BBC Bargain Hunt’s Antiques Expert joins Henry Adams

Henry Adams Fine Art Auctioneers has welcomed BBC TV antiques expert, Nick Hall, as Director of their Chichester Saleroom. 

Nick joins this well-established South East auctioneer from 15 January 2024. Bringing a wealth of experience in auctions across the UK, Nick plans to grow the operation with the introduction of specialist events alongside the company’s regular monthly auctions. 

He has appeared regularly as an expert on Bargain Hunt for more than eight years. Before joining the BBC’s Bargain Hunt team, he had been invited as a guest auctioneer on Flog It! and found he had a flair for the role of onscreen antiques expert alongside his main auctioneering career. 

“I’ve been involved in auctions all my working life,” says Nick Hall, director of Henry Adams Auctioneers. “I always wanted to do something fascinating that would capture my interest. I began as a porter at a Worthing auction house, holding up the items that were going under the hammer. I had an affinity for the role and a thirst for knowledge about each piece. I love the way that antiques and fine art capture people in different ways - their history, rarity, value, or simply that people may just like the way something looks or the way it makes them feel.”

As a generalist, Nick assesses all types of items for their likely value at auction, whether they date from Cromwell or Conran. “Every aspect of historic items has something to interest me, so I chose not to specialise. If I had to pick one area though, it would probably be fine art. I admire the creativity that can take a blank canvas to depict a scene of beauty.”

Over the years, Nick has met with hundreds of people and valued thousands of items for sale at auction. “One of the nicest elements of the role is meeting a real cross-section of people. Some have researched their item’s history and are extremely knowledgeable, while others have absolutely no idea, so I’ll guide them and impart an indication of likely value in the current market. There’s a lot of fluctuation in antique markets depending on many different factors including what’s trending in the UK or overseas, so you have to tread carefully and give the best advice at all times.”

His flair for auctioneering brought Nick to the attention of BBC’s Flog It! in 2005 when he was asked to be a guest host. It was such a success that they asked him to come on board regularly. This led to him joining the panel of experts for Bargain Hunt. He plans to continue to film with the BBC at intervals throughout the year.

“There’s great camaraderie with the BBC TV team, both onscreen and with the camera, lighting and sound crews,” said Nick. “They’re a really interesting bunch of people who I’ve got to know over the years, it’s almost like going to a big family get-together.”

Nick was approached to join Henry Adams and seized the opportunity. “Henry Adams is a strong local brand which has been around a long time. The Saleroom in Chichester is in a fabulous, historic building in the heart of the city so it’s a great location. It’s an excellent team so we have lots of plans, including the introduction of special events. I’m also keen to work closely with all the 16 Henry Adams estate agency offices across the region to help clients sell, or buy, some wonderful things.”

Nick’s first auction at Henry Adams will be held when he takes to the rostrum on Thursday 25th January where more than 650 items lots will be going under the hammer.  

Having conducted auctions for a firm in Cheshire for eight years, Nick returned to Sussex in 2017 where he was asked to join a Kent auction house before joining Henry Adams this year. “It’s nice being back in Sussex,” he says. “I know this county like the back of my hand as my family and I are from Worthing. We live by the beach, so I enjoy long strolls by the shore and hiking on the Downs. I’ve recently also taken up the martial art of Krav Maga. It’s important to keep fit and active as I’m always travelling, visiting people in their homes to assess their collections and scurrying about to cherry-pick the items we want in our sales. It’s an exciting business as there’s always something new to discover.”

Ian Wiggett, CEO of Henry Adams said, “We’re delighted to welcome Nick to the Henry Adams team. Our Saleroom has always been an integral part of the business since it was set up more than 30 years ago, so it’s great to have someone of Nick’s calibre leading our first-class team to drive it forward. We have every confidence it will be an even greater success.”

If you would like Nick to value your fine art, jewellery, ceramics, clocks, carpets, collectables or furniture, get in touch with Henry Adams Fine Art Auctioneers on 01243 532223 or for more information on the next Auction, visit henryadamsfineart.co.uk