Vote for Alfies!

To celebrate National Antiques Week this year (14th-21st November) BBC Homes & Antiques and Antiques News & Fairs have teamed up to discover Britain's best antique shops.





The public have been invited to vote for their favourite antique and vintage shopping destinations in five different categories:


1. Best Antique Shop

2. Best Antique Centre

3. Best Specialist Dealer

4. Best Mid-Century/Vintage Shop

5. Best Auction House


Alfies needs your help! Please take a few minutes to vote for us to win Britains Best Antique Centre. You can also vote for individual shops at Alfies for the other categories.


By nominating you can also win some amazing prizes for yourself! 10 fantastic prizes are up for grabs including an overnight stay in The Royal Crescent Hotel, hundreds of pounds worth of LAPADA and BADA vouchers, Miller's Antique Guides and more! Click here for details.


The winner of each category will be annouced at the Bath Decorative Antiques Fair on the 12th March 2012 by Kirsty Allsop.


Voting ends onthe 30th November so please take a couple of minutes and vote for Alfies Antique Market!

CLICK HERE TO VOTE FOR ALFIES

Vintage shopping at Alfies.

London Fashion Week starts tomorrow and it's promised to be a week filled with spectacular shows, fun parties and fine exhibitions. But for those of you who don't have time to make it to Somerset House or simply prefer vintage fashion over new designer brands, we advise you to make your way to Alfies for some of the best vintage shops that London has to offer.

With exquisite items from the 30s, 40s, 50s and early 60s The Girl Can't Help It offers you the ultimate vintage shopping experience. All unique, quirky, superbly made pieces are sourced mainly in the USA by the trained eye of owners Sparkle Moore and Jasja Boelhouwer. Unit G014-022, F016. http://www.thegirlcanthelpit.com/

With a shop just across the road on Church Street Deborah Woolf Vintage has expanded into Alfies to make more space for her beautiful collection. From antique folk costume to avantgarde clothing and fabulous jewellery of the 60s and 70s and vintage clothing by Biba, Givenchy, Jean Muir and Cardin. Third floor, Church Street. http://www.deborahwoolf.com/.

June Victor has been happily settled at Alfies for many years. She sells a wide range of stunning textiles from the 18th century up until the 1940s, encompassing costume, lace, ribbons and table and bed linen. June also has a stand at Vintage Modes in Grays, Alfies sister market. Unit S040, http://www.regallinen.com/.

A visit to Gwyneth Trefor-Jones's shop Persiflage is always a treat. Stock is ever-changing so you'll never know what you'll find. One thing's for certain, though - it'll be a bargain. Unit S006-008.

Tin Tin Collectables offers one of the fines selections of vintage clothing and accessories in the world. Period costume such as handbags, dresses, shoes, hats, gloves, costume jewellery, undergarments & lingerie. From the Victorian Era to the 1970s. Unit G038-042, http://www.tintincollectables.net/.

For opening times and more information visit our website: http://www.alfiesantiques.com/.

Meet the Dealers...

Here at Alfies, it's nice to see the wonderful mix of antiques and collectables the dealers have on offer, along with a price range to suit most people. There really is something for everyone. A perfect destination for gifts, early Christmas shoppers or just a treat for yourself, why not. I had a look around the market and decided to highlight the newcomers.

Phil Startup has been based at Alfies for just over two months...

He sells a wide range of delightful collectables such as books, TV related toys, stamps, decorative glass, camera's, smoking pipes, records, postcards, kitchenalia, sports memorabilia and a whole lot more, his price range starts from 50p - £250.

The oldest items he has are books dating back to the 1850s.

His favourite items are the Dinky TV related toys.

All items available from Phil Startup, unit S013.

Kieron has been with us for 1 month. He has been in the business for 30 years. Kieron sells cufflinks, jewellery and decorative arts. Here is just a small selection of his lovely cufflinks...

Prices start from £100 - £1,500 and upwards. He has items dating back as early as the 1820s and as late as the 1960s.

One of his favourite items is the Cartier cufflink.

All items available from Kieron, unit G066.

Melinda Colthurst has most recently joined us...

She sells antique costumes and accessories, ecclesiastical vestments, small devotional objects and vintage moda flamenca. Her price range starts from £10 to around £400.

The oldest item of clothing is a brown silk taffeta jacket from the 1850s. She also has some latin liturgical books from the 1840s.

Her favourite item is "Impossible to choose." She loves all the ecclesiastical textiles.

Her favourite dress is the Edwardian silk day dress.

She is also particularly attached to her Mantilla combs.

"Like many dealers, I began as a collector and collecting turned into a job."

All items available from Melinda Colthurst, unit F015.