BBC antiques date for Birkenhead customer

Two of the antiques world’s best known personalities descended on our Price Street Business Centre in Birkenhead this week to film an episode of popular BBC show The Antiques Road Trip.

Experts Charles Hanson and Christina Trevanion travelled to Kruger Gibbons Auctioneers and Valuers in their vintage Morris Minor, battling it out to see whose haul would bring in the greatest profit under the hammer.

They were greeted by a packed sale room and treated to specially-made cupcakes and wares from a traditional ice cream van.

TV debut

It is the first time a TV crew has visited Kruger Gibbons, which opened in June last year, but the Antiques Road Trip will be back again next season and the team at the auction house has already contacted other shows, includingDickinson’s Real Deal.

“Apparently there are not many women who own auction houses, so that makes us a bit different,” co-founder Lynda Kruger says.

Lynda launched the start-up business in 2012 with partner and senior auctioneer James Gibbon – and says their reputation is growing rapidly. James is no stranger to the TV cameras, having previously appeared on Flog It, as well as enjoying a stint as a presenter on Channel 4.

A family affair

Lynda is very proud of her team, which also includes two of her family members. Husband Adrian Kruger is an auctioneer with the company and daughter Debbi is in charge of marketing.

“I used to be in the police force and when I left I started going to auctions as a pastime,” Lynda says.

“I discovered that there were a lot of things I disagreed with when it came to the payment side. Sometimes, such as when someone has just passed away – the items people are selling are so treasured and need to be treated with respect. I found that people weren’t always compassionate and I wanted to bring back the old fashioned values of a polite, personal service and listening to everyone’s story.”

Perfect location

Lynda spotted our business centre as the location for the auction room because Adrian had a company opposite.  “It was perfect and had everything we needed,” she says.

The auction room holds general sales every Monday, as well as a worldwide sale every two and a half months, which is streamed live on the internet, with bids coming in from as far afield as Russia, America, Dubai and Beijing. Customers can also call in or get in touch for free valuations. All donations received from the free refreshments go to St John’s Hospice, in Wirral.

Our Birkenhad centre offers a range of flexible business space within easy access of the M53. Accommodation includes:

• office space
• industrial units 
• meeting rooms and
• workshops 

For more information, email Business Centre Manager Neil Williamson or call on 0151 670 1553.