The joint-owners of a new auction house have been blown away by the success of their inaugural sale.
Old Brewery Auctions, based in the former Wickwar Brewery building in South Gloucestershire, which dates back to the 19th century and has links to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, launched the first of a fortnightly offline auctions on Friday, April 11th.
The new business is a collaboration between friends and business partners Joseph Trinder, Auctioneer and Managing Director of Wotton Auction Rooms, and Harry Leach of Trashman Clearance and Trashman Treasures. The business prides itself on being an ‘offline sale’ with buyers bidding in person.
Mr Trinder told Stroud Times: “In the early days of my career everything was pretty much offline, and you had a room full of people, and I had to jostle my way past them to get to the podium,” said Joseph.
“We’re excited to be recreating that buzz and bringing it back to the sale.”
Harry, his business partner, agreed: “We’re bringing people here into the room, getting them involved, bidding and sharing that real excitement that comes from a live auction.
“We were absolutely blown away by the huge level of support we received as we launched Old Brewery Auctions on Friday.
“We welcomed well more than 150 guests from as close-by as Wickwar and as far afield as Richmond to our inaugural auction and we were so moved by the exceptional level of support and turnout with our car park filled within 30 minutes of the viewing starting and literally hundreds of registrations.
“We are beyond proud and hugely excited to bring you our next fortnightly Friday night sale on 25th April from 5pm – we already have hundreds of lots just waiting for you to find them.”
Wickwar Brewery ceased beer production at the end of 2020, a victim of the global pandemic and since then Harry’s family’s businesses, Trashman Clearance and Trashman Treasures, have had their base in the historic brewery building.
“I’m an avid recycler and I’m really passionate about it. We prioritise recycling, and we want to bring that to this business where everything gets a new lease of life. Less waste should be really important for everyone.”
Joseph added: “It’s a question of giving these pieces a new lease of life. The green credentials of what we do are so important to Harry and I in our existing businesses.”
This all fits with a surge in interest in antiques amongst millennials, with website Vinted fuelling a new interest in second-hand goods. The British Antique Dealers’ Association (BADA) reports a surge in members in their late 20s and 30s.
“Ultimately, it’s about stopping these items going into landfill,” said Harry.
Joseph added: “Antiques are green – it’s a way of people obtaining an interesting, different, unique interior whilst costing them a fraction of the high street retail price.
“It’s a win-win for us as business owners, the public as buyers, and for the environment – as Wotton Auction Rooms and Trashman Treasures – it’s a continuation of what we are all about and it fits in so well.”
