The organiser of the event is Kent dealer Ingrid Nilson, who three years ago set up as an independent organiser to stage the LAPADA Cheltenham Fair.
A quite intimate affair – the country house venue limits the number of exhibitors – the organiser is not actually referring to it as an antiques fair and calls the February 29 to March 2 fixture Luxury Antiques Weekend Linden Hall.
Ingrid Nilson, who operates as The Antiques Dealers Fair Limited, says: ”My preliminary discussions sounding out fellow dealers have been very encouraging. Exhibitors from the quality fairs circuit agree that there is room for a smart fair in the North East, where many have a good client base.”
The local trade have also been supportive and Newcastle dealer Graham Smith, a LAPADA director, has worked closely with Mrs Nilson to set up the fair. All exhibitors will be members of LAPADA or BADA.
Among those already confirmed for the weekend are Graham Smith, Wakelin & Linfield, Stablegate Antiques, Shapiro & Co., and John Whitelaw.
Linden Hall, now a Macdonald Hotel with its own golf course, is a Georgian mansion in its own grounds, close to the A1 and just 25 minutes drive from Newcastle airport.
North East to host first quality fair
The increasingly prosperous North East of England will receive its first high-end antiques fair next February when 27 LAPADA or BADA dealers descend upon Linden Hall, near Morpeth in Northumberland.
