A local landmark has been transformed into an impressive new home for a famous auction house run by a TV celebrity antiques expert and her family. Hawleys Auctioneers has been a top name in the trade for more than 25 years, under the guidance of Caroline and John Hawley.
Caroline, who regularly appears on BBC TV’s Bargain Hunt and Flog It, and her husband John Hawley, a former professional footballer and coach, were regulars at Beverley Racecourse. Now the pair have brought all their operations under one 18th Century roof.
The family firm has converted historic pub the White Horse Inn into an auction house for the future, ploughing major investment into the opening of the new venue – The Salesrooms in Gilberdyke, East Yorkshire. The forthcoming opening represents a marked change of use for the former pub on Main Road, which permanently closed its doors in December 2024.
Hawleys used to stage its auctions at the Beverley Racecourse, while managing valuations, administration, and storage from a cramped base in North Cave. But the acquisition of the White Horse Inn, completed in October 2025, allows the firm to bring all its operations together.
And the couple plan to celebrate the expansion with a special fizz and canapes celebration, when it opens to the public later this month. John and Caroline Hawley have long-standing reputations in the British antiques trade, with John starting out in his father Ray Hawley’s well-known antique shop in Beverley in 1966, before embarking on a career as a professional football player and coach for clubs including Hull City, Leeds United, Arsenal and Sunderland.
He returned to the trade full-time in 1986. Caroline, meanwhile, opened her first antiques shop in South Cave in 1983.
The day-to-day operations are now moving into the next generation, as John moves into a research-focused role. Meanwhile, Caroline’s son James Cockin, a partner in the family firm, will help drive business forward using new technology.
Caroline has worked with local architects, builders, electricians, joiners, and decorators to restore and redesign the historic hostelry, creating two salerooms, display areas, and specialist rooms and offices where freelance experts can work with collections. It also has visitor amenities including a large car park and a cafe, incorporating one of the pub’s original historic bar counters.
Caroline, who provides free valuations at The Salerooms with no appointment necessary Monday to Friday 9am until 5pm, said: “You never know what to expect in this business. There’s a lot of excitement now about The Salesrooms but for me, it’s a dream come true. After years of having sales in one area, storage in another and admin in yet another, to have all the component parts of an auction house in one place means the world to all of us.
“Most of all I’m proud that this is a family business with a close-knit team who look out for each other. My brilliant colleagues have worked in cramped conditions for so long, and it is wonderful to finally give them—and the incredible consignments our clients entrust to us — the space they deserve.
“I had been searching for a long time to buy a property with genuine character. Then last year in April, John and I were driving home when John suddenly spotted the old White Horse Inn for sale. He instantly said, ‘That would make a good auction house.’ For once in my life, I had to agree with him! We employed fantastic local firms to transform the building, and I am thrilled that we are revitalising this historic asset.”
The inaugural auction at the new base includes a collection of 13 paintings by one of Yorkshire’s great artists, Fred Elwell, (1870-1958) It includes several paintings including The Pot Boy and The Lying in State (of King George V).
Caroline added: “This is the best collection of Elwells that have come on to the market as a whole. I am extremely proud to have them in my inaugural November auction. The paintings reflect the versatility of his style and subject matter and, of course, his use of colour and light. In many ways this collection is a celebration of the man, his work and his life.”
The public is invited to attend the launch events at The Salesrooms on Thursday November 12 from 12 noon to 8pm before the first auction in the new premises. A public preview day will be held on Friday November 13, followed by the inaugural auction over the weekend of Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 November, which will feature several historic and highly significant collections.
Get all the latest headlines sent straight to your inbox for free with our newsletter. You can stay up to date with all the breaking news and top stories as they happen in Hull and East Yorkshire by clicking this link.