The third annual LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair Berkeley Square will take place from 21 to 25 September. Around 90 of the UK’s top art and antiques dealers, alongside a select few European specialists, will exhibit for sale sophisticated and stylish works of art and design from the ancient to the contemporary. Edited by Marie Benoît

If you happen to be traveling to London in September don’t forget that during that month the September Design Season LAPADA will bring sophisticated style and glamour to Berkeley Square. The appeal of the LAPADA (The Association of Art & Antiques Dealers) Fair lies in its diverse array of fine art and exceptional objects of all periods, at a wide price range from under £500 to over £500,000, making it an event accessible to those venturing in to buying fine works of art

for the first time, as well as serious collectors. All items for sale are examined and vetted to ensure authenticity as well as quality, providing peace of mind for customers. LAPADA members also work to a strict consumer Code of Practice. The collection of disciplines represented at the Fair is wide and ranges from Old Master drawings, textiles, early furniture and sculpture, furniture, sculpture, paintings, drawings and photography and so much more.

A new restaurant is provided by Rhubarb, one of London’s best caterers, and offers a fine dining experience that may be booked in advance. Featuring its own after-hours entrance, the LAPADA Rhubarb Restaurant will be a delicious place to round off a day at the Fair, without having to forego any browsing time, and will also offer light meals and teas. An informal café is located elsewhere inside the Fair.

A separate Terrace Champagne Bar, outside under the famous Plane trees but still within the Fair, has open air appeal yet cleverly designed to protect from inclement weather.

With its prime central location, the best in London, a 15% increase in visitor numbers last year, and strong commitment

from association members, the LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair Berkeley Square is firmly established within the top five

antiques events in the UK.

Members of LAPADA, the UK’s largest association for professional antiques and art dealers, have expressed a feeling of optimism for their industry this year. It is often said that there is a ‘flight to quality’ during times of economic difficulty.

Perhaps this is why results from LAPADA’s 2010 Annual Membership Survey show that a majority of members, 63% (up from 54% in 2009), achieved a higher turnover last year compared to 2009, whilst 75% expected turnover in 2011 to be better or the same as 2010.