The biggest antique business in Europe has extended even further with the opening of a brand new centre.
Hemswell Antique Centres has unveiled its brand new Guardroom building after months of building work.
The project represents a significant investment by MD Robert Miller and has created ten new jobs at the Hemswell-based business.
The two-storey Guardroom houses 80 new dealers from across the UK, Ireland, Spain and France – half of whom are new dealers to Hemswell – as well as a brand new coffee shop.
Antiques on show range from a pikeman’s armour from the 1630s, to a 1925 electric car from Blackpool pleasure beech, to a vintage retro section.
The Guardroom opened to the public for the first time on 27th December.
“It was a redundant building that needed new life breathing into it and that is what we have achieved,” said Mr Miller.
“The new building is the gateway to the site. It’s created a real wow factor for people coming to Hemswell and should be a positive step for all businesses here.
“It has taken a lot of investment and a lot of time to get the building to the point it’s at today but it’s been worth it. We are confident the Guardroom will attract thousands of new visitors to Hemswell.”
The design of the new building, with its atrium style central area, was inspired by a trade visit to Japan carried out by Mr Miller last year.
The company currently exports around seven per cent of its goods to the Far East – around 30 per cent of its entire overseas trade – and launched a new Japanese language website to capitalise on growth in this region.
Hemswell Antique Centres, which was established in 1986, already boasted items from 300 dealers across three other buildings at its former RAF base home.
The work on the Guardroom was carried out by Stow-based building company The Gelder Group.
New Guardroom Opens for Hemswell Antique Centres!
11 January 2014