GB expansion creates seven jobs

The team at GB Antiques Centre at Lancaster Leisure Park has revealed its new furniture expansion in time for the Christmas rush.

GB Antiques is now the biggest antiques and furniture centre in the country. Furniture has always been a huge proportion of the business and now this new area provides a dedicated space for a further seven dealers, all who specialise in beautiful furniture.

Situated at the top of the 42,000 sq ft antiques haven, the area has been looked after for nearly 20 years by Graham Walker. He is a familiar face to many and has always traded in second hand and antique furniture. He specialised in pine furniture and was a popular dealer in the centre.

Since Graham announced his retirement, the GB team led by owner Allan Blackburn have been hard at work to upgrade and extend the area Graham used, creating space for 12 specialist furniture dealers.

There is always a waiting list of traders looking for stalls at the popular centre, and this new section means that finally a place can be offered to an extra 7 dealers. The five current furniture dealers will keep their existing space.

Jimmy Blackburn, Allan’s son, has managed this side of the business for many years and said “Obviously we are sorry to see Graham go – he’s been part of the furniture (pardon the pun) for many years, but the new area will offer visitors something more to see and it will be a great place to bag a bargain or just browse the many gorgeous pieces of furniture.”

It’s timely too as this is a busy time of year in the furniture game. With Christmas creeping up on us GB Antiques sells a lot of furniture at this time. Jimmy explained: “In November and December we get many people looking for a new three piece suite or a dining table and chairs. It seems the arrival of the relatives for their annual turkey lunch spurs people into action and the extra chairs needed can often inspire a big buying decision."