It's the nation's favorite antiques experts!

I think I've found something.

Pretty good, yeah.

Behind the wheel of a classic car.

- Oh!

- Stop it!

And a goal to scour Britain for antiques.

- Ooh!

- I think it's brilliant.

The aim - to make the biggest profit at auction.

- (GAVEL) - But it's no mean feat.

You're some man!

There'll be worthy winners and valiant losers.

- (LAUGHS) - No!

Will it be the high road to glory... ..or the slow road to disaster?

- (GEARS CRUNCH) - Oh, no!

This is the Antiques Road Trip!

Top dollar!

VOICEOVER (VO): Ah, look at that.

Good for the soul, isn't it?

We've popped over the Irish Sea for this trip to take in all the delights that Northern Ireland has to offer.

What's that lough?

I think that is Lough Neagh.

Lough Neagh.

Is that the biggest lough in Ireland?

It's the biggest lough in the UK, I think.

Is it really?

VO: Today's tourists are David Harper and Louise Gostelow, doing a spot of sightseeing before they hit the shops.

I wonder if they have any water sports?

Why?

Do you fancy a bit of water skiing?

Do a bit of... Well, I...

I love water skiing.

Do you water ski?

- No.

- Oh.

(LAUGHS) Jet ski?

I used to have a jet ski.

- Jet ski?

No.

- Yeah.

Oh, well.

We've got a lot in common then, haven't we?

- (LAUGHS) Yes.

- Do you have a rowing boat?

- Yes!

- Oh.

Boring.

VO: Getting on like a house on fire, aren't they?

Dealer David is a veritable veteran of these jaunts, where his sparkling wit and effervescent trousers often dazzle the competition.

Are we going to do a deal for 50 quid?

But Louise is still a relative rookie in Road Trip terms.

It's just a nice little silver dish.

VO: Yes, fond of anything with a hallmark is our auctioneer from Buckinghamshire.

But that wasn't her first choice of a career, oh no.

I always wanted to be a weather girl, you know.

- A weather girl?

- Weather girl.

Well, how come you became an auctioneer then?

I...

It's just a logical step forwards.

- Oh, right!

Yeah.

(LAUGHS) Today's gonna be sunny!

Ha!

VO: Oh, stick to the antiques, Louise.

I think it's set to be wet for the day.

Their chariot for this adventure will be this rather lovely 1971 VW Beetle Cabriolet.

I love them.

Have you had one before?

I've driven one in Mexico before.

So they scream that kinda flower power.

- They do indeed.

- Peace and love, baby!

(LAUGHS) Do you think it's gonna be peace and love for us?

It's too early to tell, surely.

VO: Ooh!

She hasn't warmed to your charms yet, David.

They've each got £200 in their pockets and a lot of miles ahead.

So let's go!

Are you gonna blow your budget?

Oh, who knows?

Who knows?

I'm not gonna give you any of my secrets, Louise.

Oh!

You're gonna have to discover these for yourself - OK. - Mm!

VO: I think we might have a fight on our hands.

On this trip they'll have a nosey round Northern Ireland and a wander through Wales before heading east, ending up by the seaside for an auction in Scarborough.

On this first leg we're heading to the big city for an auction in Belfast, but let's make a start out here in the country at Ballynure.

The village has a bit of a literary connection, with links to Jonathan Swift and Mark Twain.

And all that storytelling must have rubbed off because someone told Louise that there's an antique shop around here.

Somewhere.

Hello.

Am I in the right place?

- I think so.

- I'm Louise.

Louise.

Hector.

Pleased to meet you.

Nice to meet you.

This is the shop, come on in.

Fantastic.

VO: Greeted in the driveway, how's that for service?

Looks like a bungalow.

- Ooh, wonderful.

- VO: It is a bungalow!

I'll leave you to browse.

Have a look around.

If you see something you're interested in, let me know and... - I will.

..we'll see what we can do.

Fantastic.

Thank you, Hector.

VO: Hector's house, otherwise known as Bridgend Antiques, is big on some very fine furniture.

Lots of other stuff to look at as well.

This is an interesting piece.

This would have been in the servants' quarters of a big house.

And when somebody in the house wanted something, so whether it be the lady of the house who was in the drawing room and she wanted the servant to come up for something, she would ring a bell.

This in the servants' quarters, there'd be a little bell.

It would ding.

There's the little flag behind the window would flicker.

And the servants would know which room to go to.

It's a lovely piece.

And... "J Shannon, Belfast".

So it's a local maker, probably come from a big house in the area.

Let's have a look here.

£275.

Hmm, yes.

Not today, never mind.

VO: A little beyond your £200, ma'am.

Anything else that m'lady might require?

I spotted this on the way in.

And it's a curling stone.

But... Oh!

There's some serious weight there.

So curling stones, you normally think about granite, Scotland.

I believe they come from Ailsa Craig.

We're in Ireland.

I'm gonna put this down cos it's quite heavy.

But that's an interesting bit.

You don't see them every day.

Now then.

OK, so not everybody's into curling, I get that.

