A corner of The Antiques Store in Grantham.
But they are a resourceful bunch, as the experience of Charlotte Williams shows.
She owns Field Dog Fairs which holds long-running triannual sell-out antiques and vintage markets with up to 100 stalls at Southwell Racecourse in Nottinghamshire.
This “experienced some soggy hiccups since late 2023 with the devastating trail left by Storm Babet,” said Williams. “Faced with no event or a revised event for May 2024 I’ve opted for the revised option. For the sold-out Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26, fair all indoor stalls are located upstairs at the racecourse and outside stalls will be moved trackside. The customer car park and entrance has moved and there will be ample event signage.
“This is temporary for May and by the August event we will be back to normal.”
For almost eight years the busy organiser has also been owner of The Antiques Store, a centre in a converted maltings in Grantham with 20 dealers across three floors.
Williams said: “We strive to have something for everyone with small furniture items, quirky interior pieces, jewellery, pictures and mirrors being consistently good sellers. Being just 20 minutes from Newark, the store is a great trade stop during antiques week at IACF Newark and Arthur Swallow Fairs at Lincoln and we always look forward to welcoming buyers from across the globe.”
IACF Newark runs on Thursday and Friday, April 11-12 at the Newark and Notts Showground. Arthur Swallow Fairs’ next event at the Lincoln Showground is on Wednesday, April 10.
Church venue
Artisan Brocantes launched its first event last November in St Wulfram’s Church, Grantham, with this year’s spring event running here on April 13.
Staying with Grantham, two friends who launched their Artisan Brocantes last year at the parish church of St Wulfram and Grantham House, opposite each other in the historic quarter of Grantham, are holding their spring event this year at the church.
The brocante on Saturday, April 13, is taking place in one of the largest medieval churches in the country - which contains a 16th century chained library with 350-plus rare books. Some 30 stalls selling decorative antiques, textiles, homewares, painted furniture and gardenalia as well as artisan stands will spread out in the church’s lofty interior.
Rutland-based Ruth Domanski and Shauna Donaldson launched the brocantes after meeting at a vintage fair and bonding over their shared love of antiques.
Across the way at Grantham House, Domanski and Donaldson, who are on the lookout for other locations for their events, will run their summer brocante on Saturday, July 13, in the grounds and walled garden of the Grade I-listed building.
