'Great concept' Lichfield café teams up with historic city business
A family-owned Lichfield firm is supporting another with its new business venture.
Lichfield’s new hospitality venue, The Auction Café by Richard Winterton, has been kitted out with cutlery from another of the city’s oldest firms; Arthur Price.
Auctioneer Richard Winterton said: “Throughout 2024, we were celebrating 160 years since the very first Wintertons office opened in Breadmarket Street back in 1864.
"A major part of marking this milestone was the opening of The Auction Café in Market Street just yards from that first office.
“When it came to choosing suppliers, we wanted to work with local companies and for cutlery Arthur Price was the only choice.
“Like ourselves, Arthur Price is a local, family firm with great heritage and ties to the community.
“It has an impressive collection of world-class quality cutlery and we opted for the Baguette range, whose fluid lines and understated pattern really complements the vibe of our new establishment.
“We’re very happy with our choice and have been getting lots of great feedback from customers.”
Arthur Price has been making cutlery since 1902. Currently run by fourth and fifth generations of the Price family, it has factories in Sheffield and Birmingham, with the company’s HQ midway between the two in Lichfield.
CEO Simon Price said: “It's great that two local businesses are partnering. I think it is really important that independent businesses support each other, even better if local.
“Together our companies have been serving people for over 280 years."
“The Auction Cafe is not just a place for a coffee, it's a meeting point for people to chat, as Lichfeldians have done on Market Street for generations.
“It's a great concept and I wish Richard and his team the very best.”
Both Arthur Price and Richard Winterton Auctioneers are strong supporters of the We Love Lichfield fund, of which Simon Price is patron.
The community placed based fund has raised over £400,000 for local good causes over the last decade.
Richard Winterton Auctioneers and Arthur Price, together with other local independent business, have made a significant difference to voluntary groups across the district in the last few years.
The Auction Café is open seven days a week, from 9am to 4pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 2pm on Sundays.
People can have jewellery, watches, collectables and antiques valued and/or treat themselves to coffee, tea, cakes, cream teas, bread and savoury snacks, and hear all about the world of auctions.
Valuer Georgina Southam FIRV FGA DGA BA (Hons) will be offering free valuations of jewellery, watches, gold and silver at the café on Tuesdays January 14, 21 and 28 . People can drop in between 10am and 12.30pm and 1pm to 3pm.
Specialist valuations also take place between 10am and 12.30pm on Thursdays, with fine art, silver and ceramics on January 9 and 23, coins, medals and militaria on January 16 and toys and trains on January 30.
