Aerial view of Paxton House where a new fair will be held in the grounds.
Image: Ollie Cowgill at Sky Vantage Productions.
The organiser, Glam Racket Antiques Event, is planning at least two events this year with the first ones announced for June 14-16 and August 16-18.
Following the closure of B2B Events’ Edinburgh Antiques Fair in 2021, there has been a gap for a large-scale antiques market in the south of Scotland.
One of Glam Racket’s founders, Seppe Anthony, has noticed a lot of demand and that people are “crying out for something” in the area. Paxton House has also been very open to hosting and easy to work with, he says, opening the grounds up for at least 70 dealers to sell everything from a £5 brooch to a £10,000 table. Many established dealers have already signed up and there are just a few slots left.
The organising team - Malcolm Eglin, Guiseppe Anthony, Paul Rordes, Dennis Davison and Paul Yousef.
High hopes
Those already booked to stand are in high spirits. Liz Buhajiar from Granny’s Attic Antiques has stood at fairs around the country but says the moment that Anthony got in touch about this event she signed up for both weekends.
She says: “It’s needed in the north. All of us have always had to travel to Newark, Peterborough - this is going to be big, it’s going to be good, and he’ll have dealers from all over.”
Jim Sinclair from Sinclair’s Antiques in Fife has signed up for one of the biggest pitches to show furniture. He shares similar sentiments: “The closest one you’ve got is Newark which is a six-hour drive. To have it up here, there’s a lot of local interest… If you build it, they will come.”
Strong scene
Not far from Berwick-upon-Tweed, the town of Kelso also has a strong antiques scene.
The local Kelso Antiques Fleamarket has been running for 15 years under the organisation of Trevor Black and continues to sell out the space seven times a year. With around 70 stalls, dealers come from the north of England and across Scotland to stand.
One of the newer ventures in the town is C&C Antiques & Curiosities run by Clive Rowland. Opened on November 6, it specialises in “man cave stuff” including kitchenalia, retro and small pieces of furniture. Rowland had even won the best-dressed window competition in Kelso for the start of the salmon fishing season on February 1 completely accidentally, not even realising there was a competition.
His window display now contains the ribbon and trophy alongside his other wares.
With antiques shops from Eyemouth to Hawick, Kelso to Peebles and the new fair at Paxton House, the Scottish Borders are increasing their influence within the trade and will hopefully become a successful fair location for the north.
