Vintage view: bargain hunting

Kya deLongchamps explores all the fun of the fairs for the best bargain hunting experiences.

Now, I don’t need any excuse to go a wandering, but the idea of antiques spread shoulder deep over several acres outside and under canvas? Well I’d just about push the smoking estate onto the car ferry. Just a short commute across the channel lies a world of antique fairs that with one or two exceptional annual events is largely unimaginable here in Ireland. With the proximity of Europe brought closer by the Channel Tunnel, many of the UK fairs are now plumped up by a large contingent of Continental sellers. The frequency of many fairs has also increased the enthusiasm of amateur collectors and antique retailers from all over the world seeking prize pieces for wealthy clients and stocking their shops.

Here are the top venues worthy of a dedicated trip or a fly-by when you’re over in England in the next few months pretending to do something else. Going on the off-peak days rather than ‘trade day’ can save you as much as 75% on the entry fee, but this puts you a day behind the truly, madly, deeply obsessed bargain hounds. Allow an entire day to get around a larger fair, and don’t ignore the boot-sale division. The briskest trade will be in the early hours, so get to the venue when the gates open — this could mean 7am.