London Literature Festival

For 20 days of wordy events, featuring big names from Hillary Clinton to Tom Hanks and Philip Pullman, this year's London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre, is set to be bigger than ever. Opening with the 50th birthday of Poetry International, it sets out to explore how literature can remind us of our shared humanity. 

Budding writers can take part in Q&A sessions with big name authors as they offer tips and advice on succeeding in the literary world. There’s something here to appeal to all ages and tastes, with live poetry readings and short plays mixed in with talks and workshops from the likes of ‘His Dark Materials’ author Philip Pullman, acclaimed photographer Annie Leibovitz and the Man Booker Prize nominees. 

On the final day of the festival, Tom Hanks will read his first collection of short stories, entitled Uncommon Type, each themed around his passion for typewriters. Hanks is said to own more than 100 classic typewriters!

In keeping with the theme of books, we took a look around Alfies and discovered lots of desirable items for the bookworm..

1950s wood and glass bedside book holder, available from Diplomat Treasures International

Classic vintage books available from Dream Retro

1970s metal and turquoise bookmark, available from Gloria Sinclair

Victorian storage chest or book storage/display, available from Hongman Yang

Edwardian rotating book holder, available from Gloria Sinclair

London Literature Festival takes place at the Southbank Centre from 13 October to 1 November.

Christmas Shopping Party at Alfies Antique Market

Two weeks from today Alfies will be opening its doors until 9pm for its annual Late Night Shopping Event. The after-hours shopping party has become legendary for its entertainment, cocktails and canapés and is a fantastic way to shop for rare and beautiful Christmas gifts.

This year you can enjoy vintage inspired music from The Haywood Sisters and complimentary canapés and drinks from the Roof Top Kitchen while you browse. You will also be able to suss out what lies ahead in 2016 with forecasts from our in-house tarot card reader and, this year, for those who arrive between 5pm and 6pm there will be a special raffle draw with a range of gift vouchers available to win, from £20-£100.

Music: Sets at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm

Tarot Card Reading: Based in unit S002-04. Use the sign up sheet on the door to select a time slot

Raffle: Arrive between 5pm and 6pm and the doorman will give you a raffle ticket for our 7.30pm prize draw. Winners will be announced at the end of The Haywood Sisters' 7pm set, in the jewellery corner on the ground floor.

Bar: Drinks stations will be located on the first and second floors.

The Haywood Sisters performing in the Roof Top Kitchen

Shoppers at the Alfies Christmas Shopping Event

Alfies Christmas Gift Guide 2016. Pick one up from reception or view online here

9ct Gold earrings with Cabochon Emeralds and Diamonds. From Good Time Antiques.

Cartier 18ct Gold and Sapphire Art Deco Cufflinks, c.1930s. From Kieron Reilly.

Napier cocktail Tells-You-How-Mixer, 1932, silver plate. From Goldsmith & Perris.

1930s ostrich feather fan with tortoiseshell handle From Tin Tin Collectables.

This event is free but by RSVP only - please click attending on our Facebook event, or contact us using the information below to ensure entry:

020 7723 6066
info@alfiesantiques.com

#AlfiesTurns40: Antiques Young Guns Church Street Pop-Up

If you haven't already heard - we are celebrating our 40th anniversary this month in conjunction with the London Design Festival! We are very excited about the series of events we have lined up, kicking off on the 20th and running until 24th September. Not only will we have a residency from Peter Layton's London Glassblowing, and talks from antiques expert Mark Hill and established vintage fashion dealer Leslie Verrinder of Tin Tin Collectables, not to mention an upholstery demonstration from Thirteen Upholstery Workshop, we are also pleased to welcome the Antiques Young Guns collective, who will be taking over the magnificent space at 35-37 Church Street with their pop-up shop.

With several of the shops on Church Street having started from stalls within Alfies, the Alfies and Church Street area has a lot to offer to antique and design lovers and should be considered as a must visit destination!

Expect to find a myriad of covetable objects from the following AYG dealers:

• Lily Johnston of Bombe Antiques - www.bombeinteriors.co.uk

• Matthew Wise of Cubbit Antiques - www.cubbitantiques.com

• Edd Thomas of Eddintheclouds Antiques - www.eddintheclouds.com

• Jason Clarke of Jason Clarke Antiques - www.jasonclarkeantiques.co.uk

• Stephanie Connell of Stepannie Connell Art & Antiques  - www.stephanieconnell.com

• Eddy Toshi Ishikawa Wertheim of The Japanese Gallery - www.japanese-gallery.com

• Jon Irvine of Jon Irvine Antiques - www.antiquesyoungguns.co.uk/dealers/jon-irvine-antiques.html

To give you a little taster of what you might find in the Antiques Young Guns pop-up shop, here's some of our favourite objects from each dealer:

19th century marginal mirror from Bombe Interiors

David Klein (1918-2005): An original TWA London travel poster, 1960s, from Stephanie Connell

Pair of Stilnovo style pendant lights - Cubitt Antiques

Photo album produced c1900 with wooden covers coated with black lacquer, from The Japanese Gallery

Thomas Webb cut glass decanter set, from Jon Irvine Antiques

Thonet Bentwood rocking chair No.4, from Edd in the Clouds

Victorian aesthetic movement duet piano stool, from Jason Clarke Antiques

Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which takes place every August, with this year marking its 50th anniversary. The event was born out of the indoor carnivals that came to London in 1959 which were used to celebrate the culture of the Caribbean immigrants who arrived in the UK after the war, the first of which took place at St. Pancras Town Hall and was televised by the BBC.

