The 30th day of September was not only to mark the end of the official trout season but also witnessed some warm temperatures, warmer than expected. The crowds that flooded to Kempton Park Race Course for the final market in September walked around in shirts sleeves and linen dresses. There was a mix of dealers from Europe where in every isle different languages were spoken and at the top of the hard standing was a Belgian dealer downing a large bottle of Duvel beer, at 10.30am this was quite an accomplishment.
This market is undoubtably now one of the best if not the best in Europe.
If you are a decorator, interior designer or window dresser there is no better place to find such an eclectic mix of items, I know I’ve said it before but you will find most things on your wish list. If there are trends to follow you’ll certainly find them here first.
Today for me was much about the reporting than buying, in fact I only turned up with enough change to buy a cuppa.
With a keen interest in interiors and items to dress up retail environments and bars I was overwhelmed by the amount of quality items. There were leather club chairs, lighting, glassware, zinc containers, silver and pewter bar ware, taxidermy, signs and all manner of reclaimed items. However I was on a mission to source orange boxes for Sloane’s Gin as POS items.
The mix of tourists, ladies that lunch, pretty designer sorts, Spitalfields boys and traders basked in the mid morning sun, it was a quite magical day.
On leaving the market I took a quick short cut to the river, there I found a gentleman fishing for roach with buckets of hemp and tares. I saw one fish take his bait however I felt he was fishing too deep, I guess about 4ins off the bottom, I find most fish in the swim he was fishing in mid-water. It was bright and the water quite still except for a slight current. I did suggest he try further to his right where the dappled light from the trees may be betterĀ for the fish but he stayed firmly fixed to his seat box. I bid him tight lines and continued about my day….I wonder if he moved.