Grosvenor House Antiques Fair Closes Down

Scott Reyburn of Bloomberg is reporting that after 75 years, the London Grosvenor House Antiques Fair will close for good. In mid June, the final fair was held. The promoters of the show stated increased demand for the space, increase costs and declining profits as the reason for the closure. I have seen shows pushed out of hotels and other venues in the past in order to maximize profits and event rates. With the Grosvenor House grand ballroom in great demand, and the state of the market, you might have expected a change, but a show with such a full and rich histroy and prestige, it is hard to accept. The dollar rules again.

Over 90 dealers participate in the show and it is one of the best, oldest and longest running fair in England. The show is also primarily an antique furniture show, at the popularity of that decorative arts segment has suffered over the past few years. Expectations and rumors are floating that a larger replacement fair in a different venue will surface.

Reyburn states The 2009 event was also hampered by the departure of high-profile exhibitors Johnny van Haeften, Bernheimer- Colnaghi and Moretti Fine Art Ltd. for the first edition of London’s “Master Paintings Week.”

The fair organizers, in association with the Grosvenor House Hotel, issued the following statement in an e-mail: “The Great Room is much sought after as a location and it makes financial sense for the hotel to increase the availability of the Great Room as a venue in June. The structural restrictions of the Great Room necessitated closing it down for a week before the show and a week after the show, thus putting the Great Room off-market for a total of three weeks for a one week show.

‘‘The profit was declining due to lack of sponsorship and increased costs of mounting the Fair including insurance. Further increases in stand rental costs in future years would have been required to maintain the current level of profit.’’

To read the article, click HERE.