Hello, hello! A very happy 'Blog Post Monday' to you all!
Now, it's a special day in parts of the UK. Pubs, bars, restaurants and, most importantly, hotels have re-opened. I give special importance to hotels because it means more visitors for cities and towns, and, hopefully, more customers and business for all of the wonderful antiques shops out there.
In York, my home city, we're lucky to have an abundance of independent vintage and antique shops. In fact, last summer, I wrote a local's guide to finding the best antiques and vintage in York. However, there are a few new additions to York's trail, so I thought, to coincide with this special day of re-opening, I'd write a new guide, a more comprehensive guide, to shopping for antiques and vintage in York.
So, as always, get that kettle on, get those hotels booked and let me guide you through the finest establishments in York for your antique and vintage shopping...
Image: The Red House Antiques Centre, York
The Red House Antiques Centre
The Red House Antiques Centre is set out over 3 floors with a lovely variety of dealers and items. It has an extensive range of furniture, jewellery, clocks and ancient objects. You'll need to give yourself a good 2 to 3 hours to have a proper look around. You don't want to miss anything!!
Please see my blog post from last week for a more detailed insight ( https://source-vintage.co.uk/blogs/news/my-york-local-the-red-house-antiques-centre ).
1 Duncombe Pl, York, YO1 7ED
Image: Devil's Elbow Antiques, York
Devil's Elbow Antiques
Situated on Little Stonegate. A beautiful looking shop in a wonderful area of York. They sell everything from textiles, vintage interiors, homewares and books, and have some really interesting, quirky pieces! Following their Instagram page, they posted a lovely explanation of how they came about naming their shop 'Devil's Elbow'.
They wrote that "In the 16th Century, the Stonegate area was well known for its book shops and printers. The devil is a reference to the printer's apprentice who was responsible for handling hot metal type. In printing folklore, a type of demon haunted every print-shop, conducting mischief and causing misspellings etc. Over time, the blame for these mischievous printing errors fell to the printers apprentice, who retained the nickname 'printer's devil'."
16 Little Stonegate, York, YO1 8AX
Image: Gate 56, York
Gate 56
Situated on Goodramgate. Another quirky shop, packed with interesting vintage and antique pieces, from homewares to militaria. It does have a small frontage, so keep your eyes peeled, but the shop itself is actually bigger than you might expect, like a lot of the shops in this area.
56 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LF
Image: Village Gallery, York
The Village Gallery
The Village Gallery is a small but charming little two storey shop and gallery. It is home to a number of local artist's pieces, but it also has a great little selection of antiques. More specifically ceramics, glass, jewellery, sculpture and silver. They are the Lalique specialists (and York’s official stockist).
14 Colliergate, York, YO1 8B
Image: Greybear, York
Greybear
Greybear is a lovely shop. It has a fabulous range of gifts, furniture, homewares and vintage finds. They have an eclectic mix of both new and pre-loved items. A great place to go for interior design pieces. Home to some thrifty retro chic pieces and more unusual antiques. A charming mix of old and new.
3-4 Bridge St, York YO1 6DD
Image: Fully Furnished, York
Fully Furnished
Fully Furnished is a little walk from the centre, but worth the trip. They deal in both antique and modern furniture, offering services to both the public and trade. They have a 5000 sq foot warehouse, holding over 4000 pieces of furniture and vintage items at any one time. Their stock changes on a daily basis and is well worth a visit if you are in York.
70-72 James St, Layerthorpe, York YO10 3WW
Image: The French House, York
The French House
The French House is home to a large range of French antiques, salvage, homewares, interiors, linens and fabrics, ranging from the 17th to 20th Century. A well established shop, built on a fabulous reputation, and a must see when you visit York. Again, it's just slightly out of the city centre, so you will need a car.
The Warehouse, North lane, Huntington, York, YO32 9SU
[junction of the A64 Scarborough road and north lane]
Image: Cavendish Jewellers, York
Cavendish Jewellers
Cavendish Jewellers is a family business with over 50 years of experience handling antique and designer jewellery. It lies on the historic street of Stonegate in York, which was once the main trade route into the city from the River Ouse and made famous by the goldsmiths that dominated trade here. They have a wonderful selection of modern and antique jewellery. So, if antique jewellery is your thing, get this on your list of places to visit!
44 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AS
Image: Barbara Cattle Jewellers, York
Barbara Cattle Jewellers
Another to add to the list for the antique jewellery lovers! Barbara Cattle is another well established jewellers in York. They've been around for a number of years and have a lovely array of antique jewellery. The shop is actually a member of the prestigious British Antique Dealers’ Association, so you know you'll be in safe hands.
45 Stonegate, York, YO1 8AW
Image: Loft Find, York
Loft Find
Loft Find is an eclectic mix of vintage salvage and retro electronics. If you're into retro gaming, this is the place to come! I've never seen so many ZX Spectrums, Commodore 64's, Amstrad CPC's, original Nintendos and Segas! A lot of them in original boxes and with games! It's from my era, so I always have fun in this shop. Definitely worth a visit, you never know what you'll find. Pop in on your way to Fully Furnished, it's just around the corner.
