A Visit to: Rutland Antiques Centre, Uppingham

Uppingham is full of the most wonderful independent shops, hairdressers, coffee shops and much more! Living in Uppingham we're lucky enough to have this right on our doorstep. But Uppingham is also a popular destination for the world of antiques and collectables, enjoy reading about our favourite shop in Uppingham, Rutland Antiques Centre.

Rutland Antiques Centre located on Crown Passage in Uppingham which you can access from North Street East or Uppingham High Street. The centre is run by Mark and Diane (and their handsome friendly Goldendoodle, Charlie).

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

The centre is full of the most unique items, some you've probably never even seen before! What I love about visiting Rutland Antiques Centre is that you can always find the perfect item whatever your budget - It's my favourite place to shop for unique gifts for my friends and family.

We spoke to owners Mark and Diane and asked them about Rutland Antiques Centre and what it's like owning a business in Uppingham...

Take a read!

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

1. Thank you for inviting me down to Rutland Antiques Centre in Uppingham we’d love to hear more about your centre in case our readers haven’t yet visited?

Rutland Antiques Centre has been located in Crown Passage Uppingham since 2001, we took over the business in August 2015.

Since taking over the business we have given the centre a much lighter and airier feel, with improved lighting & displays showing our fantastic stock off to its best. We have also changed the layout so that our customers can view pieces much more easily.

We have many different dealers within the centre ensuring we’ve a great range of items on offer. Fresh stock arrives daily.

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

In addition to having a background in antiques, Mark is a qualified jeweller, goldsmith & silversmith enabling him to offer expert advice and giving our customers added confidence in their purchase. During the 1970’s & 1980’s, Mark worked at an antique shop in Sutton Coldfield, which was run by his mother.

We are proud to hold regular valuation days hosted by Marc Allum (most people will know him from the BBC Antiques Roadshow) in association with Hansons Auctioneers. Look out for posters in our window showing the date of the next free valuation day!

Over the last year, we have introduced a range of modern art featuring artists such as Elizabeth Waggett and Nancy Antonio. This has proved incredibly popular, so much so that we will be adding work from other local artists very soon.

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

2. You’ve been at the Centre 2.5 years and you’ve got a fantastic spot in town. Please tell us more about why you love having a business in Rutland and what it means to you?

We are very fortunate to work in such a beautiful market town, with its wonderful architecture and a great range of independent businesses. Uppingham is home to several antique centres each offering something a little different, making Uppingham a real “go to” town for antique hunters. It’s great to be part of the “Uppingham” business community where there is a great sense of togetherness and support. And who wouldn’t love the drive into work, with fantastic countryside and Rutland Water only minutes away!

We are proud to consider both local residents and visitors to Uppingham and the surrounding area as our customers, with many repeat visitors, coming back time and again to find that special item.

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

3. We visit the Centre regularly as we find it’s the best place to find unique gifts and quality items, we always find something! Tell us more about what our readers can find in Rutland Antiques Centre?

We work hard to ensure we offer a wide range of items to suit different needs, tastes and budgets.

Our extensive range of quality silverware is extremely popular, including vestas, napkin rings, candlesticks, picture frames and many unique and quirky items.

With a background in watches and jewellery, we can confidently offer a wonderful range of vintage watches and antique & modern rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets, with something for every occasion, from that special anniversary to that impulse buy! We provide written independent valuations for our higher value items for added peace of mind.

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

Our furniture dealers offer a wonderful range of antique and vintage pieces including beautiful side tables, dining tables, chests of drawers and display cabinets from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods in addition to mid 20th Century items.

We have a number of fantastic glass dealers offering an amazing selection of crystal and art glass including Waterford, Stuart, Edinburgh, Mdina & Murano.

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

Antique weapons and Militaria have also proved very popular and we have extended our range considerably over the last 2 years.

Another popular recent introduction is our Teddy Bear display featuring very collectable Steiff and Merrythought bears through to wonderful well loved teddies in need of a new home!

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

Modern Art is a growing area for us including both original paintings and limited edition prints from a range of local and international artists.

Enamel signs are currently in great demand and we are very pleased to offer an extensive range of railway and branded signage.

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

Not forgetting, of course, our many other items including vinyl records, silver and silver plated cutlery, mirrors, porcelain, lighting, garden and kitchen items and other decorative pieces.

4. You don’t just sell Antiques but you always buy items too is that correct? And regularly host FREE valuation days? Please tell us more...

We are always interested in buying good quality and interesting pieces including glassware, silverware, jewellery, toys and small furniture items.

We also buy gold and silver and offer very competitive rates.

In addition to selling jewellery, we also offer a jewellery repair service.

We have hosted free valuation days with antique expert Marc Allum throughout 2017 and into 2018 and are pleased to say due to their success we will be holding regular events over the coming year. Visitors are welcome to come along on the day with no appointment necessary and learn more about their family heirlooms or those mysterious items stored in the back of the cupboard!

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

5. You must have seen some amazing things that have come in and out of the shop, is there a particular item that stands out for you both as an antique career highlight?

A particular favourite was a wonderful William and Mary oak bureau (c1700-1725), which was appraised and authenticated by Mark Allum and sold very shortly afterwards.

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

6. Thank you so much for inviting me to visit your wonderful world of Antiques! We’ll definitely be back regularly for the perfect gifts and unique gems. What can we expect from the future of Rutland Antiques Centre?

Due to its popularity, we will be expanding our selection of modern art over the coming months, with two new local artists joining us very soon. We are always on the lookout for other exciting artists!

Our stock is regularly changing, ensuring there’s always something different to discover be it quirky or nicely traditional. We are always striving to improve and evolve the centre often adding new lines (for example Vinyl records) to match the changing interests of our customers and cater for all ages.

(Photo Credit: Rutland Creative)

Visiting Rutland Antiques Centre is always a pleasure and new stock arrives weekly so there is always something new to see. Personally, I think that the perfect gifts are the quirky and quality items that tell a story from the past.

Mark, Diane and Charlie the dog are always welcoming and are real supporters of our wonderful county, Rutland.

If you visit Rutland Antiques Centre, be sure to tell them you read this blog post and please let us know what wonderful items you find on your visit.