 furniture marquees and 120 outside pitches
= total size 950.
* there are fewer 'exhibitors'
because many hire more than one table...and more actual tables
because stallholders spread their stock onto empty tables.
From A1(M) Northbound from London
The landmark I use is the
Hatfield Tunnel at Junction 3, because it is difficult to
miss, a tunnel 0.7 mile long that takes you underneath
he town of Hatfield, just North of London / M25.
As you enter the tunnel
set your trip meter to zero.
108.0 exit, signposted NEWARK / A46 (Note this is the second
exit to Newark)
108.7 second exit A17 towards Lincoln
108.8 turn left (careful if dark very sudden turning)
Entrance on left
If you have a better suggestion
for a route or wish to tell me about roadworks, diversions
etc that I don't yet know about, email me on raffi@quicktest.co.uk
Could anyone give me a similar landmark / mileage from Edinburgh
or Newcastle?
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE:
John from Chesham writes: if you live West of the
M1 and North of Hemel, go M1 instead.
Route is M1 J22 onto A46 and it's A46 all the
way to the showground, distance 120 miles (2.5 hours fast)
I visit this fair
only, we no longer exhibit, orders delivered, binoculars
bought, contacts sought, telephone the office before the
fair on 01923 220206 or telephone me directly on the day:
mobile number is 07976 831953.
These details last amended:
April 2007
Fair: Ardingly Venue: South of England Showground, West Sussex Location: B2028 by the village of Ardingly, close
to the Brighton end of the M23 Times: I'm there on the Tuesday from 10am to 1pm. Size: I counted 670 exhibitors. I may have missed some,
I may have counted some twice, we can certainly say: more
than 650 and less than 700.
MOTORWAYS:
M25 Junction 8 onto M23 towards Gatwick
M23 Junction 10
SUMMARY: from J10
of M23 follow signs to Wakehurst Place and S. of Eng. Showground
(A264 towards E Grinstead then B2029 towards Ardingly),
the showground is next to Wakehurst Place.
DETAIL:
0.00
At roundabout at J10 of M23 follow A264 E GRINSTEAD
- also signed WAKEHURST PLACE 0.6 Ahead
at roundabout (still A264 towards E Grinstead) - also
signed WAKEHURST PLACE 2.1 3rd exit
at roundabout = B2028 ARDINGLY - signed WAKEHURST
PLACE and S OF E SHOWGROUND 7.5 (You will
pass Wakehurst Place on right)
8.2 Buyers' entrance
on right
8.7 Sellers' entrance
on right
NOTE: if you approach
from the other direction, along the B2028 from Crawley,
the sellers' entrance will be on your left shortly after
leaving the village of Ardingly and the buyers' entrance
after another 0.5 mile
If you have a better suggestion
for a route or wish to tell me about roadworks, diversions
etc that I don't yet know about, email me on raffi@quicktest.co.uk
When you email please tell me your first name and the place
(nearest town) you start your journey.
Fair: Shepton
Venue: Bath & West Showground
Times: Friday: I visit from 10am to 1pm (binoculars
wanted), we set up stall at 11.30am (so don't call too early)
Bob runs the stall on Saturday and Sunday (no secondhand optics):
Saturday 8.30am-5.30pm; Sunday 10am-4pm.
Location: on A371 in Somerset between Shepton Mallet
and Castle Carey. Nearest town on A303 is Wincanton.
Size: about 250 exhibitors M25 Junction 12 onto M3 towards Southampton
M3 Junction 8 onto A303
(a long exit slip)
00.0
At the end of this long sliproad, at the END OF MOTORWAY
sign (and not before) set your trip meter to zero
58.7
Exit. Signs read WINCANTON A371 and Royal Bath
& West Showground and SHEPTON MALLET [etc] A371
At the roundabout at the
end of the exit sliproad, 1st exit (or if you want to pop
into the supermarket, 3rd exit)
then ahead at roundabout (no choice)
then right (= 2nd exit) at roundabout.
Now it's easy, just stay on this road, the A371
70.3
Entrance on left (known as Yellow Gate)
70.6 Main entrance on left - NOT IN USE!
(if you get to this gate, turn round and go back).
If you have a better suggestion
for a route or wish to tell me about roadworks, diversions
etc that I don't yet know about, email me on raffi@quicktest.co.uk
I visit this fair
only, we no longer exhibit, orders delivered, binoculars
bought, contacts sought, telephone the office before the
fair on 01923 220206 or telephone me directly on the day:
mobile number is 07976 831953.
These details last amended: November 2004
Fair: Sandown
Venue: Sandown Park Exhibition Centre at Sandown Park Racecourse
Times: Trade
Preview 11am, public from midday, ends 5pm
- note, these are new times as from October 2005.
Location: Esher, Surrey
Size: (October) 370 tables
The racecourse and Exhibition
Centre is well signposted from Junction 10 of M25, but just
for the record, here is the stretch from the M25:
0.0 M25
Junction 10: at traffic lights at end of sliproad and 1st
exit A3 LONDON
4.1 at
the roundabout, left lane and first exit A244 ESHER
5.9 at
the traffic lights turn right A307 LONDON
(the No Entry
sign is just to stop you turning right onto the wrong side
of the road, you can turn right, please believe me)
6.2 entrance
on left
If you have a better suggestion
for a route or wish to tell me about roadworks, diversions
etc that I don't yet know about, email me on raffi@quicktest.co.uk
It
is important before traveling any distance to check with the
fair organiser to confirm dates and times, QUICKTEST
cannot accept liability for any errors and/or omissions or
any loss, damage or costs incurred by anyone acting on
the information in this web site.
