Issue 19 - April 2012 (PDF) - Chipping Norton Times

The Cotswold’s are the Best for Antiques
Christopher Clarke Antiques in Stow-on-the-Wold and
Blighty Antiques in Cheltenham have been named as
category winners in the inaugural Britain’s Best Antiques
Shops Awards, Christopher Clarke Antiques as Best
specialist shop and Blighty Antiques as Best antiques
shop.
Simon Clarke of Christopher Clarke Antiques said: ‘It’s a
huge honour to win this award and be acknowledged for
our specialty. Britain leads the world in antiques and
these awards show that The Cotswolds is a ‘must go to ‘
destination for anyone interested in period art and
design.’ Sarah Seccombe of Blighty Antiques said: “We
are delighted to be crowned as Britain’s Best Antique
Shop and we owe a big thank-you to our customers and
the public who took the time to vote for us - it’s the
greatest compliment of all.”
The Cotswolds have always boasted the largest
concentration of serious antiques dealers outside of
London and these awards confirm it. Blighty Antiques is
home to a mix of country house and colonial pieces with
some fabulously eccentric decorative accessories.
Christopher Clarke Antiques are probably the only
specialists worldwide to deal in Campaign Furniture - i.e.
antiques that often look like domestic furniture but are
made to fold up or dismantle for ease of travel. When
the British Empire was at its height there was a large
industry that provided such furniture for the soldiers and
administrators who travelled to the Colonies.
The Britain’s Best Antiques Shops Awards were launched
in the November 2011 issue of Homes & Antiques to tie
in with National Antiques Week. The competition invited
nominations from the public to find the unsung heroes
of the high street in one of five categories: Best antiques
shop; Best antiques centre; Best specialist shop; Best
vintage/mid century shop; and Best auction house.
Blighty Antiques and Christopher Clarke Antiques will be
profiled alongside the three other winning businesses in
the May issue of the magazine, on sale April 5.
16
Foxbury’ National Award
Foxbury Farm Shop just outside Burford visited the House of
Lords last month to attend the "Rural Oscars" at the
Countryside Alliance, Daily Telegraph and Farmers Weekly
Business Awards.
Colin Dawes, Pauline Kew, Rebecca Dawes and David Pitcher
Colin Dawes and his team were delighted to be Highly
Commended as the UK and Ireland Best Local Food Business.
The judges included Clarissa Dickson-Wright, Countryside
Alliance Executive Chairman Sir Barney White Spunner and
The Daily Telegraph's Assistant Editor Philip Johnston. The
judges commented "This working farm doesn't stand still – as
well as producing and selling their produce in the farm shop,
the farm is an unofficial rural school, reconnecting the next
generation with our farming heritage. The farm shop has
expanded in recent years with a popular tearoom that offers
special deals to the local elderly, an often overlooked minority.
The team's passions for community, produce and education
are something the Countryside Alliance is proud to support - if
youngsters don't understand the countryside, they won't care"
This year alone Foxbury Farm Shop has received 13 awards
including a Finalist in the West Oxfordshire Business Awards.
View the list: www.foxburyfarm.co.uk
The Good Food Barn serves hot and cold food, tea, coffee and
more. All the lamb, beef and pork reared at Foxbury Farm is
sold through Foxbury Farm Shop. More information online.
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