Village Vintage – the award-winning vintage and country fair business created and inspired by Sussex duo Lucy Haywood and Darcy Shepherd – is gearing-up for its biggest ever event. Plumpton Racecourse is to be the venue for this two-day summer fair which is being staged on 31st May and 1st June.
Four years ago Village Vintage started out at Lindfield’s King Edward Hall with 25 stallholders and around 300 visitors. The 2013 event will host over 100 enthusiastic exhibitors selling a unique range of pretty decorative homeware, gardenalia and vintage ephemera with over 2000 visitors and guests expected over the weekend.
“We have a strong base of loyal followers that we have built up over the last few years” says Darcy, “they know when they come to a Village Vintage country fair they are in for a treat including, decorative antiques, vintage textiles and linens, old painted furniture, kitchenalia and handmade artisan products.”
The event is also noted for its friendly atmosphere, its artful vintage styling and real country character. And there’s always plenty of delicious and nourishing food and drinks for adults and kids alike. One of the most popular destinations at Village Vintage has always been the great-value tearooms serving exquisite cakes and savoury dishes. This year there will also be a Prosecco bar where shoppers can enjoy a well-earned glass of bubbly to help relax and wind down – but despite the proximity of the racecourse, no horse burgers, that’s a promise!
The success of the Village Vintage experience has now been hailed well beyond its humble beginnings with recognition and acknowledgement by the UK’s foremost vintage-lifestyle magazine, Homes & Antiques. In a recent nation-wide survey conducted by the magazine, Village Vintage was placed in Britain’s the top-three antiques, vintage and handicraft fairs. Needless to say ‘the girls’ are absolutely delighted to have been spotlighted by such a respected and influential organisation.
Writing in the March2013 issue vintage scene commentator Alice Roberton, described Village Vintage as one of the highlights of the year saying, “This gorgeous annual country fair offered up a wonderful mix of French linens, painted furniture, clothing and gardenalia.”
As the Plumpton Racecourse event expands in scope and range it’s clear that the event is beginning to take on the aspect of a mini-village itself as the number of marquees, gazebos, tents, stands and stalls continues to grow. For sure it is going to be a colourful show in keeping with the Village Vintage tradition and as such is bound to attract a wide cross-section of vintage life-style devotees.
The market for all things vintage has been growing in Britain for at least 20-years; the phenomenon is said to date from the 1990s revival of the Rockabilly craze which saw a resurgent interest in 1950s design and fashion. With roots in the USA and an emphasis on bold, vivid and elegant design values the phenomenon quickly caught-on in the UK establishing its twin-Meccas in London and Brighton.
Now with Village Vintage’s home firmly establish pretty much equidistant from these thriving and innovative centres of the vintage movement, Darcy & Lucy feel confident they can draw inspiration from both and continue to improve and expand their business.
McBlue
20th Feb 2013
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