Man with a Van: My Story

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A flat cap among silver spoons and old school ties, our favourite no-bullshit expert may be a one-off, but his story makes us all dream of that obscure piece of antiquity gathering dust in the garden shed... Speaking to the Telegraph Drew said: "I’ve had a blip in the middle where everything just got too much for me, which I’m over now and working on. I’ve started again from scratch. I’ve completely binned my old life and started afresh." It clearly irks him that people can be sniffy about Salvage Hunters but Pritchard believes he has shaped the market as it stands today. He started pushing brown furniture 10 years ago and now it’s the norm for young people to be dealing in it.

Drew Pritchard is showing me around his antique dealer’s office on Zoom. “Brace yourself,” he says, flashing the camera over his shoulder to reveal the blanket-strewn boot of his Volvo estate. He posted on social media: "Apparently nothing is a challenge for me and I always manage jobs without a problem where as if you are not that good it makes for better TV." I want that kid on a housing estate in East Anglia to know they can do it. If you work really hard, listen, read, structure your day, all of these different things, things that I’ve found.” The Edwardian to the late 1940s was not a great period for the majority of furniture and that is what was became known as brown furniture, but, what happened was that everything that was old and brown was tarred with the same brush including 18 th and 19 th century English furniture – finest on the planet that has ever been. I like Drew and I enjoy his programmes, I think he is very knowledgeable and has a brilliant eye for quality – which is just as well, otherwise I might be thinking he is a bit of an arrogant ****** after reading this.

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The two main categories are form and quality but I also like history and patination.” Drew Pritchard for Barker and Stonehouse – Foxley 4 Seater Sofa The shop was welcomed by local businesses - with Drew attracting Salvage Hunters fans to the area. He had initially looked at plans to expand due to its success but by May 2022 had decided it was time to close up.

And yet, when Pritchard started out, antiques was a closed shop. “It was like the Mafia.” It’s not quite the same today, but with his advice he hopes he can get anyone through the door and give them a start. “The rest is down to what you make of it. That’s what I love about it.” Talking about the current crisis, he said: "The rising cost in materials, utility bills and having to increase labour rate to cover our cost of living means we cannot compete with the large furniture manufacturers that mass produce. Currently we have had to loan the business personal money to keep it going and therefore are having to look at what would be financially beneficial to us and seriously consider our future. So what are his tips for buying old? Firstly, if you buy an old light he suggests taking it to the “bloke on the high street who fixes your microwave and your telly. Electrics is three wires, there’s no mystery. Clean it up, take it to him and he will fix it for you.”It wasn’t all plain sailing. In 2017 he divorced wife Rebecca, his co-presenter on Quests’ long-running flagship show. It came in the wake of a ban – since lifted – from every pub in his hometown of Conwy. Rebecca, now living in Chester with her own antiques business, still jointly fronts the show, analysing the provenance of items brought in by Drew and assessing the restoration work needed. Everyone sees everyone trying to get a bargain on the telly but don’t do that because the next time they won’t be there for you to try and get a cheap price off. Give them their money you will still be getting something of value. Following his divorce, he moved with son Tom to a smaller 1820s townhouse just outside Conwy’s walls. As he set about restoring his new home, a period of reflection followed. There’s still stuff being lost. “Every minute of every day something is going to the landfill that shouldn’t be. It’s not the people’s fault, it’s just society and education.” The only person getting anything from this is the person who sells you the paint and if it makes you happy then FINE – but as I said stone cladding was in for a while wasn’t it?”

It wasn't just sheds - nearby woods would be home to old cars that had been dumped. In the summer holidays, he and best friend Tee - who later joined him on Quest TV's Salvage Hunters - would scour fields and beaches to see what they could salvage. Craig has also been dropped from the hit shows by the production company - although remains on good terms with Drew. Apparently he's "too good" for TV, with him making light work of the challenges posed to the team. He hit the big time with Salvage Hunters which is shown on Quest and is watched by millions of people across the globe. Mr Pritchard had owned premises outside Glan Conwy for more than 20 years.When I see something old, that I think is beautiful, special, valuable, it's not about the money. It's about being in another time and place.' His collection of classic cars was jettisoned – he had 13 at one time. He stopped drinking two years ago. This summer he told the Telegraph: “I’ve had a blip in the middle where everything just got too much for me, which I’m over now and working on. I’ve started again from scratch. I’ve completely binned my old life and started afresh.” Put your hand on it, say you love it, smile and say you will take it away that day and I guarantee you will get the best price possible.” Drew Pritchard for Barker and Stonehouse – Harling Snuggle Chair