Hallmark Fairs

With iconic venues such as the Cliffs Pavilion in Southend and Cressing Temple Barns still the most popular the circuit has changed over the years as the popularity of some venues has waned and new ones have taken their place. Over the last few years the need for diversification to accomodate changing tastes has brought about the broadening title we give to our events, incorporating the more modern taste for vintage and retro. I believe we were among the first to recognise this and then others followed after seeing it in the "Tittle Tattle" column in "The Trader" newspaper. From the humble beginnings of Ridgeway Antiques grew Ridgeway Fairs which held it's first event at the Leigh Community Centre way back in 1988, closely followed by Chalkwell Auctions which gave Trevor an in-road into each part of the market. To begin with Hallmark Fairs were the arch rivals but then along came other new organisers who were more aggressive and predatory showing the organsiers of Ridgeway and Hallmark that they were better as allies than enemies. On the retirement of the Bakers in the mid 90's the two firms were merged and with Hallmark being the longest established it was sensible to retain that name.