AN INDEPENDENT arts centre in Newport has hosted a vintage fair, promoting an array of fashionable blasts from the past.

The Barnabas Arts House on New Ruperra Street held the “Unique Vintage Experience” on Sunday, which included live music, a vintage wedding gown demonstration and a magician.

Bridal designer Avril Kerr said: “This is a vintage experience where we are modelling and selling vintage wedding gowns.

“As I am a celebrant, we have had a demonstration of a celebrant wedding.

“All the gowns are genuine vintage dresses – some of them are from the 1930s.

“Compared to the modern-day gowns, they are very small as the women of that time period usually had around 12 inch waist. Women of today are slightly bigger than that regard.

“Luckily I’ve managed to find some young models who have been very helpful and fit the dresses perfectly.

“Everything is vintage right down to the veils, the gloves and the shoes.

“This is a fabulous building – it’s absolutely fabulous – and it suits occasions like this perfectly – it’s lovely and it is in keeping with the vintage style.”

The owner of the Barnabas Arts House said that the day was an opportunity to show of the variety of uses for the arts house.

Janet Martin said: “This is a great opportunity for us to show off the building and its various possible uses.

“This weekend alone we’ve had a political party meeting and a hen party.

“Last weekend we had a naming ceremony – it can be used for so many different things.

“We’ve had a Tibetan Buddhist monk give a talk even and the more it is used, the better it will be

“I’m not affiliated to any particular organisation – it is completely independent and it needs using.

“We are always on the lookout for quirky ventures and reasons to use the Barnabas. As long as it is legal, we can do it.”

For details on the Barnabas Arts House, go to barnabasartshouse.co.uk.