Kent's largest vintage market is celebrating five years of trading, despite early doubters thinking it would never succeed.

Petticoat Lane Emporium, on Dumpton Park Drive, Ramsgate, has been delighting antique lovers with its long rows of vintage items since opening its doors in 2015.

The 15,000 square-foot building is home to hundreds of antiques and pieces of vintage furniture, as well as an upstairs cafe and licensed bar.

But when the entrepreneurial owner began plans to open the huge space, he said he was greeted with deafening cynicism.

Richard Tozer originally opened the emporium with Kevin Shaw, who has since left the business. At that time people could not imagine it working in a place like Ramsgate.

He said: "People thought I was mad, the landlord, who I get on with very well now, thought I was mad.

"He said 'what do you want the building for?' and I said 'I'm going to open an antiques shop.'

"I could see in his eyes he was thinking 'you ******* nutter.'"

Mr Tozer believed the unusual size of the venture meant it would succeed regardless of its location.

He said: "People like it, they're proud of it and and it's something they can boast about in Ramsgate."

The antiques expert has been working in the trade since the age of 13.

The 57-year-old said: "When I left school I started out as a furniture restorer and French polisher and loved it.

"I'm very lucky to still be doing the same thing 41 years later."

Now a staple of the seaside town, Mr Tozer said the shop is visited by a host of regular locals as well as people from all over the country.

The business is so successful that there is a two month waiting list for traders to sell their items in the space.

Open 7 days a week, the business employs 20 people, including Richard's son Zak.

The upstairs cafe has become a regular haunt for people to sit amongst the colourful furnishings and stop for a tea or coffee.

When trying to put his finger on his customers' obsession with antiques, he believes it might be deeper than just quirky ways to decorate your living room.

He said: "There's a definite human nature thing that people love history, archaeology, historical things, old things.

"There is something intrinsically human about it, isn't there? I think so."

In the future Mr Tozer has ambitions to open more stores across Kent, including places like Tonbridge, Canterbury and the Medway Towns.

Last week, he celebrated five years of trading with a Saturday vintage fair, which included live performances from Kent acts The Dulcettes and jazz three-piece Metro Vipers.

There were also a trio of 'cupids' performing, courtesy of Looping The Loop's Nearly Normal Theatre Company.

To find out more visit the website here or on Instagram @petticoatlaneemporium or on Facebook.

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