When did the space open and how did you choose the location?
We had run The Alleyways Antiques Centre for about 10 years and had been looking for a higher-end antiques business location.
In the end we found it about 10 minutes away from The Alleyways (still open seven days a week in Dorset).
There was about 15 months of refurbishment work – we had to go back to the stonework – but we opened at last on April 29 last year.
Who stands in the centre?
We have around 22 dealers and all our own things. Sam looks after all the smalls (such as kitchenalia) and I look after the furniture.
Who visits?
We’re open six days a week and have a regular base of clientele including members of the trade and public. We ship all over Europe and we’ve delivered to New York and Australia too. There are also visitors who we’ve worked with at Alleyways in the past and homeowners who were originally clients too.
One thing that makes you proud of the shop?
People tell us it’s lovely to see a proper showroom where objects aren’t all just crammed in. It’s all laid out in settings as though they were in a home.
Tell me about your ‘wanted’ book…
Customers who are after a particular object can write down what they want and if one of us comes across it we can send them a new photo. If they like it, we can then supply them. Recently we’ve been able to help someone on the look-out for 12 matching chairs.
What’s selling well at the moment?
Vintage is still strong but there is definitely a rising market for traditional antiques at the moment.
How does the area impact the business?
Bridport used to be quite a centre for antiques and there’s a good ambience around it still. There are about 26 coffee shops and we are on the main street in a prominent area. There are two markets per week and a vintage market the last weekend of the month. The town attracts people year round.
Bridport Antiques, The Court, West Street, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 3QU
