Their newly named Contrad Expo (formerly called the Devon Collectors Festival) due to be held at Westpoint on August 16-17, which was already postponed from an April and an August date, will now not be taking place.
And DCAF’s big fair at the Royal Cornwall Showground on August 30-31, which has been run at this venue for the past four years with 250 stands-plus, has also been cancelled but the organisers are willing to hear of alternative venue suggestions from ATG readers.
Val Dennis, managing director of Devon County Antiques Fairs, said of Contrad Expo: “Despite all our best efforts to create a new and exciting trading opportunity with extensive marketing over the past eight months, we still have not received enough bookings to make Contrad Expo viable this year. We have decided to postpone this until next year, when times may be more favourable for the launch.”
And she added: “We have also been forced to cancel the Royal Cornwall Showground fair and are replacing this with an extra date at the Matford Centre in Exeter on August 30.
“The RC Showground management have double-booked our event with a giant car boot sale on August 30, which is now being held every week at the RC Showground, from noon to 9pm. Despite the fact that we have held fairs at the Royal Cornwall Showground for the past four years, the showground management saw no clash of interests in these two events taking place and offered no solutions to the security, logistical problems and ensuing chaos.
“We believe this Cornwall fair was very popular with both exhibitors and visitors, and suggestions for a suitable alternative venue in Cornwall for 2009 would be most welcome.”
Contact Val Dennis on 01363 82312 or email dcaf@antiques-fairs.com
By Joan Porter
