FAVOURITE FAIRS

I tend to hunt at the same fairs year after year,normally the bigger fairs and within a couple of hours drive from my home but now I know most of the dealers and their stock it's time to look further afield so here's a thread where you can list the good fairs in your area so we can all try something new.

here's my list

Peterborough festival of antiques
Wetherby Racecourse
Newark Showground
Lincolnshire Showground

Spelling Dan!!

The fairs come and go, so it's difficult, Unmissable events of a few years back,
are now not worth the petrol to get there. (eg. Big Brum).

It's all down to luck at the end of the day anyway, you can instantly write-off a
fair if you don't find anything.
I like Edinburgh, Newark runway, (next monday) was good when I went.
Honestly prefer the boots now, still lots to buy out there.

My favourites and dislikes are the same fairs , just depends how I got on at the time , Malvern , Shepton , Newark, Lincoln are usually pretty good , West Point &Builth Wells has never been any good for me and Iv'e given them a miss now ( not worth the effort , time & money) I'm same as Dan ,after a while you get to know the same old stuff on the stalls , year after year , I can't understand it TBH , why trawl the same crap around with you paying the fees etc , "JEEZ let it go or bin it , it isn't selling " car boots in cornwall are pretty good , Hayle , Rosudgeon etc .

Most of the fairs I used to go to have gone down hill in recent years due to change in ownership and increase in fees so I rarely bother now. At least with (most) charity shops you can guarantee the stuff is removed in a few weeks of it doesn't sell.

I've said this before, but I object to paying a premium price
for "early trade entry" when the fair has already been raked
over by the other stall-holders on the "set-up day"

This would include :
Both Stafford fairs.
Harrogate
Builth Wells
All Jaguar fairs, Derby/Wetherby/Kedleston
Peterborough.
Great Northern.
Edinburgh up to a point, but people still unwrap on the Sat.

They keep you waiting outside, but just maybe.....:
Newark
Lincoln
Malvern

At least you have fighting chance at:
All Dualco fairs (Free entry with the stallholders)
Newark runway.
The little indoor Lincoln (Free entry with the stallholders)
And often small local fairs with less knowledge around!

Lots depend on how far you want to travel to grab a bargain. The main fairs have the same dealers with the same stock. They have a route and depending on what fair they are at the stock has been shown many times before you see it. That is a particular problem with Lincoln and Newark. But I see many of the same items from the same people no matter what fair I appear to arrive at.

Denby I agree with your view about premium entry prices. I always see people running around while I am setting up and they never pay to get in. They come with other dealers. It is a huge waste of money paying for early entry, especially when many stall holders take an age to unpack.

As for fairs worth a trip. Ardingly can be good (near Gatwick), as others have mentioned Peterborough is excellent. Portabello market on Saturdays is not at all bad if you arrive early.

Number one though for me is Kempton http://www.sunburyantiques.com/ the only fair I attend that buyers run when the gets open at 6.30 am. Free entry, trading before it opens is banned with the threat of expulsion for anyone found doing it and as it is mainly dealers selling to dealers the prices can be good. Works for me.

Yes MD, I should have mentioned Kempton, haven't been for a couple
of years now, a bit far in 1 day, but that's the way to do a trade fair.

Ally Pally was ok (pig and whistle era) but haven't been down there since
the various changes in organisers.

Lots have changed at Ally Pally. Its now an ICAF fair so it gets the dealers and for once isn't 90% Jewellery or silver. Still would not pay for early entry but it is one of the few fairs I do that buyers buy because they like something rather than who made it.

Yes, did it for many years. Do early buyers still go in with the stall-holders, like
in the old days?

Not that I remember although very often stall holders bring friends with them at set up who run round trying to buy. Think trade can come in at 8am for a price and stall holders 6.30? Although these days many set up on Saturday afternoon and leave it over night (stall holder parking can be a chore on Sunday). Even get some buyers hanging around on Saturday. It is a very good fair for top end pottery, studio right down to Martin brothers. A friend of mine sold a Martin brothers fish bowl for £4500 last time it was on and I amongst other things sold something one of this forums members seemed very happy to find (not saying what though lol).

Hmmm, there we go again, setting up the day before the fair, raked over,
nothing to buy, will the organisers never learn?

I am available to help set up ;)

Naiomi - You could get a stall - perhaps shift some stock? 13th September 2015

Mordeep.... owl?

Sounds like hard work

Yes the owl was me. Didn't have it long enough to get to enjoy it but glad it found a good home.

As for the set up the day before and raking over. I can buy great things early or 10 min before a fair closes. Some stall holders are very slow putting out. Luck / knowledge are the best way to get a good thing not when you arrive. That's why when I visit I never pay premium early entry. In fact the only buyers I know pay the big bucks to go in are silver / gold dealers who have the value to absorb huge entry prices. The rest in with a friend setting up or wait.

22 Crawford St. wrote:Naiomi - You could get a stall - perhaps shift some stock? 13th September 2015

Mordeep.... owl?

Not sure what you sell Naiomi? If it is studio pottery then I can only think of one dedicated dealer who attends (although others do have a bit mixed through). Lots of vintage, 60/70's Italian and fat lava type things though if that's your style. Mountains of other ceramics, silver, glass and a small amount of mid century furniture. A good large fair these days. A stall will set you back just over £100 and is bigger than advertised on the website about 9 by 6

I'm not sure Naomi is a seller

Me? Sell? Oooh, my pretties....

exactly!

What happens when hubby finds Naomi's hidden basement stash. The one the size of the warehouse scene at the end of Raiders if the Lost Arc.

He'll get lost in the maze of boxes and never return. He he

LOL

I'm doing Peterborough for the first time in October, sharing a double stall with a friend. I'll therefore have a spare pass - let me know if any one is interested nearer the time ( you'll have to buy something off me on the thursday ! ). Also I'll be bringing all the pieces that haven't seen the light of day for ages - mainly due to size rather than because they're not up to much, so there will be at least one stall that whose stuff you may not have seen previously.

Cool PP. I will be doing that fair myself, I will be in the large shiny building. It's very good for ceramics to both buy and sell.

I am down for the Main Arena, not sure how large or how shiny it is.