Here we are, co-owner, staff and stallholders outside Hungerford Arcade celebrating the Patron Saint of England – St. George.

L-R Scott, Lee, Chula, Ann, Ian, Rita, Adrian, Barbro and Tim. In the front is Ann’s baby, Spencer all with our beautiful England flag!

Hungerford Arcade are very aware that sometimes it is easy to forget where we are. Every day we are immersed in our world of antiques and collectables, people popping in to have a browse, selling some treasured items or simply passing through our beautiful town of Hungerford.  We meet a whole variety of people from all walks of life so it was nice to meet Em and Pat this week who work for the Canal & River Trust.

L-R Em and Pat with manager, James

It was a wet and windy day when they visited the Arcade, looking for shelter and drumming up support for this fabulous national charity.  The canal is an important aspect of town life, as it snakes its way from Newbury to Hungerford and onwards into Wiltshire.  It attracts all sorts of people from those on vacation or, who simply enjoy the pleasurable walks at their disposal, to those whose homes are on the canal itself.

Set up in 2012, the Canal & River Trust is a nationwide charitable trust.  The Trust helps to support the local communities and the infrastructure of the waterways which has a staggering 2980 bridges, 1580 locks and 335 aqueducts which are open and readily used each day.

By championing the benefits of the “Local Canal” both socially and educationally, it is securing a great part of our nation’s heritage for future generations to come.  As Em and Pat enjoyed looking around the Arcade and having a cup of tea in Rafters cafe, I agreed to sign up to their monthly newsletter which keeps you up to date with news and events.

The Trust is a charity of course, and donations can be made online by visiting their website https://canalrivertrust.org.uk and they’re always looking out for ‘canal volunteers’.  So if you ever have any free time, be sure to get in touch with them.

Bookshop has in stock all the World Boo

k Day titles ready for children to swap their vouchers – or they can get £1 off any children’s book of their choice. From 3pm tomorrow (Thursday 7th) we will also be offering free cake, activity sheets and an extra stamp on their ‘Book Monster’ Loyalty Card plus a sticker if they tell us what they have enjoyed reading recently (we like to know!).

Hungerford Arcade will be open from 10.00 am tomorrow morning (2nd February 2019) and we look forward very much to seeing you.

Hungerford Arcade will be closed today due to the weather conditions.  We are very sorry to do this, but staff and customers just cannot travel in such dangerous conditions

Stay safe and we will hopefully see you tomorrow.

Hungerford Arcade co-owners, Adrian Gilmour and Hazel Browne, managers, Rita, Wendy and James, staff and stallholders wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

Hungerford Arcade really like to make visitors really welcome and that goes for our four-legged ones too.  We get many dogs coming in with their mums and dads to do a bit of shopping.  Some are real characters and love to have a fuss made of them while others like to go one step further and dress up for the occasion just like these three beauties who went all out to spread the joys of Christmas.  Which they certainly did.

Hungerford Arcade just cannot get enough of its overseas customers.   Today we have George Kyle who came shopping for old laundry irons with his lovely wife, Jane.  

George Kyle with Arcade co-owner Adrian Gilmour

George has been collecting antique laundry irons and related memorabilia  for many years.  Then he found that someone had the biggest collection in Australia so after much discussion, George went and bought the lot (two containers full!).

George now has the biggest collection in New Zealand and opened a museum, Esk-Ironz, which is dedicated to laundry irons and related items in New Zealand.

The Esk-Ironz Museum is open by appointment only.  You can follow them on facebook at Facebook.com/Esk-Ironz  or contact them by e-mail eskironz@gmail.com and enjoy this amazing museum.

Sunday 30th September 2018 – 11.00am to 4.00pm

Our resident record dealer, Adam Thompson will be holding one of his fantastic record valuation days at the end of the month.  So gather up all of your old LPs, Singles & 78s and Adam will value and/or make you an offer for them.

The event is free but we do ask for a £1 donation (per collection) to one of our charities.

We hope to see you there!