Family-run Banburyshire antiques centre to close after more than 20 years

The King of Thailand and his entourage of 30 people visited the Deddington Antiques Centre for a private viewing during which he bought several porcelain figures to add to his collection in his palace.

The King of Thailand is among several famous people to make a visit to the Deddington Antique Centre in its more 20 years of business while run by Brenda Haller and her family.

Brenda has launched the 'Big Retirement Sale' marking her entire stock at 50 per cent off as she prepares to retire and close the business.

The sale launched at their re-opening on Monday June 15 after they temporarily closed during the lockdown.

They are open seven days a week from 10am to 5pm through to their last day of trading on Monday June 29.

Brenda said: "My favourite part of running the antique centre has been selling lovely items to many lovely and interesting people, also some famous ones."

Along with the King of Thailand she saw several other famous people walk through the doors of their four-story antique centre from the actor Edward Woodward to the singer Gerri Halliwell.

She added: "I have sold many engagements rings over the years and we have had many proposals in our shop, and then the couple would come back for a wedding ring and then a few years later they would come back to purchase an eternity ring after having there first child so we felt very much a part of the couples lives.

They also sold Chinese vases that went back to China to collectors of fine porcelain along with some fine furniture to a collector in Los Angeles.

Brenda's career in Antiques also personally took her into the television industory.

She said: "I was one of the main dealers on Dickinson's Real Deal for eight years, and did 450 shows on ITV."

The BBC programme Antiques Road Trip came also visited the Deddington Antique Centre several times over the years.

Brenda added: "We had a film, filmed in the centre called Crying Wolf which was all about zombies, which we played parts in as the antique dealer. It won a Palm award at the Cannes Film Festival. We also had children’s programs filmed (Fimbles)."

Several factors, including some health issues have led to the couple's retirement and the popular antique centre's closure.

Branda added: "The centre was very busy until the internet started to take over and people started to buy online. We have had six robberies over all those years that stopped me selling jewellery to an extent as we lost so much.

"Then Brexit affected the business as people didn’t know about what was going to happen in the future. To top it all then Covid-19 hit us."

The Deddington Antique Centre has been open since 1972, but the Hallers bought it and took it over 22 years ago.