National Botanic Garden of Wales Antiques Fair Returns for Vintage Weekend
The much-loved National Botanic Garden of Wales Antiques Fair and Vintage Market is set to make a triumphant return to the Gardens (SA32 8HN) on Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8. This eagerly anticipated event will once again bring its high-quality mix of antiques, vintage, and retro finds, which has firmly established it as a favourite among collectors and visitors from across the region and beyond.
A Spectacular Setting for a Unique Event
One of the fair's most celebrated features is its truly spectacular setting. The event is thoughtfully spread across several of the Garden's iconic venues, including the world-renowned Great Glasshouse. Here, rare and remarkable plants create an eye-catching and memorable backdrop for the diverse array of stands inside, enhancing the overall experience for all who attend.
Diverse Displays Across Garden Venues
Visitors can look forward to a strong and varied range of classic antiques and vintage pieces throughout the entire weekend. Across the Garden venues, including the Great Glasshouse, there will be impressive displays of Welsh art and pottery, quality jewellery, and outstanding militaria collections. Step next door to Principality House, now known as Ty Melyn, where an excellent selection of Welsh textiles will be featured alongside a superb array of books, jewellery, silver, artwork, and more vintage delights.
The recently transformed Theatre Botanica will host familiar favourites, such as silverware, collections of Moorcroft, Lorna Bailey, Beswick and Doulton, plus art, treen, and carefully curated displays of quality Welsh furniture and textiles. Additionally, visitors will discover folk art, stick chairs, and French brocante across a number of stands, offering something for every taste and interest.
New Additions and Expanded Offerings
A welcome addition this year is the Gallery Room, which will showcase Welsh furniture and textiles, French brocante, and a number of carefully curated stands. The Apothecary will also be in use as a go-to venue for additional vintage items, militaria, and ephemera, further enriching the fair's offerings.
Outside, the Millennium Courtyard will be filled with a lively vintage market, with smaller marquees offering vintage toys, clothing, retro items, and upcycled furniture. Nostalgia often leads people to seek out the toys they cherished as children, and as a result, vintage toys have become an increasingly popular area of collecting. There will be a range of vintage toys on display, from Steiff bears and die-cast cars to clockwork toys and dolls, including items like the Mamod steam engine.
Celebrating Welsh Heritage and Craftsmanship
The fair has long been known for showcasing Welsh areas of collecting, including Welsh pottery, Welsh blankets, Welsh art, and furniture. This year is set to continue that proud tradition, with an impressive display of period Welsh oak furniture, ranging from children's chairs and milking stools to larger pieces such as dressers and cupboards.
Visitors can also look forward to Richard Bebb's collection of Welsh artists—a stand not to be missed. A well-known local potter from Carmarthen is returning with a stunning collection. Renowned for colourful, beautifully glazed work, Jonathan Cox trained in Stoke-on-Trent and, after graduating in 1983, received a commission to design work for Moorcroft, a name highly regarded by collectors. After establishing his ceramic career in the Potteries, he moved to Carmarthen in 1996 and set up his studio near Peniel. His distinctive tubelining and lustreware, alongside glazes developed to produce dramatic lustre effects, have become hallmarks of his work. You can find his display in the Gallery Room near the shop.
A Rich Cross-Section of Antiques and Vintage Items
The fair offers a rich cross-section of antiques and vintage items, including:
- Jewellery, watches, buttons, books, and silver
- Ephemera, militaria, vintage clothing, and accessories
- Art glass, upcycled, and pre-loved furniture
- Interior pieces and French brocante
Convenient Location and Practical Information
Set in the Carmarthenshire countryside on the outskirts of Carmarthen—and around 15 minutes from the end of the M4—the Garden is conveniently situated for visitors travelling from across Wales and beyond.
Opening times: 10am to 4pm
Admission: £12 weekend ticket, including two full days at the Antiques Fair plus five additional days' admission to the Garden (valid for seven days in total). Tickets can be purchased online from the NBGW website in advance, allowing visitors to be fast-tracked through the entrance.
Dogs are welcome during the Antiques weekend, except inside the Glasshouse. For more information, call Derwen Fairs on 07790 293367, or follow them on social media platforms.
