March 2010

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It has been announced this morning that the Grosvenor House Art and Antiques Fair has been axed. The shock news comes just weeks after the fair celebrated its 75th anniversary at this year's event which ran from 11-17 June. The fair is the oldest and most revered of all the London fairs, receiving royal patronage from HRH Princess Alexandra.

The fair is owned by the Grosvenor House Hotel which hosts the event in its Great Room. According to Apollo sources, the motivation behind the decision to end the fair is due to the economics of staging the event. While the fair itself is open for one week, the setting up and later dismantling of the fair takes a further two weeks, rendering the hotel's popular venue out of action for three weeks in total. It has therefore been decided by the hotel that the fair 'is no longer financially viable'.

The decision has shocked the 90 or so prestigious dealers who exhibit at the fair. They were told of the news this morning, an hour before the official announcement was made. It comes as a particular surprise as the fair this year attracted 19,537 visitors, despite the financial recession and added obstacle of the tube strike which was held during two days of the event.

Simon Phillips, Chairman of the Fair, commented, 'It is a great disappointment to me that The Grosvenor House Art & Antiques Fair has come to and end. I quite understand that it no longer makes financial sense to continue the fair. It has been a very long and happy partnership but most great events have a lifespan and a Diamond anniversary is a fitting point on which to end on a positive note'.

It is not yet known if Grosvenor House exhibitors will form a new event to take its place.

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