41 Huby court, Walmgate, York YO1 9UD
Image: Helston Street, York
Helston Street
Helston Street is a mother daughter partnership of the lovely Vanessa and Lucy. They describe their style as "very rustic country, with a slight industrial edge", and I'd agree. I'll stick my neck out here and say that their shop is probably the most beautiful in York, not to mention the best smelling! They have some beautiful antique and vintage garden and interior pieces. If you're looking for that English country home style or that French country farmhouse look, then add this to your list. It's in a rather lovely area of York too, away from the hustle and bustle of the City centre, with some delicious independent cafes and restaurants just around the corner.
4 Scarcroft Rd, York YO23 1NB
Image: The Verdigris House, York
The Verdigris House, York
Situated just off Bishopthorpe Road (or Bishy Road if you're a local). Again, another beautiful looking shop in another great area of York, full of lots of small independent shops, cafes and restaurants. As I understand it, 'The Verdigris House' will be selling decorative antiques and homewares. I'm informed that they also sell items at The Red House Antiques Centre! They've been working super hard to get the shop ready for their grand opening which, I understand, will be sometime in May 2021.
I can't wait to visit!
On the corner of Nunmill Street and Scarcroft Road, York, YO23
Image: York Racecourse Car Boot Sale, York (Saturdays)
York Car Boot Sale
If you're in York for a weekend then York Car Boot Sale is well worth a visit. For lovers of antiques, curios, collectibles or just a bargain, this boot sale is an absolute must. It's one of the best in the UK, if not, THE best!
Please see my blog post from a few weeks back for a more detailed insight ( https://source-vintage.co.uk/blogs/news/antiques-collectibles-york-race-course-car-boot-sale ).
Saturday mornings from 7.30am - 12.00-ish (check their Facebook page for updates - @yorkcarboot).
York Racecourse, York, YO23 1EX
And if vintage clothing is your passion, you should definitely visit these...
Image: Dog & Bone Vintage, York
Dog & Bone Vintage
Dog & Bone is a super cool vintage clothing store, with menswear and womenswear from the 60's to the early 00's, spread out over two floors. Quality items at very good prices. This is a must visit!
Shop 1, 28 Castlegate, York YO1 9RP
Image: Chinese Laundry, York
Chinese Laundry
Chinese Laundry is home to a vast collection of hand-picked European and American vintage collections. They also have re-worked collections of selected vintage garments re-imagined and tailored to create one-of-a kind pieces. This one's for the young and the hip... (do people still use that phrase...?)...!
51 Goodramgate, York YO1 7LS
Image: Expressions, York
Expressions
Expressions is home to your Americana vintage. They have a fantastic range of styles and sizes of American Football, Basketball , Ice Hockey and Baseball jerseys. They have other vintage mens and womenswear too, but American sports jerseys are their bag! A great shop with very good prices.
12 Walmgate, York YO1 9TJ
And, somewhere to eat in York to re-charge those batteries and which fits into the vintage and antiques theme...
Image: Partisan, York
Partisan
Partisan is a small independent restaurant, cafe and arts space, and it actually sells the odd antique. It also showcases some wonderful art work in its cafe and dining room. Partisan, in my eyes, is the greatest eatery to happen to York. It is the only place I go to eat if I'm out and about. This is the perfect place to stop to recharge those batteries when you're deep into your antiques and vintage treasure hunt.
112 Micklegate, York YO1 6JX
And, finally, what goes better with antiques and vintage than craft beer!? Somewhere special to wind down the rest of your day and numb the pain of your blistered feet, you ask...?
Image: Hop O'Clock, York
Hop O'Clock
Situated on Colliergate, this little gem is the stop for all of your beery needs. I think, and correct me if i'm wrong, Hop O'Clock is the smallest bar in York and they have a cabinet filled specifically with aged beers, so that's going to be my tenuous link to antiques and vintage...
A delightful craft beer shop with a charming little tap room. They have four taps which are frequently changed with the finest beer in town. The lovely Jimmy and Julia are your hosts. They're both very knowledgable about everything beery and have done a really nice job in creating a funky and welcoming little venue. A must visit!
21 Colliergate, York, YO1 8BN
Well, that's it for this week folks! I hope this has opened your eyes to York's antiques and vintage scene, and I think you'll agree, it's a pretty good place to come for a weekend of treasure hunting! So what are you waiting for, get those hotels booked!
As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, particularly if you've been lucky enough to visit any of these fine establishments! And, remember, if you enjoy my posts, please show your support by subscribing to my blog, which you can do here or via the 'Home' page.
So, until next week, stay safe, keep buying those antiques and keep spreading that Source Vintage love!
Cheerio!
Stephen
Owner Source Vintage
Shop from Source Vintage here