But it has a better use than that.

A door stop.

What better thing could you have to prop your door open than a curling stone?

VO: Priced at £78.

While she weighs that up, let's see where her compatriot has ventured to.

He's steered the beetle to Ballinderry.

The upper one, of course.

Only the best for our boy.

Oh, so suave.

Touting itself as Northern Ireland's biggest, Ballinderry Antiques is certainly not lacking in the quantity department.

Quality too.

Plenty for David to get his teeth into.

You can look at any table in an antiques shop, look at the objects and they will take you on a journey through time.

So look over here firstly.

Tiny, little, miniature glasses.

They are late Georgian, about 1820.

So a good 200 years old.

Then let's leap forward to the mid 19th century, a rosewood tea caddy.

That gorgeous sarcophagus shape.

1850.

Leap over to this box, which looks like it's 18th century but it's not.

It's Edwardian Georgian revival, 1900.

And then go over to the left and you see something that really is so out of place, it's unbelievable.

It looks like spaceship territory.

It was made in Britain in about 1930.

And there's something clean and fresh and modern about art deco.

Silver-plated only, just a little dish for serving could be cocktails.

If you're a big fan of Poirot, like I am, you would see that in his beautiful art deco London apartment.

It oozes style and sophistication.

It is £28, and I'm having it.

VO: Ooh, he's off!

Back in Ballynure, Louise is being a little more thorough in her search.

Can I have a look through here, Hector?

Yeah, sure, Louise.

It's just my workshop, but sure.

You never know what you might find.

Ha!

Clearly there's this priceless piece.

VO: He gets everywhere, that Laidlaw.

How did Paul get on last time he was here?

Paul bought three items off me and all three made him a profit.

- Really?

- Yeah.

Right, there's hope for me yet then.

There is indeed.

VO: Better get back to it.

She's got her eye on that curling stone, remember.

Anything a little lighter?

(SIGHS) Look at this, it's a cake stand.

You can just see it now with all your cakes and your sandwiches and bits and pieces on it.

And normally, they fold up.

Normally, they fold up.

VO: Oh, Hector?

Yeah, it's just...

Put your finger in there.

- Just like that.

- Just like that.

Just like that.

Thank you very much.

Now, come with me cos I've spotted something else.

VO: Mm.

We're following.

We're following.

This is more like the deluxe model.

I like this.

Look, and it folds up ever so easily.

This is a bit better than your average.

It's made of mahogany, it's got some nice little inlaid stringing round here.

And do you know what, you don't have to use it for just cakes and sandwiches.

You could pop it in the corner of your room, put a plant on it, whatever.

So you do tend to see these in the sale rooms.

But they tend to be more like that model.

The single sort of three tier one.

This is just a little bit different.

VO: Room for more cakes, eh?

Always a plus in my book.

You'll need to ask Hector the price though.

Right, I've spotted this and I quite like this.

Yeah.

But there's no price tag on it.

Does it mean it's free?

(SIGHS) If only!

VO: I've never seen that trick work yet.

Ha!

95.

(GASPS) Hector, what are you doing to me?

I also like the curling stone.

So if I was to have this and the curling stone, what would you say pricewise for the two?

£100 the two.

(INHALES) Can I squeeze you just a little bit more?

- Can I... Go on.

- You... - Can I... can I say 80?

- 90 quid.

Go on, Hector, it's a deal.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

VO: A very generous reduction there, £45 each, which leaves you with a 110.

Now, you just have to carry them off the premises.

Where's David when you need him?

VO: Don't be a softy, it's only a mile or two or so to the bus stop.

(CHUCKLES) And speaking of David, down in Upper Ballinderry there's a deco dish that's emphatically on the wish list.

Anything else?

Right.

Interesting cabinet full of miniatures.

I do like miniatures.

But with miniatures, you've got to find something that's a little out of the ordinary and unusual.

There we have something that is unusual.

OK, not exactly a miniature as in a painting.

But it a miniature image.

It is a cameo.

I've got to tell you that me and cameos don't go well together, I'm not a big lover of them.

But there's something unusual about this one.

Look at the image.

Think about a cameo in your mind and you will see undoubtedly a female face.

That obviously is a male with his big beard, probably an ancient Greek or ancient Roman philosopher.

Even though he looks like he's 2,000-3,000 years old, he isn't.

He's probably 19th century.

Made out of a cowrie shell, hand-carved.

And if you were rich during the middle and later part of the 19th century, you would go on a grand tour of Europe and at some point you would need a memento.

This is a grand tour memento from the 19th century.

And he's rare because he's male.

And he is £78.

He's coming home with me.

VO: No hanging about today, eh?

Better have a word with the proprietor then.

Right, Donald, you know I'm a big spender.

Indeed, David.

(LAUGHS) What have we got?

What can we do?

I'm in desperate need of those two items.

OK.

The cameo.

Um, that could be £60.

Yeah.

And the plated stand, a further 20.

- 20.

OK, 80 quid?

- That would be perfect.

Brilliant.

Thank you very much.

VO: And that buy leaves him with £120.

Donald, always a delight, thank you very much.

Indeed, a pleasure.

Thank you, thank you.

VO: Right then, Mr Harper, on to the next.

Mind you don't sit on your cap now, love.

Louise, meanwhile, has put her shopping on hold and headed to the great outdoors.

She's made her way to Carnlough and the magnificent Causeway Coast.

She's here to find out about a local crop growing on the edge of these shores that has been sustaining the folk hereabouts for many centuries - dulse.

And who better to ask than someone who harvests it, Gillian Thompson?

Scrummy.

Dulse is a... a rare algae, an edible seaweed.

It's picked at low tide, dried on racks and then eaten as a snack.

And so it just grows literally on the rocks... - Yeah.

- ..over here?

Yes.

Once the tide goes out, you just strip it off, leaving the root, of course.

So how important is dulse to this stretch of coastline?

Dulse would be part of our heritage and our culture in Northern Ireland.

People, during the season, from May through to October, expect to see dulse in the shops, where you can go in and you can buy it and you're eating it just out of the bag like a bag of crisps.

So it's as popular as potatoes in Northern Ireland.

And are there different types of dulse?

No.

No.

There are different types of edible seaweed... Uh-huh?

..but dulse is just one particular species.

VO: The first recorded evidence of this seaweed as food dates back to the sixth century in a poem describing the monks of Iona harvesting dulse.

And the algae has sustained communities all across the North Atlantic for centuries.

But during the 1840s, Ireland was hit by the Great Famine, which, it's estimated, killed over a million people through starvation and disease.

In order to survive, many people looked to dulse as a vital source of nutrition.

During the famine, a lot of people came down to the coastal communities looking for an alternative food source, and this was the life saver.

So it has saved hundreds of thousands of lives over all the years.

And so would this be dried before it was eaten, or would you eat it raw?

You can eat that wet, as is.

Most seaweed is actually dried, just really to preserve the shelf life.

That would last maybe a week in the fridge wet.

Whereas dried, it could last up to eight, nine, ten months.

So you can eat it wet.

You can.

(LAUGHS) VO: When in Rome, eh, Louise?

With very little taste off it.

OK.

It just tastes like the sea, doesn't it?

Perhaps an acquired taste.

VO: Because of the famine, dulse got a reputation as a food for the poor and fell out of favor, but now it's having a revival.

Along with other edible seaweeds, it's a big thing in cosmetics and medicine.

And thanks to its nutritional properties, it's also highly sought after in culinary circles.

Perhaps trying it cooked might be more to your liking, Louise.

And what have we got here?

OK, what we've made here is dulse chowder.

We've got dulse, onions, potatoes, leeks, cream, and coconut milk.

Plus we've got a mixture of white fish and prawns in there, as well.

Sounds absolutely delicious.

So has it got a high nutritional value?

Very much so.

There's more minerals and vitamins in seaweed than most land vegetables.

And it's high in iodine as well.

Smells absolutely delicious, Gillian.

Would you like to taste some?

I would.

VO: She's definitely got an appetite for the stuff now.

That's good.

That's really good.

VO: Away from that bracing sea air, David is trundling towards the town of Ballymena, known locally as the City of the Seven Towers.

It's also the birthplace of one Liam Neeson, who's apparently been in the odd movie.

Ha!

Someone else with a particular set of skills is our David, here to part with some of his 120 remaining pounds in Angela's Antiques and Jewellery.

In you go, boy.

- Hello.

- Hiya.

- It's a bit warmer in here.

- It is nice.

It's freezing out there.

You must be Amy.

- Yep.

- Amy, I'm David.

Nice to meet you.

Lovely to meet you.

Lovely to meet you.

You're so young!

I try.

(LAUGHS) VO: Amy runs this place with her mum.

And although this shop has only been open a short while, they've been in the business for years, with their own unique way of doing things.

Nothing priced up at all, is it?

Nope.

Ah.

So how does that work, then?

- It's a bargain.

- Everything's a bargain?

Everything's a bargain.

You have to bargain for it.

You have to bargain for it?

Yeah.

They call it a Ballymena bargain.

Talk to me about that.

So, we'll say a price, and then you... We'll see what we can come to on an arrangement on the price.

So I have to ask for a price on everything?

OK, alright, so... Well, I'll test you then.

The Davenport... - Yeah.

- ..how much is that?

150.

150.

So what do I do at that point?

Say, offer 20 or something?

- Yep.

- OK. Well, 20.

60.

Well, I don't know.

What do I do?

Say, 30?

No, 60 would be the best.

60.

OK.

This...

I'm getting to grips with this.

VO: Glad someone is.

It's in quite good condition.

- I was just... - Quite good.

I was about to say it's in dreadful condition!

Is that the Ballymena way, as well?

(LAUGHS) Yep.

Talk everything up and make it look better.

It's a sweetie.

Lovely tooled leather top, I've got to say.

Yeah, it's very nice.

There's some of the gold gilt, the smallest wee bit left.

That's right.

That's probably original, actually.

But it adds to the character of it.

Honestly, you're very good, aren't you?

VO: A born saleswoman.

Anything else pique your interest?

- OK, Victorian chair.

- Yeah?

In mahogany, bit ropey.

Later leather.

Got to be absolutely almost for nothing.

If only.

What's the Ballymena bargain price?

- 40.

- Five?

No, 40.

That's not the Ballymena way, is it?

You're meant to...

I'm very confused about this.

See, it works.

It is complicated.

VO: Nice to see David bamboozled for once.

I'll tell you what.

How about putting two things together?

The ropey old Davenport and the horrid old Victorian chair as an unusual little combination.

We're going to give someone a Davenport and a chair to sit at... - Yeah.

..while they're restoring the rubbish Davenport.

(CHUCKLES) I'm gonna make you an offer of the full £60... - Mm-hm.

- ..for the Davenport.

- Yep.

- If you throw the chair in.

- Yeah, OK. Yeah.

- Done.

Deal.

Someone's been done.

I don't know who's been done.

Not me.

..but one of us has been done!

(LAUGHS) VO: You're both still smiling, at least.

Let's divvy it up and say £40 for the Davenport and 20 for the chair.

- That's actually... - It's not bad.

..the perfect combination.

Both... - Very nice.

- ..1870 in date.

Yeah.

Good!

I'm going to make a Ballymena profit.

Yep.

Definitely.

VO: And after that convoluted bit of bargaining, I think we should call it a day.

Time to pick up your chum.

OK, weather girl.

What's it gonna be like tomorrow?

It does look a little bit overcast and rainy.

- It does.

- But with a bit of luck, the sun will come out and we can go topless.

I'm all for topless!

(LAUGHS) VO: I'm sure they mean the car.

Nighty night.

Morning breaks on another glorious day in Northern Ireland.

I think tops will remain firmly on, don't you, chaps?

And chapettes?

So, we've known each other now, Louise, for about 24 hours.

How are you feeling about it?

Oh, it feels like a lifetime, David.

Does it really?

Is that a really good thing, Louise?

Obviously.

Of course it is.

- Of course.

- Of course it is.

Do you think we're feeling like an old married couple now?

Well, it depends if you're going to start criticizing my driving!

(LAUGH) VO: Bonding up nicely, I see.

Yesterday, Louise made a healthy start to her shopping, picking up a curling stone and a deluxe cake stand.

And it folds up ever so easily.

VO: So she currently has £110 to spend today.

David has whittled his starting £200 down to 60, picking up a Davenport, a Victorian chair, a deco dish and one other glovebox-sized trinket.

- What do you think of him?

- Ooh!

- Cameo.

- It's a man!

It's...

Exactly.

That's the point.

- How fantastic.

- It's a man, Louise.

And do you know what makes it even rarer?

Go on.

That's a 19th century example of a north London hipster.

(LAUGHS) VO: I don't think we'll put that on the auction description.

(LAUGHS) Later, we'll be making our way to a sale in Belfast, but first, Louise has parted with her passenger and headed to the seaside town of Ballycastle.

The town has hosted the Ould Lammas Fair, Ireland's oldest, for nearly 400 years.

Traditionally a livestock and horse fair, it's also a good place to pick up a bag of dulse.

Looking to do some horse trading of her own, Louise is here to have a gander around her next shop, Cobwebs.

Oh, good.

Look, it's open.

Small but perfectly formed, I think you'd call it.

And plenty here to get stuck into, all presided over by Andrew - hi, Andrew - who keeps the actual cobwebs at bay.

Ooh!

What have we got here?

I think these are branding irons.

So, we've got an eight and a five.

58.

Could be David Harper's age.

I might have added a few years on there.

Don't tell him.

VO: Mum's the word, Louise.

Would someone buy these at auction?

That's the big question.

I'm guessing these are probably cast iron.

They've gone a little bit rusty, but I don't think that's the end of the world.

People buy rust these days, don't they?

They like the aged look.

Yes, I think these are going to be worth a go.

- Andrew?

- Hi.

I found these.

What would you use them for?

I've sold these before.

And a customer actually used them to brand steaks on a barbecue.

Fantastic!

(LAUGHS) Do you know what, I would never have thought of that.

That's brilliant.

Now this.

There's no price on them.

What would they be?

Eh, about £10 each.

£10 each.

Right, OK. Now then, I've spotted something else.

- Mm-hm?

- Can I show you... Down here you've got this little vintage till.

Right.

I like that.

I'm presuming it does open.

Yep.

Go on, open it for me.

Thank you very much.

No money in it.

(LAUGHS) Shame, eh?

It's a really nice little thing.

Definitely pre-decimal.

You can tell by the keys there.

VO: Made by Cowan de Groot, or Codeg for short, the tin toy maker started in 1919, but this fella dates to the '50s.

It's marked up at £30.

I'm gonna be really cheeky here.

If I take those, £10 for the till?

Is that doable?

Go on.

I'm gonna smile at you really nicely.

So about £30 altogether?

£30 altogether.

Yeah, we can do a deal.

Fantastic.

Andrew, thank you very much.

VO: So, £20 for the branding irons and a tenner for the till.

Ka-ching!

There we go.

That should be £30 there for you.

£30, yeah.

Fantastic, thank you very much.

- Thanks a lot.

- VO: £80 left.

The door's the other way, girl.

She's got there eventually.

(LAUGHS) Now, our David's hanging off from the shopping for a wee while and has taken a trip to the town of Bushmills.

It gives its name to one of Northern Ireland's most renowned alcoholic exports, and is home to the oldest whiskey distillery in the world.

That's a big bit of kit, isn't it?

Yeah, that's...

So this is the old mash tub.

VO: Master distiller Colum Egan is charged with preserving over 400 years of tradition.

Well, I...

I...

I just love to explain, I suppose, some of the differences between Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey.

Well, in Ireland, we'll air dry the barley.

- So this is Irish barley.

- OK. - So, if you have a nose.

- Yeah.

It's like a sweet cereal-type aroma.

Yeah, yeah.

It's quite distinctive.

Yeah.

Whereas in Scotland, they tend to dry their barley using peat.

OK. - Have a... have a nose of this.

- OK. See... see what... see what you get.

Yeah.

Oh, there's a definite difference, isn't there?

So that's the peat coming through?

Huge smokiness coming from the Scottish peat.

So when you taste some scotch, a lot of scotch, you'll get a smoky, peaty flavor.

Whereas you taste Irish whiskey, it's much fruitier, floral characters, much lighter and easier to drink.

And what's best?

Oh, Irish whiskey!

(LAUGHS) VO: He was bound to say that, wasn't he?

The origin of whiskey is lost in history, but it's a moot point as to whether the Scots or the Irish came up with it first.

But they've been commercially distilling Irish whiskey here since James I granted a license in 1608, and the process hasn't changed much in all that time.

Yeah, so this is the still house.

You see the shapes of the stills.

I love the shapes of the stills.

I mean, very antique in their form.

And they haven't changed in hundreds of years.

That shape is critical to the actual taste of the whiskeys.

After fermentation, we've got alcohol and water in our mix.

We heat it up, it turns to a vapor, rises up the still.

As it rises up the still, it touches the outside of the copper and reacts very, very, very slightly with the copper.

So the copper's important?

Oh, crucial to the taste.

We distil three times, so we need to go through three different stills.

We go from 8% after fermentation all the way to 85%.

This is where we actually get the alcohol from the stills, so this is the first time where we see the whiskey running.

Now, I know you're a little bit worried about tasting 85%.

I'm not worried at all.

(LAUGHS) We'll let you taste it then.

OK.

So, this is 85% that's running here.

Right.

So I'm just going to dip my finger in it.

- Yeah.

- So, try a little bit.

Yeah.

Now, just take a sip.

See how smooth, like nectar.

That is heavenly.

And what's the Gaelic word?

Uisce beatha, water of life.

- That's what it is.

- Keeps you going.

(LAUGH) VO: From here, the whiskey is stored in charred wooden barrels, and left to age for 20 years.

It's this ageing process that gives the spirit its distinct flavor and color.

Then it's filtered in a process known as disgorging.

These barrels have been maturing for ten years... OK. ..in the warehouse.

We're just gonna take the bung out.

So that's been in there for ten years?

Yeah, that's... that's a giant corkscrew.

You don't need one of those at home.

(LAUGH) So what we're gonna do is we're gonna put it through a quarter turn.

And this is the first time in ten years any of this whiskey has seen light.

OK.

So, it's a little bit of history.

Go ahead.

I'll let you, go ahead.

- OK.

So... so... - There we go.

Quarter turn.

And you see... Wow!

Look at that.

The water of life.

This is char from the inside of the barrel.

So what we're doing is filtering, actually filtering some of that char out.

So as the whiskey comes out, some of the char inside the barrels also comes out with it.

VO: From here, the whiskey gets put into port or sherry casks for a few more years of finishing.

If only this was smell-o-vision, because that is something I've never experienced before.

It's beautiful.

VO: At the height of its popularity in the 19th century, Irish whiskey, spelled with an E to distinguish it from its Scottish rival, was the most popular whiskey in the world.

But that wasn't to last.

COLUM: There was a big temperance movement, really across the globe, and especially in the US.

And really, I suppose, the introduction in 1919 of banning any imports of whiskey and the sale of alcohol in the US.

So there's lots of small, family-owned businesses and their sole market pretty much was the US.

And almost overnight that market was closed.

Where there was 100 distilleries, over 400 brands, in the... - Yeah.

..late 1800s, if we come to the mid 1900s, really there was only two distilleries - that was Bushmills and Midleton.

VO: And the practice of making poor quality moonshine and labelling it as Irish whiskey during that prohibition era also seriously damaged the drink's reputation.

But after decades of decline, the industry is on the way back with new distilleries starting up and millions of cases being sold again.

Well, this is a very special place.

Really, I suppose this is my favorite place in the whole distillery.

And I tend to think we bring everything together here, cos you can almost see the history in the walls.

So now I suppose we need to taste the result, though.

Wow.

Isn't that beautiful?

It does look grand.

This light color.

So maybe you'll join me in a toast.

Cheers.

It simply goes, there are tall ships, there are long ships, there are ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, and may they always be.

So, sláinte.

Sláinte.

Cheers.

VO: Here's mud in your eye.

(SLURRED) Now, where's the designated driver?

Still beetling away, I see.

I think I've got about £80 left, something like that, to spend in my last shop.

I always say I'm gonna buy silver.

It would be nice to buy silver but I don't know.

I just want something interesting.

VO: Well, let's see what you can find in the resort town of Portrush, home to your final shop.

Impressive frontage, impressive name.

Fingers crossed for impressive bargains.

There's some real quality stuff inside, nicely laid out.

Perhaps your £80 won't stretch as far as you think, Louise.

Look at that!

(GASPS) This is gorgeous.

Look at this.

Now, I haven't turned it over yet but I would imagine it's by Worcester.

It is, it's Royal Worcester, absolutely gorgeous.

And there are silver teaspoons.

Hand painted Highland cattle scene.

It's probably going to be by one of the Stinton family, probably Harry Stinton, I'm guessing.

VO: A big name in Worcester painting, Highland cattle was one of his signature subjects.

Strangely enough, he never once visited Scotland.

Sometimes in salerooms you see maybe the odd cup and saucer come through.

But to see a case set like this, and with spoons as well, absolutely fantastic.

But do you know what?

I know, without even looking at the ticket price, it's going to be way out of my budget.

£80 will never buy this.

VO: You wouldn't even get a saucer for that money.

Now, down at the other end of the town, David has finally resurfaced.

£60 in his pocket, and still walking in a straight line, I see.

Good show.

- Hello.

- Hello.

- You must be Ernie.

- I'm Ernie, yes.

Hello, Ernie.

David, David Harper.

Great to meet you, David.

VO: Atlantic Antiques seems to have a bit of all sorts.

Quite fond of a toby jug is our Ernie.

What's grabbing you, David?

I'm looking here for something unusual, and that is leaping out at me because of its shape.

It is bang-on its period, art deco.

Dated there, 1939.

The year the Second World War began.

After '39, the manufacturing of art deco pieces really dropped off a cliff because people were more preoccupied with fighting a war and making things for the war effort.

But that is delicious.

So, what is it?

Well, it's a boxed condiment.

So we have this little double-handed jug, pot, here for salt.

This one to the right-hand side for mustard.

Matching spoons for each.

But the centerpiece is the crowning glory.

That is for your pepper in the form of an art deco cocktail shaker.

It's good quality, it's solid silver, it's hallmarked, and it's in its original box.

That is a cracking auction lot.

All I need to do is make Ernie give it to me for a cracking price.

VO: Let's hope it's within your £60 budget, then.

Back up the road, Louise has also got her mitts on a bit of silver, and it's a big 'un.

Do you know what this is?

This is gonna be...

I haven't looked yet.

It's gonna be a piece of Mexican silver.

And why do I think it's Mexican silver?

Because this is based on the Aztec calendar.

VO: Modelled on the Aztec sunstone, an astrological monolith carved during the reign of Montezuma II in the 16th century.

There's a mark here.

It's sterling, and it's Mexican.

Now, this dates to probably the mid 20th century.

It's a bit pricey for me today.

It's £575.

But, do you know what?

I think it's brilliant.

VO: That'll be Montezuma's revenge, then!

Ha ha!

More shiny things, look.

These have caught my eye.

Look at them.

Look!

Little dogs on teaspoons.

I love these.

So, they're hallmarked, they're silver.

I think they're around about 1936-ish, 1937.

Birmingham 1936, we'll go with.

And around about that time there were lots of dog shows and these sorts of spoons would be awarded to dogs and their owners for winning "best in class" or "best in show".

The good thing about these ones, though, is that they're not engraved.

Often the winner's information would be engraved on the reverse of them.

These ones are blank.

They're marked up at £38.

Each.

I think I need to see if I can do a deal for those.

Come on, doggies.

We're going for walkies.

VO: Eleanor's the person to talk to.

Time to sit up and beg, eh?

Hello.

Do you know what?

I have fallen in love with these spoons with the little dogs on them.

Oh, yes.

Now then, go on, be nice to me.

They were made in Birmingham, 1936.

Ah, I was right.

Lovely.

And they could be £26 for the two.

£26 for the pair.

Do you know what?

I'll take them.

- OK. - That's fantastic.

- OK, thank you very much.

- Thank you very much.

VO: Well, that generous discount finishes off Louise's shopping nicely.

- Thank you, Eleanor.

- Thank you very much.

Thank you, bye bye.

VO: Elsewhere in Portrush, it's time to unleash the Harper powers of persuasion.

Brace yourself, Ernie.

