Member Article

Antiques show making its West Midlands debut

An established antiques collectors and vintage fair is heading to the West Midlands for the first time next month.

Field Dog Fairs, which has held events in Lincolnshire, the East Midlands, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire over the last 22 years, is making its debut at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, August 2 and Sunday, August 3.

Antiques, collectables, vintage items, retro jewellery, glassware, ceramics and furniture will be on sale in Freeman Hall 3, 4 and 5 between 9.30am and 4pm.

There will be up to 200 stalls selling thousands of items for collectors and vintage fans alike.

Charlotte Milford, marketing director at Field Dog Fairs, said she hoped this would be the start of a long-term relationship with the Ricoh Arena.

“We want to make our mark in the West Midlands,” she said. “We are an established organisation and hold 27 events a year over one, two or three days and we are delighted the Ricoh Arena is one of our new venues this year.

“The business was established in 1992 and we bought it in 2012. We are constantly striving to reach a wide ranging audience for our events including the increasingly popular areas of vintage and retro.

“There is something for everyone at our events, with items to suit most tastes and budgets. We attract a very broad range of people from those looking for some great furniture pieces for their home to those looking for a new piece of jewellery and everyone in-between and it is a lovely chance to wander round to see what is available.

“We are also keen to promote the ‘green’ element of Antiques Fairs because of the ethos of buying an item which has been recycled and may have an amazing story behind it rather than something brand new.

“As well as the halls bustling with activity, catering will be provided in Bar 87 and parking will be available at £1.

“We are delighted with the range and quality of stallholders who are coming to the Ricoh Arena and we are confident the event will be a success.

“We want to build on this year and we are looking for longevity with the Ricoh Arena to add new elements each year because we have the scope to do that since there is so much room and flexibility at the venue.”

Chris Owen, senior event manager at the Ricoh Arena, said there promised to be plenty of interesting items on sale.

“We are pleased the Ricoh Arena is among five new venues for Field Dog Fairs in 2014 as well as being their first event in the West Midlands,” he said.

“Antiques and vintage items are enjoying a resurgence in popularity which I’m sure will be reflected in the number of visitors who attend over the two days.”

The Antiques Weekend is open 9.30am–4pm both days (with last entry at 3pm). Admission is £4 for adults, £3 for concessions, accompanied under-16s are free and early bird entry (from 8.30am) is £5 and it is pay on the day.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Matt Joyce .