A LONG-RUNNING antique fair in Hartley Wintney has restarted under new management.

Elsie’s Antique, Collectors and Vintage Fair has announced that it is still proceeding under new management.

This comes after the previous manager told stallholders that the fair would end once she stepped down.

New manager Rachel Barnes said that she is currently in the process of rebuilding the market.

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She explained: “A lot of the dealers thought that was it, it was taken out of all the antique diaries, that is like the Bible to everyone.

“She took it out of everything and told everyone that was it, so when I started up again in September it was very hard to get the stallholders back.”

Despite this, several of the old stallholders have returned to the market, in part due to Rachel’s history of being involved in the market alongside her mother and grandparents.

Rachel said that she is very excited to take over the market, saying: “I feel very proud.

“It was my mum’s originally, many years ago, and then Jackie came along and took it over, and now it’s back in my hands.”

She continued: “My grandad used to do a lot of the cooking at my mum’s Tuesday fair.

“So just the fact that I’m doing it now, it feels very weird; when I’m stood in the kitchen I think of my grandad, and when it’s very weird when I’m out collecting the money from the stall holders and stuff, I fee like my mum!

“I love it, I feel like I’m where I need to be.

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“It’s in my genes, in my DNA.”

The fair is held at the Women’s Institute Hall in Hartley Wintney on the third Tuesday of each month – the next fair will take place on Tuesday, November 15 and will last from 8am until 2pm.

Those interested in setting up a stall and selling at the fair can contact Rachel directly by calling 07739 360494.