Tonight sees the return of Salvage Hunters with Drew Pritchard.
Modern day treasure hunter, Drew Pritchard, is one of the UK’s top decorative antique dealers. Always on the hunt for that elusive gem, Drew travels the length and breadth of the country in search of weird and wonderful objects – the bigger the hoard of forgotten antiques and dusty furniture, the happier Drew is! Having unearthed rarities like a genuine 19th Century William Morris collection of stained glass worth over £100,000 in the past, what elusive treasures will he discover in this brand new series.
Salvage Hunters follows Drew as he criss-crosses the country to search for derelict gems that can be given a new lease of life back at his antiques yard with the help of wife Rebecca, sidekick Tee and his team of renovators, wood carvers, upholsterers and guilders. In this brand new series, Drew and the team scour the country for the rarest finds. They travel to a pub in Staffordshire and encounter an electro-convulsive therapy machine; to an antiques shop in Hull which holds of host of surprises including a 1950s child’s barbershop chair; and all the way to Margate for an 1980s architect’s chair.
Drew Pritchard, is well-renowned as one of the UK’s top decorative antiques dealers. Building on a childhood love of visiting car scrapyards to unearth rare and beautiful items, Drew has turned his lifelong passion into a thriving international business enterprise. Over 20 years of business, Drew and his specialist team of experts have restored an incredibly diverse range of items, from fireplaces, doors, lighting and garden ornaments, to cars, paintings, jewellery and wooden artefacts.
Drew’s passion for rare finds started early. At 11 he was saving old bicycles and pieces of boat he found on the beach, before starting his own vintage car collection aged of 15. At 16, Drew embarked upon an apprenticeship that would see him become a trained stained glass conservator and work for a number of years, travelling the country to visit the varied castles and cathedrals of England. He went on to establish his own architectural antiques business aged just 23.
Based in Glan Conwy in North Wales, on an 8.5 acre site close to the beautiful Snowdonia National Park, Drew has a diverse client list – having sold items to royalty and celebrities alike (including Hollywood actor Jim Carrey and Ringo Starr’s musician son, Zac Starkey); and fitted shops, like Ralph Lauren in America and Monaco, and Rive Gauche in Paris; restaurants, including Marco Pierre White and Jamie Oliver, and London hotspot Soho House. Described as “original, masculine and beautifully-made”, Drew’s salvaged furniture and items have been sold around the world. Drew lives in a regency chapel he converted himself over the last 18 years in beautiful north Wales which acts as a showcase of the best items he has found over the years.
He now has a range sold in Liberty, London which showcases a range of captivating pieces from the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Salvage Hunters airs on Quest, Freeview 38 from Wednesday 16th April at 9pm.
All photos are from the Liberty range and are our personal favourites.