These events eventually grew and spilled out into the streets of London, becoming a celebration for all nationalities, until musician Russ Henderson and his steel band were invited to perform at the 1966 carnival, culminating in the band leading a spontaneous march through the streets of Notting Hill with crowds of people following, thus inspiring the carnival we know today. The carnival has now become the largest street festival in Europe where people from all over come together and celebrate what is Londons now hugely multicultural society.

Notting Hill Carnival 2016 is a free event and will take place on August 28th to August 29th from 10am-8.30pm. We think it's the perfect way to celebrate the bank holiday weekend and soak up the last of the Summer.

With the carnival spirit running through us, we took a look around Alfies for some flamboyant pieces.

 

Beaded necklace. Offered by Tony Durante

Floral design hand fan. Offered by Eclectic Antiques & Contemporary

Beaded necklace. Offered by Tony Durante

Feathered headpiece. Offered by Eclectic Antiques & Contemporary

Embroidered waistcoat. Offered by June Victor

Alfies' 1st Nostalgia Event this Saturday!

We are very excited here at Alfies about the first of our series of Nostalgia Events this Saturday, please see below the programme of events!

11am - Reading by Bethany
A Collection of Short Poems by
Emily Bronte, John Keats & Oscar Wilde

11.30am - Talk by Peter Brooks
'Some Interesting Facts and A Few
Popular Fallacies About Jewellery'

12pm - 3pm - Lunch

3pm - 5pm - Afternoon Tea

3:30pm - Guitar Duet from The Kings Cross Hot Club

4pm - Reading from Bethany
'Tender is the Night' by F.Scott Fitzgerald
& 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien


PLUS: Music throughout the day with Guitar Duets from
The Kings Cross Hot Club around the market
&
DJ Kid Krupa playing fabulous Hot Jazz and Swing from
the 1920's and 30's in the Rooftop Restaurant

All events will be held in Alfies' Rooftop Restaurant.

You can still RSVP to info@alfiesantiques.com or call 020 7723 6066 to receive our lovely event directory for you to print out and bring along on Saturday.

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Alfies Nostalgia Saturdays

On Saturday 17th April, Alfies Antique Market will begin its series of nostalgia events, celebrating all things vintage, with the glamorous and elegant era of the pre-1920s to 1930s.

Customers will be taken back in time and given the opportunity to see highlights from our dealers’ collections, enjoy music and readings from the period, learn more about the era, partake in tea at the Rooftop Restaurant and much more! RSVP to receive the full programme of vintage activities.

Alfies’ Nostalgia Saturdays are a wonderful chance to explore the market in a different way. Our special pre-1920s to 1930s directory will be on hand to guide you. Keep your eyes on our blog for details of how to download this or RSVP to info@alfiesantiques.com to receive your free copy!

For some beautiful pre 1920s-1930s items available at Alfies visit our Flickr page.

The Nostalgia Saturdays continue in May with the 1940s-1950s and June with the 1960s-1970s. So join Alfies and its dealers on the 17th of April at the start of our vintage celebration.

Alfies Great Treasure Hunt - 5th September

Join Alfies Antique Market on Saturday 5^th September and take up the challenge to navigate its labyrinth of dealers and be part of Alfies’ Great Treasure Hunt to raise money for St John’s Hospice.

We will ask you to make a voluntary donation of £1 to enter the hunt, while Alfies dealers will also make donations. All proceeds raised will go to St John’s Hospice, which provides invaluable support and care to anyone in Central and North West London suffering from a terminal illness.

Taking part in the treasure hunt will give you the chance to win a myriad of prizes from Alfies. There will be something for everyone who enters as a thank you for their donation, as well as the opportunity to win a mystery gift.

Alfies Great Treasure Hunt is a wonderful chance to explore Alfies from head to toe, you may chance upon such wonderful items as:

a 1930s hand-painted Burleigh pottery egg-cruet set

£65 by Beverley

a stunning 1930/40s ring with aquamarine and diamonds

£1000 by Connie Speight

or an egg shaped French Limoges box with a photo frame hidden inside

price on enquiry by Hayman & Hayman

So join Alfies and its dealers on the 5^th of September to unearth some treasures and help raise funds for a great cause.

Alfies Great Treasure Hunt: Saturday 5^th September, 10am-6pm.

Nearest tube: Marylebone or Edgware Road.

Admission free with a voluntary donation of £1.

For more information please call 020 7723 6066 or visit

www.alfiesantiques.com

For more information on St. John's Hospice visit

www.stjohnshospice.org.uk