Antiques emporium for Newbury

Grand opening for ambitious venture

NEWBURY Emporium – a centre with more than 30 antique dealers and specialists – has opened in the former Melville Burbage building in Bartholomew Street.

The business partners behind the venture are Penny Morgan, who also owns Thatcham Jewellers and Hungerford Jewellers, and Gary Wilkinson, an experienced antique dealer who has appeared on the BBC’s Antique Road Trip and Bargain Hunt programmes.

The centre will be open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm, giving customers the opportunity to browse more than 1,800sq ft of stock including furniture, silver, glassware, porcelain, pottery, jewellery and collectables.

Ms Morgan, who has worked in the antiques trade for nearly 50 years, said: “We’re very excited about opening the centre as we think this is exactly what Newbury needs.

“Newbury Emporium is much larger than it looks with three rooms, which means there’s lots to see.”

The Newbury Emporium will be officially opened on Sunday, May 22, by television antique expert Stewart Hofgartner, who runs Below Stairs antique shop in Hungerford.

The event will be open to all and includes a free valuation session from noon to 3pm with Mr Hofgartner and David Harrison, from Jubilee Auction Rooms in Marlborough, Wiltshire.