A Brocante is more than just a trading place; it’s an atmosphere, an occasion, a sharing of history and heritage, somewhere for great conversation and a feeling of joi de vivre. Not forgetting a strong cup of coffee and maybe a spot of lunch with an old friend. The Brocante is as much a place to enjoy watching the world go by as it is to treasure hunt – people-watching is very much the norm in France.

The literal translation of Brocante, from French to English, is ‘Secondhand Market’, which is exactly what BathVA is. If you’re a fan of all things French then you’ll be pleased to hear that we’re adding a French twist to the calendar by holding three Brocante themed markets this year. The first one will take place on Sunday March 6th and then again on July 3rd and August 4th. You’ll be treated to a hand-picked selection of traders who source in France, as well as being able to enjoy coffee and patisserie, or a bowl of French Onion soup, at our cafe.

The trend to buy French antiques, vintage, textiles and homewares is currently booming in the UK and the Brocante is on the rise with many vintage and antique enthusiasts regularly making the journey to regions like Provance, Normandy and Limousin to get a fix of the real-deal. 

Some are lucky enough to have second-homes there, whilst others make a holiday of it. But, if you don’t have the time or money to go yourself then there are those who do us the service of scouring France’s many Brocantes for beautiful things so that we get a share-of-the-crop right here on our doorstep. 

This is exactly what regular BathVA traders Gorgeous Old French Stuff do. Seven years ago Kate and Neil McKernan – Lewis bought a house near Carcassonne in the Languedoc region, which sits against the west of Provence, and found that the house came with most of its contents. This turned out to be a rich-picking of French country vintage and antiques. Because French family homes tend to be handed down through generations it’s fairly standard for the contents to come as part of the deal. For Kate and Neil this was all part of the excitement; they not only had a renovation project on their hands but a lot of gorgeous old French stuff to sort out. It seemed logical to start selling it all Vide-Greniers (empty your attic) style here in the UK.

If your budget doesn’t extend to buying a whole house in France but you are curious to find out what all the fuss is about, and you’d love to get right to the heart of Brocante and Vide-Greniers territory, then there are some wonderful organised trips. 

We’ve been recommended Brocant Experience Road Trip run by two wonderful characters, and traders themselves, Gary Nicholls and Ramon Mensink. They are the go-to men for the ultimate coach trip and if reports are correct then you’ll get to sample more than just shopping. We’ve heard that their packed schedule also includes a veritable jamboree of eating and drinking.

Many homes, lifestyle and antiques magazines feature the fashionable French/Brocante look in their style pages, with many offering up really good, practical information on how to Brocante in France. New magazine Reclaim recently delivered just that in their March 2016 issue with a feature called Strike Vintage Gold in France. It’s well worth picking up a copy and turning to page 93 for some inspiration. We also recommend following the travels and musings of antiques dealer Gilli Hanna who gives a wonderfully descriptive account of brocante-life in her blog, The Diary of a Brocanteuse. 

Do come and join us for a taster of all things French and beautiful at Green Park Station on March 6th, 9am – 4pm.

Vive le Brocante!

Alice x

About Alice. Twitter: alice_roberton