Antiques and Art Fairs
Kerry Bailey highlights a selection of arts and antiques fairs taking place throughout the UK that will fulfill the needs of groups in search of a bargain or two.
Whether your members have a penchant for vintage lamps, oriental textiles or delicate porcelain, you are sure to find something that catches your eye at one of the many arts and antiques fairs that take place throughout the UK every year.
Larger affairs
Many companies that organise arts and antiques fairs host several events around the country, meaning your group will not have to travel too far from home to find a suitable event.
The largest organiser of antiques fairs in the UK is DMG Antiques Fairs, which hosts over 20 events every year at four different locations. The most popular of these is the Newark International Antiques & Collectors Fair, which takes place at the Newark and Nottinghamshire Showground in Nottinghamshire and, with over 4,000 stalls, is believed to be the largest of its kind in Europe. Other events take place in Ardingly in West Sussex, Detling in Kent and Shepton Mallet in Somerset. Pre-booked groups receive discounted admission.
Held at some of the UK’s finest stately homes, Galloway Antiques Fairs hosts 18 events throughout the year for your group to choose from. These include three one-day events in November held at Duncombe Park in North Yorkshire, Scone Palace in Perth and Ickworth House in Suffolk. Each fair places emphasis on art and antiquities from 1910 to 1950 with items available to buy ranging from furniture and clocks to vintage jewellery. Groups of 20 or more receive discounted admission.
Organising 16 fairs at four venues in the south west, meanwhile, is Devon County Antiques Fairs. These range from two-day events held at the Westpoint Exhibition Centre in Exeter offering up to 500 indoor stands to one-day events at the Matford Centre, also in Exeter, which boast both indoor and outdoor stands. Groups can negotiate group discounts when pre-booked.
With over 20 years experience in staging antiques fairs is Robert Bailey Fairs, which organises 11 three-day events throughout the year. The most popular of these take place at Hatfield House in Hertfordshire in November, Tatton Park – the National Trust property in Cheshire – in January and Seaford College in West Sussex in June. Around 45 exhibitors attend each event and groups can peruse a range of glass, lamps, clocks, mirrors, rugs, jewellery and porcelain that pre-date 1930 whilst listening to live jazz music. Discounts are available when pre-booked.
Similar in size, Penman Fairs hosts three arts and seven antiques fairs annually. The arts fairs tend to attract between 30 and 40 sellers of quality paintings, sculptures and ceramics from the past 75 years whilst the antiques events draw around 60 dealers from around the UK who mainly specialise in items that pre-date 1900. Around 4,500 visitors attend the two-day Petersfield Antiques Fair in Hampshire whilst, at the two day Chelsea Antiques Fair, your members can enjoy lectures from expert antiques dealers. Groups must pre-book to negotiate discounts.
On a slightly smaller scale, Lomax Antiques Fairs organises four annual events to which pre-booked groups receive discounted admission. The North Norfolk Fine Art and Antiques Fair takes place over three days in April in the town of Burnham whilst the three-day Southwold Fine Art and Antiques Fair is held in Suffolk in August. Two Langley Park Spring Antiques Fairs take place over three days in May and October, meanwhile, at the 18th century Langley Hall in Norfolk.
Individual attention
Events that are held at just one venue are also popular with groups.
Clarion Events hosts the three-day Antiques for Everyone fair three times a year in April, July and November at the NEC in Birmingham. More than 400 exhibitors attend the events showcasing a range of antique furniture, pottery, clocks and vintage toys in both period and modern room settings. The Summer Fair, meanwhile, takes place at Olympia in London over 11 days in June whilst The Winter Fine Art and Antiques Fair, also at Olympia, is a seven day event in November. Another annual fair organised by Clarion is The National Fine Art and Antiques Fair, which is staged at the NEC in Birmingham over five days in January. All antiques for sale at the event pre-date 1940 with an exception for contemporary art. Pre-booked groups receive discounts to all Clarion events.
Taking place in January, April and October is The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Fair. Held in The Marquee in Battersea, London, over five days, the events aim to provide inspiration for using antiques to enhance the interior of a modern home. Over 80 exhibitors attend the Fairs showcasing items such as antique furniture. Pre-booked groups can negotiate discounted rates of admission.
LAPADA, (the Association of Art and Antique Dealers), meanwhile, hosts two fairs every year. The first, LAPADA at the Royal Academy, is held annually at The Royal Academy in Mayfair, London, over four days in May. Antiquities spanning five centuries are offered for sale by over 70 LAPADA members at the event including jewellery and ceramics. Taking place annually over three days in October, meanwhile, is the LAPADA Autumn Antiques and Fine Art Fair at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire. Pre-booked groups are offered discounts on a sliding scale.
Organised annually by the British Antiques Dealers’ Association (BADA) is The British Antiques Dealers’ Association Antiques and Fine Arts Fair, which is held over seven days at The Duke of York Headquarters building in Chelsea in March. In addition to being able to enjoy the wide variety of silverware and textiles, groups can also attend one of the many lectures that take place throughout the event by interior designers and antique experts. Pre-booked groups receive discounts on entry.
Further north, the Harrogate Antiques and Fine Art Fair is held at the Harrogate International Centre in Yorkshire every year in May. The five-day event sees around 55 dealers from the north of England congregate under one roof. Pre-booked groups can negotiate discounted admission.
Bath-based antiques dealer Piccadilly Antiques organises the Bath Decorative and Antiques Fair annually over four days in March in conjunction with the Bath and Bradford on Avon Antique Dealers Association. Around 40 exhibitors attend the Fair, which is held in The Pavillion in Bath, and visitors can peruse furniture, textiles and pottery. Groups should pre-book.