Leading regional auctioneers Dreweatts have formed a strategic alliance with London antiquarian book specialists Bloomsbury Auctions.

The tie?up will see Dreweatts conduct regular sales in the capital and Bloomsbury’s general book sales move to Godalming, Surrey.

Some form of alliance between similarly sized firms with different strengths has been mooted for three years say the two parties.

Bloomsbury’s Mayfair premises will provide the London shopfront while their salerooms in New York and Rome provide the international dimension that Dreweatts have long craved.

The Fine Art Auction Group is the UK's largest exclusively regional auctioneer with salerooms and offices in Donnington Priory, Nottingham, Bristol, Marlborough, Godalming, Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne.