Rare & Flair

I wouldn’t have known about this place if I hadn’t seen Katie’s review, and I can’t thank her enough as it’s a wonderful stall!
The West End Market was not what I expected at all — I wrongly assumed it was going to be cheap and nasty, monopolising on the recession and selling tacky goods. I’m pleased to report I was wrong — it’s clean, well kept, the traders and staff in the café are really friendly, and this unit tops the lot!
Rare and Flair’s owner concentrates mostly on her jewellery, and it shows. She has a huge selection of brooches, pins, rings and necklaces from varying origins, but the best part is how phenomenally affordable they are! From a vast array of era’s and styles, you can swag a mixed bag of 2 for £5 or even better, 5 for £10! What’s more, you can mix and match with accessories, enabling you to accessorize an entire outfit for ten pounds with a splendid brooch, earrings and an eyecatching set of beads.
The lady who runs the stall is friendly, eager to let you browse while also giving you a hand if necessary. She is very well informed on her sources and happy to share such information with customers. She apparently orders a lot of her stock in from America, making these vintage treats even rarer over here! So next time you’re on the hunt for an unusual trinket for a loved one or yourself, I would suggest swinging by here. The range of glamourous goodies puts Topshop to shame, and you might even get a faux fur coat off the vintage rack while you’re at it. But if you’re visiting for the vintage bling, I’d suggest you buy a new jewellery box first!

In the dark depths of the West End Market you will find this one gem of a stall. Rare & Flair looks completely out of context in this place — it’s the kind of place that gains business through word of mouth, as you’d almost never find it if you were just out for a wander.
Rare & Flair sells a large range of vintage costume jewellery and brooches. Most pieces of jewellery are priced from under £5 — so it’a a great place to pick up some vintage accessories without breaking the bank. If you’re after something a little bit more contemporary — they also sell a selection of jewellery by local designers.
As well as the jewellery, bags and other accessories you’ll also find a small amount of vintage and second hand clothes. It’s a tiny stall, but it’s definitely worth popping in for a browse!