I want to try and buy that piece off you, but I don't know whether to make an offer or ask you your trade price, because I have one amount of money and that's it.

Trade price, £79.

79, OK. Eh, that is absolutely fantastic and, under normal circumstances, I'd just have it.

But all the money I have left is £60.

Is that what you're offering me?

- That's what I'm offering.

- Is that your best?

That's it.

I can't do...

I can't do a pound more.

Looks like we've got a deal.

Thank you very much, Ernie.

VO: He's a good man, our Ernie.

And that's David tapped out.

You're a gentleman, appreciate it.

Money's money.

(LAUGHS) Lovely to meet you.

Thanks, Ernie.

- Right, David.

- Bye bye.

Bye.

VO: Better go and see if you can hitch a ride.

Hello.

I need a lift to Belfast.

You've been to the distillery, haven't you?

I've been to the distillery, alright.

(LAUGHS) Will you drive?

- Go on.

Get in.

- Right.

VO: Make sure he gets home safe, Louise.

Time for shut-eye for you two, so he can sleep it off.

Welcome to Northern Ireland's capital city.

At one time the center of the Irish linen industry, it earned the nickname Linenopolis.

And it's where our two trippers are also hoping to make a bundle.

It's getting dark.

I know.

An evening auction for a hot date.

Oh, this night might get better than I thought, then!

(LAUGHS) VO: Calm yourself, David.

We've been all over Northern Ireland, from Ballynure to Ballycastle and we've done the Bally lot.

Ha!

And now we've arrived in Belfast.

Bloomfield Auctions is where it's at, and online too.

Louise parted with £146 on her five auction lots.

I am incredibly jealous of Louise's little metal toy till, because the toy market is so strong.

People buy back their own past.

And for a £10 note, that's seriously a bargain.

VO: David, meanwhile, blew his entire £200 also on five lots.

This I really love.

He paid £60 for it.

I think it's got to be a profit.

It's art deco at its best.

If I'd have seen this in a shop, I'd have bought it, but there's no way I'd have sent it to auction.

VO: That was all very complimentary, wasn't it?

Let's see if auctioneer Karl Bennett agrees.

(GAVEL) Cake stand, a nice, functional piece of furniture.

Afternoon teas are quite popular amongst hotels and restaurants now, and even birthday parties and dinner parties, so cake stands are quite popular at the minute.

The nice, finely carved cameo.

And it is quite rare, the fact we have a male head on it, and I have no doubt that it's been originally mounted as a brooch.

From a collector's point of view, the fact it's so different is great.

VO: So, Karl's keen as well.

He's handing over the gavel duties to his colleague, George Gribben.

Let's see how we get on, shall we?

Our first auction, eh?

Gosh.

Think we'll fall out by the end of the night?

Never.

(LAUGHS) Right, Louise's four tier cake stand is being served up first.

Are you feeling anxious?

Apprehensive is the word, David.

Apprehensive.

- Couple of bids in with me.

- Oh.

- £20... - Oh!

- ..is bid.

Any... - Oh.

..advance on 20?

Five?

30.

Five.

40.

Any advance on £40?

Any advance on 45?

Go on.

Encourage them, Louise.

Encourage them!

At £40, if you're all done.

At 40.

(GAVEL) And there we go, we're off to a truly awful start.

VO: Obviously not everyone's cup of tea, but it's early days.

I'll get my coat.

(LAUGHS) VO: David's dodgy Davenport next.

It's a bit of a fixer-upper.

That is the finest, nicest Davenport I've seen... in the past 24 hours.

(LAUGHS) £100 for the Davenport?

- Go on.

- 100 bid in the front row.

- Thank you.

- Any advance on £100... - Come on!

- ..for the Davenport.

- Go on.

- Any advance on 100?

Not a maiden bid.

- In the room, maiden bid.

- That's an anti-climax.

- 110.

On the phone at 110.

- Come on.

120.

Go on, baby.

I'm thinking the furniture market, remember, Louise?

- Yes.

Yes, that's all you're thinking of.

Not yourself.

- Not interested in profit.

- It's on the phone at 130.

Any advance on 130?

Are we all finished at 130?

(GAVEL) What do you think about that then?

- Reluctantly well done, David.

- Thank you very much.

VO: She said it through gritted teeth.

Quite an impressive result, though.

That's what you call a Ballymena bargain.

Oh!

Get you.

Have you heard of a Ballymena bargain?

No, but I think I've just seen one.

VO: Now, anyone in the market for a genuine lump of Ailsa Craig?

30 online.

35 in the door.

35 in the doorway.

- 35!

Come on.

- 35.

Come on, come on, come on, come on, come on.

Someone.

Waiting for the net.

35 in the doorway.

We're going to sell, then, at 35.

- No.

Come on!

- Oh!

(GAVEL) Ach.

VO: She's taken a bit of a hit with that one.

Oh well, eh?

I'm sad about that.

I'm even sad about that.

Of course you are.

Really sad.

- I am.

I am.

- Would you like a hanky?

Look into my eyes.

