Antiques market organisers promise Covid secure event at Peterborough’s showground

The event, that will run between Friday October 2 and October 3, will be the first time indoor facilities have been used at the venue since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March.

The showground hosted the Outdoor Motorhome and Camper Sale in July and Truckfest in August but both had only outdoor exhibits.

International Antiques & Collectors Fairs (IACF), organisers of the event, and showground officials have been working closely with local public and environmental health bodies, along with Public Health England, to find a way to safely host the antique market.

The market is the amongst the biggest in the country and usually comes to Peterborough twice a year. The original plan was to visit the city between April 10-11 but that had to be cancelled due to the pandemic.

In order to gain approval for this week, a series of safety measures have been put in place.

- Socially distanced queuing at all entrances

- Hand sanitiser stations available across the sites

- Contactless card payments when purchasing tickets

- Mandatory track & trace for entry

- One-way systems

- Signage across the site to reduce crowding

- Larger stands and stalls

Alongside this, visitors are being urged to remember to keep a 2m distance between themselves and others, wash their hands regularly, wear a mask inside buildings and not to touch items of stock without permission.

Pamela Newbould, Covid-19 and Health and Safety Officer at the East of England Arena, said: “Following the successful delivery of the Outdoor Motorhome and Camper Sale and Truckfest we have built a very strong working relationship with our local Public Health and Environment Health contacts.

“We are all working to deliver the most Covid-19 secure ways of opening our venue and we are confident that we are able to do so again for the Festival of Antiques 2020.”

“In this case, we have ensured that the festival conforms to all Covid 19 guidance for an indoor/outdoor market. The organisers have advised international traders not to attend.

“Procedures for registration and admission will prevent anyone entering who does not comply with the guidance.”

IACF Managing Director Will Thomas added: “We have been working closely with Public Health and the local authorities to ensure that the popular indoor and outdoor market can go ahead this Friday and Saturday at the East of England Showground within current government Covid-19 guidelines.

“The safety of our stallholders and visitors is our absolute priority. We have introduced comprehensive safety measures at the venue and track and trace will be a condition of entry to the market.”

For more information on the event and safety, visit www.iacf.co.uk/Peterborough.