Georgina Adam sketches out the developing showdown over the vacated slot once filled by the Grosvenor House fair. The Lesters have already set for to develop their Olympia fair. But other ideas have been bubbling along among dealers:

There is fierce competition to fill the void left by London’s Grosvenor House Antiques Fair, which was unceremoniously closed down in June this year. Four top London dealers – Apter-Fredericks, Malletts, Ronald Phillips and Asprey’s – are eyeing two locations, one in Chelsea, the other in Westminster, and depending where they can get permission they will put up a 10,500 sq m tent for their new venture, to be called Masterpiece.

Harry Apter says: “[This fair] will be something completely fresh and new. It won’t be a reincarnation of Grosvenor House, and will be far more international. We’ll have luxury goods as well; we could feature, for instance, a seven-figure Ferrari Dino or a vintage Château Lafite as well as art and antiques.” He claims he has huge support: “I could fill the 160 booths today.” He has already tentatively pencilled in the dates June 24 to 30 2010.

Art Market: All’s Fair, or the Battle of the Tents (Financial Times)