Harleston antique and vintage centre celebrates five years

A five-year success story is being celebrated at Harleston’s antique and vintage centre.

August 2018 marks five years since directors David Charles and Glen Philpott opened the former Victorian corn exchange as Cornucopia.

It now boasts a variety of vintage shops, galleries and cabinets and many of its 35 traders have been there since the very beginning.

The most distant trader returns regularly from London with new stock and customers come from much farther afield.

Australians and Americans are frequently among the worldwide visitors, said centre manager Erika Hammond. Antiques expert James Braxton was also a visitor for a BBC1 Antiques Road Trip programme.

Cornucopia has also been the scene of many celebrations. Hen nights, vintage games evenings, VE Day celebrations and most recently a 70th birthday party have all taken place, said Miss Hammond.

Cornucopia has provided an opportunity for Miss Hammond to earn a diploma with distinction in Understanding Antiques, and last year the centre won the Helping The High Street Thrive award at the South Norfolk Independent Retailer Awards.

Miss Hammond said that Cornucopia had always taken part in town events and would be even more active now a team of directors, staff and traders had been put together to join the Harleston’s Future events organisers.

“The directors, staff and traders thank customers and friends for their support over the last five years - and we are looking forward to many, many more,” said Miss Hammond.