Winchester New Years Day

Winchester Leisure Centre, New Years Day. - my favourite fair of the year.

I'm usually just by the entrance. Happy to give forum members best possible discount.

ppcollectables wrote:I'm usually just by the entrance. Happy to give forum members best possible discount.

Cheers. Hope to see you there if I can escape from the family.

is it near the Station ??

brin mcardle wrote:is it near the Station ??

Near enough. It should be sign posted, but basically, from the station, walk straight down City Road, which becomes N Walls at the first set of traffic lights, keep going down hill and turn left into Hyde Abbey Road at the second set of traffic lights. Bear right and you'll come to River Park Leisure Centre.

thanks Naomi

oh, may go to this one for a change - if i'm not hungover from the night before

Leave me some bargains.

just looked on internet antiques fairs websites and can't find any mention of the Winchester fair on NY day - is it def on this year?

bistoboy wrote:just looked on internet antiques fairs websites and can't find any mention of the Winchester fair on NY day - is it def on this year?

http://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique_fair/winchester_antiques_fair/af281

Cool

Been going for quite a while, I've had a stand for about 7 years. Enough stalls to interest most people. I specialise in Poole pottery and also Beswick farm animals as my 'plan B'. I think official opening time is 9.30a.m. until 4.00p.m.

went to Winchester today - and OMG it was busy. Too busy for me, felt very claustrophobic. Lots of 'older' people who tend to shuffle along the line of stalls, literally hugging the table edges, clinging on for dear life just like a game of musical chairs and they're waiting for the music to stop. Made it very difficult to see much of what was on offer - think i'll stick to fairs like those at racecourses where there tends to be more room to move freely. It was a shame, as from what i did see, there was a good variety of stalls with some quality (but also, some of the same old-same old that i've seen them selling at other local fairs like Chichester and Midhurst.

Yes it did get very busy. I got there at 9am and left at noon when the crush was at it's greatest. Maybe there was just one person in an electric chair, but I seemed to trip over them every time I turned round.
I heard the organiser going round several stallholders booking them for Midhurst, but some only do Winchester.
At least the rain held off.

I did chat to you ppcollectables, but was so caught up in the pots I forgot to mention I was off the forum. Next time.

It is usually busy on Jan 1st but I guess the all the recent rain meant that going for a walk or doing other outdoor type things was not possible so probably busier than usual up until 1.00ish when numbers dropped considerably. I don't do Midhurst but do Chichester and Fontwell park - Goodwood clashes with Winchester as both are on the bank holiday mondays. Goodwood is ok but it is very exposed so not so good if the weather is iffy.

Winchester leisure centre on New Years Day. Hope to see some of you there, I should be near door as usual.

Will be at Winchester on New Years Day as usual, bringing lots of new pieces. Hope to say hello to some forum members, should be near the door.
Naomi, if you make it I have something for you ( don't get too excited as its not worth a special journey ).

Will be there, PP :) Bringing a friend so it'll probably be in the afternoon as they have to walk the dog first!

Winchester fair again on New Years Day, its usually busy but will anyone be spending their money? Hope any members down that way will find time to visit, I'm along the front wall in my usual place. A mix of Poole and other ceramics plus other 'stuff'.

This will be the first year since about 2005 that I haven't gone to bed at 10.30 on NYE ( so I can get to sleep before the fireworks start ) and got up around 5.30 on NYD to do the Winchester Fair. It was always a good one as people would spend their 'xmas money' on good pieces, though like many fairs it has dropped off as more people are interested in looking rather than buying. I had planned instead to have a sort of 'open house weekend' and invite both collectors/buyers as well as an excuse to see friends,which has worked well in the past but even that isn't on at the moment. For all the hassle of the early start and arriving and leaving in the dark I used to enjoy it. Oh well maybe in 2022.
But if anyone does want to checkout our large collection of Inuit carvings and other things we will be at home for the next few weeks.