Remains To Be Seen

I’m surprised this got so many 4-​star reviews. What kind of rating system do you all use?!
I’m an antique/​junk/​vintage shop lover. This means I can’t pass one up. And it also means that I cannot give one a 4-​star review unless I can honestly say I really really enjoyed the experience and would go out of my way to return.
This shop is dirty and smoky. I do not like your smoky whatever-​it-​is (see Anthony’s review – he seems to know!) It’s annoying to say the least, and life threatening to say the most for asthmatics like me.
Clean up your shop. No, I’m not talking about making it all pristine and perfect, because an antique shop shouldn’t look pristine. But it shouldn’t look like my dad’s garage either, or as you progress more toward the back of the shop, like my grandfather’s shed that had stuff in it people hadn’t seen for 50 years or more.
This shop has some interesting items, and it’s worth a poke around for antique lovers … But it definitely needs some work.

Remains To Be Seen is situated in the heart of the bustling Lark Lane and seems to have been there forever.
I was first tempted in by the interesting looking antiques displayed in the window, some of which I had never seen the like of before.
Inside is dark and dusty, but pretty much what you would expect from an antiques shop which is probably classed as something of an antique itself. It takes a while to get used to the dark and the smell of insense, but when you do you realise what a treasure trove it is.
There are hundreds of interesting treasures in the shop, which you could spend hours looking at. The antiques are of a reasonable price, obviously depending on what they are,
The owner is happy to explain what the antiques are, their original uses and from what era they are. He is also happy to let you look round by yourself if you prefer.
This is an excellent place for a browse, or for finding a hidden treasure or an interesting present for someone.

Ahh, the jingling jangling of the door bells as you enter, the ticking of the mass of clocks hanging jauntily on the walls, the dust, the smell of old books and wood.
I love antique shops, mainly because, well, they’re full of crap, but amidst this cluttered mess of mirrors, stacked old chairs and tables, statuettes and wagon wheels (why?!), there are some cool, quirky items that would look great in a new apartment that you want to make your own.
The owner looked particularly happy to see us and was more than willing to chat about some select pieces we had our eye on.
It’s a bit difficult to get around in there as seriously, stuff is just piled on top of each other pretty much up to the entrance, however, if you have the patience to pick through it you might just find a bargain.

Oh I get it, Remains… to be seen, as in antiquities to see here — and not festering body parts like I expected on my entrance to this strange shop of curios.
Any hint of foul play was of course well hidden by the pungent aroma of a burning jostick which thoroughly smashed me in the face as I opened the door — is it in the contract to be an antique dealer to have the premises smell of josticks? Josticks, check. Layers of dust, check. Retired old hippy, check.
It’s all part of the fun of course, you don’t enter these places looking for something you actually need, that’s what John Lewis is for. Nor do you go in expecting to see something in particular and the fact that everything is covered in an inch of dust only adds to the Big Trouble In Little China situation you hope to find yourself in.
Im not a collector and I have no idea if anything in there was of any value, however I like it because the owner was such a nice old chap with time on his hands to discuss the objects he had there — of course he too seemed to know if anything he had there was of any value. When I asked about some film posters I was sure were not worth much he said he just took them off a mate to fill the space on the wall — I’ve seen Lovejoy and I know he could have had me there if he really tried.