One of the oldest names in vintage fishing tackle has arrived in Brighton, with Thomas Turner Fishing Antiques opening a new space inside Snoopers Paradise in the North Laine.
Established in 1838, Thomas Turner describes itself as the oldest supplier of quality antique, vintage and modern classic collectible fishing tackle in the world. Its new space at Snoopers Paradise brings a selection of that extraordinary archive of angling history into the heart of Brighton.
And you don’t necessarily need to know your fly rod from your float to appreciate it.
Vintage fishing tackle has a collecting world all of its own, with historic reels, rods and accessories sought out for their craftsmanship, engineering, rarity and history. Some pieces are still bought to be used exactly as intended; others are collected, displayed or simply appreciated as beautifully made objects from another era.
The Thomas Turner collection spans famous names in British and international fishing, including Hardy, Farlows and Allcock, alongside unusual and increasingly hard-to-find pieces of tackle.
Among the pieces currently on display is a Penn Senator reel — a smaller version of the reel famously used in Jaws.
Matt Daymond of Thomas Turner said: “I live in Brighton and have been a Snoopers customer for years, so it seemed like a natural fit for Thomas Turner. We’re predominantly an online business specialising in antique, vintage and collectible fishing tackle, so it’s great to have a physical presence, particularly somewhere like Snoopers. And Brighton and fishing seem to go hand in hand!
“One fun piece we have in the cabinet at the moment is a Penn Senator reel. It’s a smaller version of the reel famously used in Jaws — so if anyone fancies trying to catch a ‘not so’ great white off Brighton Marina, we’ve got them covered!”
It’s a natural addition to Snoopers Paradise, Brighton’s sprawling 7,000 sq ft indoor flea market, where more than 70 independent traders specialise in everything from vintage fashion and furniture to records, cameras, jewellery, taxidermy, militaria and ephemera.
Jenny Hurren, Communications Manager at Snoopers Paradise, said: “We love having proper specialists in Snoopers — people who know an extraordinary amount about a very particular corner of the vintage world. Thomas Turner is exactly that.
“There’s something fascinating about objects that were originally made purely to do a job becoming collectable in their own right. You can come at this stuff as an angler, a collector, someone interested in design and engineering or just somebody who spots a beautiful old reel and wants to know its story.
“Part of the joy of Snoopers is discovering something you didn’t know you were interested in until it’s sitting in front of you.”
Thomas Turner’s arrival also gives collectors the opportunity to browse vintage fishing tackle in person in central Brighton, alongside the company’s established online business.
The Thomas Turner Fishing Antiques collection can be found at Stall 81, Snoopers Paradise, 7–8 Kensington Gardens, Brighton BN1 4AL
