Bulldog spirit sees Blackpool auctions expansion

Phil Burgess, of Marton, has been serving up a weekly auction for a year at South Shore Tennis Club for people to get rid of their unwanted items.

Now Bulldog Auctions has become so popular Phil has launched a second event, at Hampton Road Social Club on Monday evenings.

Phil said the idea has really taken off with more than 100 people turning up on the Thursday nights to look over the lots of items,snap up a bargain and to socialise.

Phil said: “It has really taken off. Every week we are busy.

“People bring in items they have hanging around the house and I lot it all up. They get the money less a percentage and it saves a lot of stuff going to landfill.

“And we have a couple of charities taking part too now.

“The Community Fundraising group and First Knight use us to sell on items that they don’t have room for in their shops.

“We have more than 250 different items each week .

“As its an auction, the lots sometimes get more than the asking price which is great for those selling. Things tend to find their own value.

“But people enjoy it as a social occasion. It’s a very pleasant evening, we get people coming every week and enjoying a cup of tea and snacks with their friends and just seeing what is up for sale.

“We have a viewing time an before from 5pm and the auction starts at 6.30pm.

“There has been a lot of interest, I quickly had to double the storage space for the items.”

Phil started the auctions after losing his job as a Blackpool tram guard after writing a poem on Facebook about drunken passengers abusing staff late at night.

He used to run a similar auction with his parents near their home in Hampshire but sold it on before moving up to Blackpool.