(LAUGHS) VO: David's first foray into art deco is up next, his dish.

- Fiver for the... - Oh my God.

Five bid.

Any advance on five to my left?

Any advance on five?

- No!

- Any advance on five?

We're gonna sell at one bid of five.

We're gonna sell at five.

No, don't!

(GAVEL) Argh!

VO: Mind that man's coffee, David.

I know you're upset, but still.

Welcome to my world, that's all I can say on that.

VO: Maybe you can make your mark with your branding irons.

10 bid.

Any advance on £10 to my right?

Any advance... 15.

20.

Here we go.

Any advance on 20 to my right?

Any advance on 20?

That's four times more than my art deco dish.

That's illegal.

Look, I'm not knocking it.

(GAVEL) It's not an epic loss, then.

It's not an epic loss.

VO: No, that's your best result so far.

Hardly sizzling, though.

- Branding irons?!

- I know, I know.

Don't.

- Branding irons?!

- Don't.

VO: Ballymena bargain part two.

Can he do the double?

Start the bidding with me at 20, 25, 30, 35.

- Go on.

Go on.

- £40.

- OK. - Yes.

- Any advance on £40... - Yes, please.

- ..for the chair?

- Yes, please.

Any advance on 40?

I can and will sell at 40 if you're all done.

- Go on!

- At 40.

(GAVEL) Double bubble.

- There you go, eh?

- Double bubble is good.

VO: Indeed it is.

Another profit for David.

I'll tell you all about the Ballymena bargains over a nice pint of Irish stout.

You're the one buying, then.

VO: Now, there's got to be interest in Louise's spoons.

They've got doggies on them and everything!

- One, two, three.

- Lot number 138.

- £20 anywhere?

- Oh, come on, somebody.

- 20 in the back.

25.

- You're in.

- 30.

- Oh, yeah.

You're off.

- Any advance on 30?

35.

- You're off.

- Ooh!

- It's the dogs.

- Any advance on 35 to my right?

- Gotta love a dog.

35.

Selling at 35.

(GAVEL) - Aw.

I'm happy with that.

- Good.

VO: Nicely done, Louise.

A profit at last.

- Trickle.

- Yeah.

It's a trickle.

- I'll take what I can get.

- Absolutely, good attitude.

VO: Time for a cameo appearance.

That is an impressive beard, isn't it?

And we can start the bidding with me at 35, £40.

- Go, go, go, go, go.

- Any advance on £40?

45... - Go.

- ..at the back of the room.

Go, baby, go.

Any advance on 45 at the back of the room?

Come on, Louise.

Let me see those fingers crossed.

- Any advance on 45?

- Come on!

Waiting to see if the net's going to come.

- Come on, internet.

- In the room at 45, we're gonna sell at 45.

(GAVEL) I'm never buying a cameo ever again.

VO: He doesn't look too happy about it either.

- We live and learn.

- We do.

VO: Louise's last lot now, her tin toy till.

- Fiver for the till?

- Oh!

Ooh.

(GROANS) Are you interested in a fiver?

Ooh, it's getting better than I thought.

Five bid.

Any advance on £5?

Any advance on five?

We're going to sell.

You're all finished.

Oh well, maybe the toy market isn't quite as good as I thought.

No.

(GAVEL) Oh.

I'm devastated.

VO: Well, you were right, Louise.

There wasn't any money in it.

No cameos, and no tills.

No tills.

These are our top tips.

Top tips!

VO: Finally, David's condiment set.

Louise would buy it.

Anyone else?

- 50 bid online.

- Come on.

- Any advance on £50?

- Oh!

Come on.

-It's cheap at 50.

Go on.

Any advance... 55 at the back of the room.

- 55!

- 55 at the back of the room.

Come on, internet.

Go on.

I would bid if I could.

- I would.

- I love it.

- 60 online.

65.

- I need 100.

- 70 online.

- BOTH: Go on.

- Any advance on 70 online?

- This is painful.

80.

Oh, slow and steady wins the race.

I need 100.

I need 100!

All finished at 80?

We're gonna sell at 80.

You all done this time?

(GAVEL) OK. Well, it's a profit.

- It's still a profit.

- It's a profit.

VO: Well, he is a seasoned professional.

And that's it, all done.

Come on then, time to get your slippers.

Do you mind?

I've got them in the car.

VO: You go and get cozy and I'll do the sums.

Louise started out with £200, but after saleroom fees, that's taken a bit of a tumble.

She now has £164.70 to spend next time.

(GAVEL) But David, who started out with the same amount, managed to increase his coffers.

So after auction costs he currently has a very respectable £246 exactly.

Well done, sir.

Oh, my!

You are not keeping me out late like this ever again.

- I want daytime.

- Well past your bedtime.

Daytime auctions!

VO: Cocoas all round, I think.

Next time on the trip... (GEARS GRIND) Go on, David.

You can do it.

..there are some shocks in store.

Argh!

Something went wrong there.

It's the battle of the bow wows.

Oh, a dog brooch!

Louise is gonna be furious.

It'll be a dogfight!

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